A Preview of Future Glory | Matthew 17:1-8

Scripture

• Matthew 17:1–8

About this sermon

Introduction: Our Lord told His disciples that the need to take our cross and follow Him — the need to lose our life to find it — is urgent. It is urgent because a future day of judgment is on its way. The very one who is offered to sinners for life, will be coming in glory to judge the living and the dead, for everlasting reward and for everlasting retribution. He not only said that He will be coming in the glory of His Father, and with His holy angels — He said that there were some hearing Him who would live to witness these things (vs.28). In the first 8 verses of chapter 17, we see the fulfillment of what Jesus said. What we have in our verses is a preview of the future glory of the judge. Three disciples are given a glimpse of the glory that the whole world will see when the Judge comes from Heaven. We will consider what the Holy Spirit has given us under five headings. A GLORIOUS PRIVILEGE (vs.1) We see, once again, that Jesus did not deal with all His disciples the same. He dealt with all His disciples as He saw best. He dealt with all His disciples according to His perfect wisdom, and His perfect purposes. Do we acknowledge that in our own case? Do we acknowledge that our Shepherd has the right to deal with us in a way different than our brothers and sisters? Do we trust Him with how HE CHOOSES to deal with us? Do we count His dealings with us to be good and wise and loving? He selects, NOT TWELVE, to go with him up a high mountain (the place is not specified). He selects three. Peter, James, and John are chosen for the glorious privilege of being the eyewitnesses of future glory. THEY WOULD TESTIFY ABOUT THIS, BUT NOT UNTIL JESUS WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD (vs.9). Peter writes about it. ESV 2 Peter 1:16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased," 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. John seems to allude to it. ESV John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. James was the first of the apostles to be martyred. ESV Acts 12:1 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword, 3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. Three disciples witness the glorious vision. Two are allowed to testify in writing. One chosen to testify with his blood. A GLORIOUS VISION (vs.2) What did they see? We can read it. We can acknowledge the description. BUT THERE ARE NO WORDS TO CAPTURE IT. AND OUR MIND’S EYE CAN’T CONCEIVE OF WHAT THEY SAW. Μεταμορφόω — we get our word metamorphosis from it. It is a change that is visible to others. It is a transformation. BEFORE THEIR VERY EYES, THE GLORY OF THE MANIFESTATION OF THE DIVINE NATURE WAS ON DISPLAY. MANIFESTED IN HIS FACE MANIFESTED IN HIS CLOTHING In both cases, manifested in brilliant light. His face shining like this sun. YOU CAN’T LOOK INTO THE SUN.

Topics

• Worship