FBCWest 665 | Jesus Appears as He Really Is
Recorded On: 06/29/2025
Bulletin
Hymn # 149 “God of Our Fathers”
SCRIPTURE READING – Ephesians 4:4 - 6
Giving of Selves and Our Offerings
OFFERTORY PRAYER
OFFERTORY MUSIC – Pru Hungate
Praise and Worship
“Battle Belongs”
“Your Promises”
“Resurrecting”
Proclamation of the Word
Message by Pastor Joe
“Jesus Appears as He Really Is”
PRAYER TIME / Time of Reflection
“Great I Am”
Sermon Notes
Mark 9:1 Jesus tells His disciples some there will not die before they see the kingdom of God come with power
Mark 9:2 & 3 Jesus takes 3 of His disciples up a mountain and they see Him transfigured
Mark 9:4 Elijah and Moses have a conversation with Jesus
Mark 9:5 & 6 Peter suggests that 3 tabernacles be built since he didn’t know what to say
Mark 9:7 & 8 A cloud forms covering Elijah and Moses and a voice says that Jesus is His beloved Son, listen to Him and Jesus is left by Himself
Mark 9:9 Jesus tells the 3 not to tell anyone what they saw until after Jesus’ resurrection
Mark 9:10 Disciples discuss among themselves what rising from the dead means
Mark 9:11 – 13 A question-and-answer period about Elijah coming before the Messiah
Scritpures
Transcript of Service
Previously we took a look at when Jesus asked his disciples who people said he was, and then he asked who do you say that I am now? He's going to take three of his disciples and he's going to show them and reveal to them exactly who he is, that he's more than just the title. Those of you who are familiar with and been around with my ministry for a while, this won't surprise you, but I have a very particular view. I might even call it a bias, except bias has a negative connotation and also bias. Also kind of has a negative connotation that you may be wrong, and I don't view that my view is wrong and that view is a very high view of who Jesus is. So much so that I know that there are times when people don't mean. To have a lower view will still irritate me and I'll give you an example and and if you've said these things and we probably all have, you know, I I'm not angry at you. It just kind of bugs me and and that is this. The power of prayer. I hate that term. Because it's not the power of prayer, it's the power of God who answers prayer. So yes, prayer is a communication device to God, but it's God's power that answers the prayer, not the prayer that did anything.
And so I have a. Very high and I hate it when people diminish God's role. In those things. And so. I'm glad. That we're going to take a look at this particular passage because it demonstrates. The very high view. Of who Jesus is. And I get even more irritated with those. You've probably seen the commercials. And I'll say a phrase and and you'll know that you've seen the commercial. Jesus gets us. Half the time they're lying because what they say, how Jesus gets us isn't true. Jesus gets us because he created us. And he didn't come to get us, he. Came to save us. So don't diminish your Jesus is. The Pharisees and his scribes were not upset with Jesus because he walked around like a human. He claimed to be God and he forgave sins. And they wanted. To crucify him because he considered himself equal with God because he was an is God. And so as I say, I have a very high view of who Jesus is, and we're going to take a look at cementing that view. And so if you have your Bibles and you should turn to the gospel of Mark Chapter 9, and we'll start with the verse verse. And Jesus was saying to them, truly I say to you, there are some. Of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Kingdom of God after it has come in power.
So Jesus, if he will, makes a prophecy that that's going to come to pass while the people who are saying there some of them are going to observe it. And so I'm going to later comment on this. Prophecy. But let's continue on. So, six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and brought them up upon a high mountain by themselves, and he was transfigured before them. And so he takes three of the 12 disciples. He doesn't take everybody. He takes 3, and he seems to take those particular 3 on various times. He will take them when he raises somebody from the dead, he'll take them in certain instances. And this time he takes them again to observe what it's going to take place. So he takes them up and he says and he's. And he was transfigured before them. Now that's a that's a fancy word that basically says that he's going to change form. Now, most of you here are very familiar with that because you watched movies and probably had toys called Transformers. Where? Where this truck or this car would change and all of a sudden it would be a robot and everybody thought it was a car. But it turned out to be a robot. And it came from a different planet. And it came to save us. Whatever. But but it. Transformed into a different item into a different thing. Jesus doesn't transform into a different thing he transfers. He still maintains, if you will, his humanity, but the way I want to describe it is that his human. Veil. Is slightly removed. It's like if you have a dark curtain in your bedroom, it helps you to sleep at night because the light doesn't come in.
But if you want the light to come in, you remove the curtain so that you might see the light and it what I think is going to take place is in essence the the human veil will be moved so that his disciples might see him transfigured. And his garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no longer on Earth can whiten them. So there is a change. He is not just white, he is radiantly white. The the brightness is not coming from to him. It is coming from him. It is radiating. Out. His Holiness His lordship, his godliness, his raiding out, who his. And so that veil of who he is. It wasn't all of a sudden he became this. It's now. His disciples could see who he really is. He's just not a man. He's been saying I had the authority to forgive since he's been saying I am the son of God. He has. They have heard testimony. This is my loved son, whom I am well pleased. There has been confirmation of what Jesus has said and now they are able to see. Who he is. Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. I would have loved to have known what that conversation was about. Here. Elijah. The prophet. The one who had performed many miracles. Who was one who taunted? The priests of bail.
And call down fire. And consume them and the offering and the one who prayed. And for 3 1/2 years it didn't rain and then prayed again, and it rained. The one who did many miracles. And also prophesied. He was there talking to Jesus. It's interesting. I wonder why it wasn't Isaiah or Jeremiah. Or have a. But it was Elijah, and I think it's because Elijah was that one who fought. The anti people of God. And yet was also a prophet. And Moses? The one who has always talked about as a lawgiver, he wasn't a lawgiver. He was a law transferer. He gave the law. He communicated from God to the people. He didn't come up with the law, he simply was a scribe. He wrote it down what God had told him to do. But the law and Moses was well appreciated by those people who didn't appreciate the law because they kept changing it and moving it and doing different things. So we've got Moses. From quote the Lawgiver and the Prophet who also performer and they're having this conversation. What a wonderful conversation it must have been. I wish. That has told us what the conversation was, but then again. Because it doesn't matter because of what's going to happen next. And Peter said to Jesus, rabbi. It is good for us to be here. Let us make 3 tabernacles, one for you and one for Moses, and 1:00 for Elijah. Now a Tabernacle is basically like a tent. It's a temporary dwelling and that's what God was originally worshipped in. When the children of Israel left Egypt, they built a Tabernacle. And then later, they ultimately built a temple, but they had this Templer.
And.
And the the thought was, let's build this type of Tacoma Tabernacle for. All three of you. Which was somewhat of a recognition because one of the holy days that Israel celebrates is a feast of booths, the Feast of Tabernacles, where the people of Israel would take and build. If you will tense but made out of tree branches and other things and they would live outside to look forward to the day of the Kingdom of God. So in essence, Peter is going let's do this the the Kingdom of God must be showing up because we've got the lawgiver. We've got the Prophet and we've got Jesus. So let's let's build these tabernacles because the Kingdom of God must be happening. And after all, Jesus said. That there won't there be many who are standing here, who won't taste death until they see the power. Of God. Coming his glory. So this is it. So let's build it. 4 did not know what to answer. Where they became terrifying. So this is an aside, this is a little. Cheap advice for you? You don't know what to say. OK. Stay silent. You know, but sometimes Peters Peters like most of us. He's just got to say something. But he's afraid. Well, why is he afraid? Because Jesus the 1:00, they have been following the one that they have acknowledged. That is the Messiah. Was transfigured and was shown to for who he really is. And again, that's where we have a tendency to diminish Jesus, because we'll talk about how much Jesus loves us, and he does. And that Jesus is our friend and he is, if we do what he says.
But we kind of somewhat in all these terms kind of diminish who he is because of these things. Peter has seen Jesus love people. And loved him. He's seen people Jesus love and forgive and be involved with sinners. He has seen people raised from the dead. He has seen people be. Have demons cast out. He's seen people ill and being made well. He's seen people who are hemorrhaging and be made well and all of a sudden now he is terrified because he has seen Jesus for who he is. And for those of you who think that your life is so wonderful that when you. Sit before God that you will say, well, I did more good things than bad things. You're going to be terrified and you're going to. Unlike Peter, and you're going to be struck dumb. Because you cannot say anything in the presence. Of a holy God. Because he's holy and we're not. The one who followed him. The one who Jesus calls his friend, the one he called his disciples, became terrified when they saw who Jesus was. He was not just the Messiah, he was the son of the living God. Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud. This is my beloved son. Listen to him. You see the problem was like too many of us. We get overwhelmed by what's happening, and we forget to look at what's essential. Peter wanted to create 3 tabernacles to honor 3 individuals. When God himself said. The other two are irrelevant. Even Jesus says you search for the scriptures and then you might find eternal life. The Scriptures speak of. Me. God himself is saying. Yeah. Moses was important to point you to my son Elijah, and the prophets were important. To point you to my son.
Listen to what he has to say. And honor him. And all at once, they looked around and saw no one with them anymore, except Jesus alone. Again. We diminish Jesus when we try to add anything to him. We diminish Jesus's sacrifice when we try to add the law. We diminish Jesus sacrifice when we think that if we do wonderful things that somehow God will be impressed. There's no one else except Jesus alone. Now. If you look at the various commentaries. On the first verse that talked about. That there will be some standing there who will not taste death until they see the Kingdom of God come in power and they point to what we just looked at. And I totally agree with them. There's one other occasion. That they don't talk about that, I think. Answers some of this. When Stephen had been become had been appointed as a Deacon. It didn't just. Feed the widows. It was a. Witness. Of the resurrection of Christ. And preached a fairly long sermon. That the. Jewish leaders objected to and stoned. And in the midst of being stoned, he looked up into heaven and saw God the Father. And Jesus, the son standing next to him. In Glory and power. I think that was an answer. To this. Prophecy. But there's one other one that. Because none of the. Commentators say. I'm concerned that I might be wrong, so I'm giving you. A heads up that it might be wrong. But I don't think so. And that is. The resurrection. Demonstrated the power of God and the Kingdom of God. Not everyone who was standing there observed that for some of them had gone home, some of them whatever. There were those who were in Jerusalem, who saw the risen Lord, others became believers because they believed the testimony for everybody who was standing there observed him resurrected. And as a resurrected person, he became the power of God, and that so much so that the Kingdom of God has now applied to us, and that we one day will be resurrected because of his power, and for what he did. So I believe this prophecy came true when Jesus rose from the dead and people believed in the Kingdom of God became. From a mustard seed. To a plant.
To a tree. Continuances and as they were coming down from the mountain, he gave them orders not to relate to anyone. What had they had seen? Until the son of man rose from the dead, he saying it's funny, there are a lot of times when Jesus will, like, heal somebody and say don't don't tell anybody. But then they go and tell people. Apparently at least. They didn't say anything until after Jesus rose from the dead, because then they wrote the various gospels. But we see this and he goes, don't tell anybody what you saw. Which is interesting because I think as I'm standing here now, I would have said, why don't you want us to tell anybody that that was cool? That was awesome. That was great. I mean, yeah, I said you were the Messiah. But you're so much more. The radiance of who you are is awesome. We got to tell people. They're coming. What does he mean by race from the dead? Sometimes they're just off on the wrong tangent, but then again, that's us. And they seized upon that statement, discussing with one another what rising from the dead men. This isn't the first time Jesus has told them he's told them several times that he's going to be. Persecuted and abused and. Tried and killed and he will be raised from the dead and he's told them that several different times and yet they still cannot get it through their thick skulls. And again notice. What they do? Rather than saying, hey, Jesus, what do you mean by raised from the dead? They talk to one another. So that again, that's the blind leading the blind trying to figure out where to go. A further problem, and again, here's some advice for all of us, including me. Sometimes we are so. Locked into what we think. Of what we believe. That we don't make room for the truth. We have our preconceived notions. Well, my church taught X. Well, this Bible says why? Yeah, well, but. But the church taught X. Sometimes we need to actually look at what the scriptures say.
And then believe that. Not what our preconceived notions and so they have this preconceived notion that the Messiah wouldn't die. And if the side wouldn't die, then why would Jesus raised from the dead? Because we've acknowledged he's the Messiah. We've just seen him as the as the son of God, and this, and God himself said listen to Jesus. But we've been told. The Messiah never dies. So maybe they just said, hey, Jesus, can you point us to the scriptures so we might understand what you're talking about. But no. They held their own Bible study. Not for the Bible. It's not like, hey, we need to. We need to get the Torah out and figure out what it says. No, let's talk to one another. What it means? And they asked him. Saying why is it that the scribes say that Elijah must come first? Notice they were debating among themselves what it means to be. For the for him to die. But instead of asking that question, they started another theological debate. Well, it talks about Elijah must come first. I find this interesting. Who were they with on the mountain? Elijah Moses and Jesus. Well, what does it mean to village of us? Come first. They just met Elijah. But be that as it may. They continue on and says. And he said to them, Elijah does come first. And does and restores all things. And yet, how is it written? Is that the son of man, that he will suffer many things and be treated with contempt? He's going OK? Yes. Elijah's going to come, and he's going to restore things. But you need to think about the scriptures also say. That the son of man must suffer and die. And be treated this way. Maybe you guys ought to think about it. Maybe the Messiah comes more than once. Maybe he comes as a suffering servant and then he comes as King of Kings and. Lord of Lords.
And maybe you're looking for Elijah to come before the. Suffering servant instead of when he comes to be King of kings. And Lord of Lords. That Jesus is going to go on and say, but I say to you that Elijah has indeed come. And they did to him whatever they wished. Just that is his written of him. Mark doesn't tell us, but the other gospel do that. In essence, Jesus says. That John the baptizer. Came in the spirit of Elijah. And so he came to set the path straight for the Messiah. They didn't come to restore all things Elijah will come and help restore things so that when the Messiah comes, it will be. Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. So we're saying, yeah, guys. The scriptures say this is what's going to happen, but you need to look at all the scriptures and not. And we all do that. We look at some of the promises. And we. Awesome, those are great promises. Then we forget the parts that says. If you follow me. They're going to treat you just like they treated me. Well, forget that part. I I I just like all the blessings and the awesomeness. It's the whole truth of God.
And he's saying guys just don't look at the times when you're thinking you're getting rid of the Romans. Because there's going to be a time. That how they treat me, they will treat you. But the truth is of it is this. The Kingdom of God will come in power. You will experience. And the fact that you may suffer. Is only a minor hiccup. Because of the awesomeness of what God has planned for you and me. Yes. Jesus. Loves you. Yes. Jesus can be your friend. Yes, Jesus loves you and he forgives you. And he wants to walk with you, and he wants to live in you. And he wants to be with you. And he wants to relate with you. He also is God. The Holy Awesome 1. So maybe. Just maybe. We can should consider. When he says I want to come and dwell in you. And when we live our life. But we really want to take God.
Where we're going. You might say. Would you do ex. If the whole world knew. It's kind of like people sending out emails. They'll they'll send an e-mail to their friend and all of a sudden, several years later, the whole world knows you said something stupid. Then you've got to try to explain yourself for saying something stupid. The truth of the matter is. There's nothing that we do or say or even intend. That God doesn't know. But he loves us anyway. He forgives us anyway. He wants to be with us anyway. So I don't diminish the fact. That he loves me. Because it's not about who I am. About who he is. So even his love for me isn't because I'm awesome and I am, but not because I'm awesome. But because he is.
So let's never, ever diminish.
Who God is.
And all God's people said.