His Coming Departure
Matthew 17.1-13
Luke 9.30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. 31 They spoke about His departure, which He was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.
Departure= exodus
exit
the close of one's career, one's final fate
Traveling a road to the end
The Transfiguration of Jesus
This event took place on Mount Hermon in the Golan Heights, the country's high point at 9,232 feet.
The mountain forms one of the greatest geographic resources of the area. Because of its height it captures a great deal of precipitation in a very dry area of the world. The Jurassic limestone is broken by faults and solution channels to form a karst topography. Mount Hermon has seasonal winter and spring snow falls, which cover all three of its peaks for most of the year. Melted water from the snow-covered mountain's western and southern bases seeps into the rock channels and pores, feeding springs at the base of the mountain, which form streams and rivers. These merge to become the Jordan River. Additionally, the runoff facilitates fertile plant life below the snow line, where vineyards and pine, oak, and poplar trees are abundant.
It is also known as the rooftop of Israel and the Eyes of the Nation.
Climbing high mountains:
1. They get us up and away from the busyness of the world below.
2.They give a fresh new perspective on life from the view up there.
3.Climbing is a struggle that results in fresh air, fewer insects, quiet, peace.
4.You get to see beauty only those who climb see. Animals, fruit, etc.
5.You join a small fraternity of people who have made the climb.
6.You get to come down and say, "I was up there!"
7.You have memories of the climb for years to come. (My Birthday- all my kids and grandkids).
Mt. Hermon
It was a favorite place of David's.
He wrote in
Psalm 42.6 My soul is downcast within me;
therefore I will remember You
from the land of the Jordan,
the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep
in the roar of Your waterfalls;
all Your waves and breakers
have swept over me.
So Luke tells us that Jesus was speaking to Moses and Elijah about His Coming Departure.
Notice Luke tells us He was about to bring it about. There were numerous times in Jerusalem and once in Nazareth where they tried to kill Jesus. That wonderful verse in John 10.18 explains why they couldn't.
"No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded."
As we prepare for the beginning Holy Week next Sunday, think about this...
1. The LORD was not the Victim But the Victor.
A victim is helpless.
He could have stopped the whole thing.
His Father's hand was in it all. Jesus brought it about (Luke 9.31).
Our Father in Heaven gave the disciples instructions to listen to His Son.
v.9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” He was speaking to them about Post Resurrection Matters.
But they were more concerned with the positions in the Kingdom at this point.
They forgot what He said. They had their own agendas.
Be careful. If it could happen to them, it can happen to us. I believe at times believers struggle because they are trying to push their own agendas. (Many things influence this within our sinful nature). Following Jesus means being surrendered to His Agenda for you.
Luke 9.51 As the time approached for Him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.
His departure- His exit
To be taken up to heaven emphasizing the fact that in His death He was in control. He chose when He would die. It would be precise. It would fulfill ancient prophecies. He would die but He would conquer death. He would rise again.
Jesus was the Lamb Who was slain from the creation of the world.
Revelation 13.8
Yet Jesus prayed for God's will in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Humanity in play but more than that He knew the cost. He understood the load He was about to bear, the cup He was about to drink.
When Peter tried to stop it...
Are you not aware that I can call on My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? Matthew 26.53
So He was the Victor not only in His Resurrection but also in His death!
He walked into His death willingly, according to the plan of God, the prophecies of the Old Testament.
After He rose, on the Road to Emmaus
Luke 25.44 He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms."
He never spoke about His death without speaking about rising again.
In His Transfiguration He spoke of...
2. His Glorious Splendor
Before and After
Revelation 1.9-16
The Transformation showed Jesus in His glory. It is in detail in Revelation 1.
Notice Moses and Elijah were in glorious splendor as we will be to:
The Crown, The Righteous Judge will give to all who have longed for His Appearing
He prayed about in John 17
13 “I am coming to You now,..."
24 “Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, and to see My glory, the glory You have given Me because You loved Me before the creation of the world.
His Departure was part of God's Plan and for our good
John 16.7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.
God had a plan for the Son. He has plans for all His children. He gives us insight into our lives as we walk with Him.
Here we see that what seems like a bad thing- Jesus going away
is actually for their good.
I wonder how many bad things happen and that is all we see. Here Jesus is telling us more. He is telling us the good.
Presently reading a book: Praying Our Good Byes
Good can come after loss and in sorrow. The LORD is near and He has a plan-
He always has a plan.
His Coming Departure put Him in His Present State
3. He Reigns From Heaven Above!
He is seated at the righthand of God, the Father, making intercession for us.
Romans 8.34
He is seated because His work in His Resurrected Body is done.
His work is being done on earth through the Body of Christ , the church.
He is coming back!
He will reign on the earth!
So the Transfiguration shows us Jesus in His majesty. How we will see Him when He comes again. Let us do His work while it is day!
