Lift Your Eyes to the Son, The Exalted One Matthew 17:1-13

We have a little one back there and she loves her toys and that her love for her toys manifests itself Most when we have a visitor come to our house. You may have experienced this when we have a visitor come to the house She'll bring them a toy and put it in their arms and put in their lap.

And then she'll go get another toy and put it in their arms and go get another toy and put it in her arms so that She can show them all the toys that she has.

I.

Feel that same way when it comes to preparing a sermon. And and bringing it to you because God teaches me so much. And I just want to share it all and and fill your arms up and you guys walk away with you with your arms full.

I could probably get critiqued. By my peers because that's probably not the best method, but we we use what we have.

So.

Matthew 17 and the Connection to Matthew 16

If you will today's message is going to come from Matthew chapter 17, and if you wonder why we're going backwards Pastor Chris is already in Matthew chapter 18. He was trying to prepare for a penny coming and he gave me this text earlier.

And so he just let me keep it. So we're going back to Matthew chapter 17 verses 1 through 13. Let's read it together. Six days later Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother and led them up on a high mountain by themselves and he was Transfigured before them and his face shone like the Sun and his garments became as white as light.

And behold Moses and Elijah appeared to them. Talking with him Peter said to Jesus Lord. It is good for us to be here. If you wish I will make three tabernacles here one for you one for Moses and one for Elijah.

While he was still speaking a bright cloud overshadowed them and behold a voice out of the cloud said this is my beloved son with Whom I am well pleased listen to him. When the disciples heard this they fell face down to the ground and were terrified and Jesus came to them and touched them and said get up and Do not be afraid.

Lifting up their eyes. They saw no one except Jesus himself alone as They were coming down from the mountain. Jesus commanded them saying tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man has risen from the dead and His disciples asked him Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first and he answered and said Elijah is coming And will restore all things but I say to you that Elijah already came and they did not recognize him But did to him whatever they wished.

So also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands. Then the disciples understood that he had spoken to them about John the Baptist. Even though Matthew says six days later here in in verse one as part of the introduction I want to take a few steps back and look at a few verses earlier at the end of chapter 16.

Because I think Matthew is he put these two Events back to back in his in his book for a reason and I want to try to make that connection. I want to try to draw that bridge as the introduction and I also want to Bring forth where I think some people may Inappropriately make a wrong connection.

That's that's my thoughts and you guys can take it examine it and look at it for yourself. But for the introduction, I want to go back to a few verses in chapter 16 and try to make this connection. We want to see what Matthew was trying to tell us.

So if you if you start in chapter 16 looking at verse 23 Listen to Jesus speak here verse 23 He turned to Peter and says get behind me Satan. You are a stumbling block to me for you are not setting your mind on God's interest.

But man's then Jesus said to his disciples if anyone wishes to come after me He must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me for whoever wishes to save his life will lose it. But whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul or what will a man give in exchange for his soul. So I think what what Jesus is doing here what Matthew wants us to do is draw out the questions.

That's that's being asked here. And I think what those questions are and what we're going to do is try to answer those questions in Matthew chapter 17. So what are those questions here at the end of chapter 16 if you could grasp the seriousness of what Jesus is saying here.

Get behind me Satan. He says if you wish to come after me, you must deny yourself. What is it what is it profit if you lose your soul but gain the whole world. Can we grasp the seriousness of what Jesus is saying here.

Jesus is speaking to their soul he's speaking to their eternity and I think the question that's that we should draw out of this is and and maybe the disciples were drawing out of this is. Who is who is Jesus.

To speak with this kind of authority. Who is this man? And and where does he get that authority? And I think we're going to find those answers in Matthew chapter 17. Let's look at the next two verses in 16.

For the Son of Man is going to come in the father come in the glory of his father with angels and Will then repay every man according to his deeds. Truly I say to you There are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.

The Son of Man is Jesus favorite designation for himself and it's more than Jesus just saying I was born of a human therefore I'm a human being. The term or title it's more than a it's more than saying that it's it's a designation.

It's a position. It's a title and that title that name Son of Man originates in Daniel chapter 7 and if we can understand what Daniel was saying about this person, that's the Son of Man. We'll learn that that position that title was an exalted one.

In fact Daniel says of the Son of Man that He was given dominion and glory and a kingdom and all people nations and languages will serve him. His dominion and kingdom is everlasting and will not be destroyed.

So every time you see This term you Son of Man whether Jesus is referring to himself or someone else calls him the Son of Man. You can think back to Daniel where it originates and how Daniel says this position is an exalted one.

I think this these two verses also come from Daniel as well. Because I think they Jesus is quoting from Daniel. So we know it comes from Daniel because he uses the term Son of Man. That's where it originates Daniel chapter 7 if you want to put your finger there.

I'm getting ready to turn to Daniel chapter 7. But also he's quoting from Daniel chapter 7. So We want to look at the Old Testament and see what Jesus is saying is going to happen. Here in verse 27 and 28, so it's just two verses in Daniel chapter 7 verses 13 and 14.

So remember what Jesus says the Son is the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of his father with his angels. He says in verse 13 of Daniel 7 I kept looking in the night visions and behold with the clouds of heaven one like the Son of Man was coming and He came up to the ancient of days and Was presented before him and to him was given dominion a glory and a kingdom.

That all the peoples of nations and men of every language might serve him. His dominion is everlasting dominion, which will not pass away and his kingdom is one which will not be destroyed. So that's what Jesus is saying is is going to happen soon.

Is the fulfillment of Daniel chapter 7 that he is going to come up to the ancient of days. Now here we see in Daniel that it's the ancient of days and who's the ancient of days. God himself. God himself gives this person the title the Son of Man.

So we go back to our question that we're drawing out of chapter 16. God is the one who gives this person that the title Son of Man but Jesus in Matthew is referring to himself as the Son of Man. So what gives Jesus that authority to do that to claim that title for himself and To speak this way in such a serious manner to his disciples.

Think we will find those answers in chapter 17 if we can if we follow along with how Matthew works if you'll remember from last time. What did I say that Matthew's point was what is his goal? What does it aim in writing this book?

To show that Jesus is King right and Matthew is the gospel of the kingdom and how does he do that? We've seen so far and we'll continue to see that Matthew goes back to the Old Testament and Then shows us the fulfillment in the New Testament to show us that Jesus is King and that's why they call this the gospel of the kingdom.

And so we're gonna follow along in the steps of Matthew and do that as well and try to answer those questions. Who is Jesus that he can say this about himself who gives him this authority? So let's start with our with our points point number one witnesses of the Son verses 1 and 2.

So we have we have Peter James and John. Why did Jesus choose? These three men to go with him up on the mountain. I can't find an answer for that to why he chose these three men. Some people say that They were his inner circle.

Some say that Jesus gives us a leadership model, but it's it's all speculation. Where we're not giving him in the word why he just chose these three men, but I want to try to Give a biblical speculation if I can.

These three men were witnesses to Jesus's transfiguration. And I want to find from God's Word. What does he mean by what. What does the Bible mean by witnesses? And how does it use witnesses? And so what do we need to do?

We need to go back to the Old Testament first and I go back to Deuteronomy chapter 17 verse 6 where it says on the Evidence of two or three witnesses he who is to die shall be put to death he shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness and Then we go back to the New Testament to Matthew chapter 18, which pastor Chris is getting ready to to get into Matthew chapter 18 verse 16.

And we see the application of this principle in the New in the Old Testament where Matthew tells us. But if he does not listen to you take one or two more with you. So that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed.

So we might be asking ourselves now is Jesus on trial here on the mountain mound of transfiguration. What evil or sin is he being accused of if we're using this as an example. Well, if we look at the bookends of the passages that we read this morning Matthew chapter 16 verse 21 Jesus says he tells his disciples He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders the chief priests and the scribes and be killed and raised up on The third day and then the other end chapter 17 verse 12 Jesus has so also the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands and.

This would have made sense to the disciples. I don't know if this is what they were thinking but this would have made sense to the disciples that Jesus was informing them that he must go to the elders the scribes and and the priest and He must suffer so they know that he has to go before them.

So they could have had in their mind. There's two or three of us here. So he must be preparing us to be witnesses, but Jesus tells them something strange he says Do not. Do not testify until after my resurrection.

Well, the trial happens before the resurrection. But he so he says don't testify until after the resurrection. Jesus continues following in accordance with God's law with the two or three witnesses. But what I think Jesus is doing here is not preparing them to be witnesses for his trial of.

Who he is?

But he's preparing them to be his witnesses to the world. Because he says testify after my resurrection. They will be his witnesses of his authority because what they're seeing here on the mountain of Transfiguration and there will be witnesses to his authority.

In fact, Jesus tells them in Acts 1 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and even into the remotest parts of the earth.

Now we get to the transfiguration of Jesus you know history is his story and God uses parallels. He uses witnesses. He uses fulfillments of prophecy and all those things were ordained by him before the foundation of the world.

Matthew is simply just bringing out those things. To show us the glory of God in these events in his story. We see that Moses is here on the scene. So therefore we can immediately Draw out one of those parallels with Moses being here.

What's that parallel that we can draw out in? God's history and God's story. What was that? The law and in that time frame, where did um, where did Moses receive the law? Mount Sinai, right so we can we can see God.

Pulling out this parallel by having Moses here the mounts Mount Sinai and the Mount of Transfiguration. Both of them went up on the mountain. God was present and His people were given a word that they were to obey.

We also read in Exodus 34 That because of Moses's encounter with God his face Perpetually was so bright that they had to keep it veiled except when he was in the presence of God this speaks to the power of God's glory and If we're going to make this comparison between Exodus the Mount of Mount Sinai and the Mount of Transfiguration here Matthew.

We need to notice that that Moses was shining because of his encounter with God. When we get to Matthew Matthew chapter 17 where Jesus is Transfigured his face was shining like the Sun and his garments were white as light but this was prior to the presence of God unlike Moses.

Who shined because of his encounter with God? Jesus shined because of his nature. Jesus manifested the glory of God because he himself is God and Matthew was teaching us that in this event Jesus revealed to us his deity and Thus is revealing that we're starting to answer some of our questions.

Jesus is revealing his authority. Let's go to number two witnesses for the Son.

We.

Looked at Peter and James and John. And how they were witnesses to this event where the revealing of Jesus true nature happened at the Transfiguration. And they will use this witness power to testify to the world.

Now we have presented to us two other witnesses these two witnesses are Moses and Elijah. Once again, we don't know exactly why God chose Moses and Elijah to be here be present at this event, but I think it's safe to say That Moses and Elijah were two of God's greatest servants in the Old Testament.

And on a side note if you want to jot this down and look it up later. And you can give me your opinion on this issue because these are things. These are some things that people discuss and talk about.

But I think it's possible and this is just a side note. I think it's possible that Moses and Elijah are the two others that we see in Daniel chapter 12 verse 5 and I think it's also possible that Moses and Elijah are the two witnesses that we see in Revelation 11.

11 in Revelation 11 we have we're told of two witnesses and if they're Moses and Elijah Moses represents the law. And Elijah represents the prophets and it's the law and the prophets that testify against Israel because we know the law and the prophets Spoke of Jesus and they rejected Jesus.

So that was a side note. It wasn't Revelation 11 chapter 11. So first we have Moses who represents the law and In fact, God told Moses that there was going to be one Greater than him that was going to come in Deuteronomy chapter 18 verses 15 and verse 18.

It says the Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me among you from your countrymen. You shall listen to him. I will raise up a prophet from among their countrymen like you and I will put my words in his mouth and he shall speak To them all that I command him.

Second we have Elijah and Elijah represents the prophets of God. And we know that Elijah was promised to precede the Messiah and we get that from Malachi chapter 4. But it's also interesting That in Malachi chapter 4 in that same text Malachi Speaks of Moses as well.

Malachi 4 4 through 6 He says remember the law of Moses my servant. Even the statutes and ordinances which I commanded him in Horde for all Israel. Then he says behold Behold, I'm going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord.

He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers. So that I will not come and smite the land with a curse. Finally we had two witnesses. Who do you think our third witness is speaking on behalf of Jesus?

The father the father is our third witness. Absolutely. The father comes on to the scene. He comes to them and overshadows them with a bright cloud. Of course God is the only witness that we need. But according to his word he's going to stick with his word and his laws.

He makes himself the third witness. God speaks concerning Jesus's nature authority his truthfulness and his trustworthiness and Now I can I think we can begin to further answer those questions. We were drawing out from chapter 16 Because of what we've seen here.

We know that the ancient of days is God himself and God gives authority to the Son of Man and then here in Matthew when God comes He tells us that Jesus his son is the Son of Man and we can continue on and on here Exalting Christ and talking about his character in nature.

But what I wanted to do is Share with you two other passages just just read them for us. Where they're testifying of Jesus and in his glory. So the first one is 2nd Peter chapter 1 verses 16 through 18 and this is actually Peter's account.

His personal account of what happened here on the mountain. 2nd Peter 1 16 through 18 and Peter says for we did not follow cleverly devised tales. When we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

For when he received honor and glory from the father from God the Father. Such an utterance as this was made to him by the majestic glory. This is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain.

And just one other testimony from Scripture. Hebrews chapter 1 verses 5 through 13. And we know that Hebrews of course. The whole book is speaking about how Jesus is the greater than everything else. So this is just a small portion of that.

Hebrews 1 5 through 13. For to which of the angels did did ever say you are my son today I begotten you and again I will be a father to him and he shall be a son to me. And when he again brings the firstborn into the world He says and let all the angels of God worship him and of the angels He says who makes his angels winds and his ministers a flame of fire.

But of the Sun he says your throne Oh God is forever and ever. And the righteous scepter is the scepter of his kingdom and you have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness therefore God your God has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your companions and you Lord in the beginning lay the foundation of the earth and the heavens are the works of your hands.

They will perish but you remain and they all will become old. Like a garment and like a mantle you will roll them up like a garment. They will also be changed, but you are the same and your years will not come to an end.

But to which of the angels has he ever said sit at my right hand until I make your enemies for a footstool. So we exalt Christ as God has revealed his Son to us. Now let's go to our our third point. Witnesses to the world.

Witnesses to the World

Jesus of course Throughout his entire ministry has been preparing training teaching his disciples. To be witnesses to the world. This this event here on the Mount of Transfiguration is a key part of that training.

For his disciples to be witnesses to the world. We too as disciples of Christ should speak to the world of the glory of Christ. If we are to learn from this passage how to be witnesses to the world I think we need to take notice of the two responses of the rest of the disciples.

Now when we look at their responses to me their responses are their natural their Understandable we can sympathize with them. And if we were in their position, we would probably respond the same way but both of their responses Had something in common and they both needed addressing by Jesus.

Whether they have in common both of their responses to what happened here on the Mount of Transfiguration Caused them to stay there on the mountain. Let's look at their first response.

First.

Peter asked Jesus if it would be a good idea for him to make tents for all three of them. Now theologically Jesus was keeping Jesus and Moses and Elijah all on an equal field here He has his eyes hadn't been open to the otherness of who Jesus was.

But the problem is if He would have built tents He would have remained there in this if you will worship service and it would have kept him there. And it seems like Peter Continued to have this problem of wanting to be stuck in the old ways.

In fact in Galatians chapter 2 Paul says that he had to rebuke Peter for being afraid of the Jews and Wanting to require the Gentiles to live according to the Jews instead of walking in the straight path of the gospel.

So this was this was a weakness of Peter that he wanted to remain stuck in the old ways. And it would have kept them kept them there. Their second response, of course is another natural reaction and we would understand it we do understand it.

That when God appeared and began to speak They were terrified and they fell on their faces however Remaining in that terrified state Would have paralyzed their gospel witness to the world but Our loving and merciful Savior comes to them he touches them and he says get up and do not be afraid in An obedience to his command they lift up their eyes to the Sun the glorious and exalted Son.

In Fact there was no one else there anymore Except the Son the one whom we should listen the one through whom we should understand the law and the prophets. The king has come the king has been revealed the king reigns.

Therefore there is kingdom work to be done that work Should be done in in the home on the streets in the marketplace and even and even to our leadership our governing bodies. Now we've seen as an example of what not to do Even though it's natural and we probably would have done the same thing.

But what not to do as a response to to this event to be gospel witnesses to the world. But let's look at What we should do an example of what we should do as gospel witnesses to the world. And again, I want to draw out Peter as as our example now.

Remember that Jesus said to them do not testify until after my resurrection. Jesus's sermon that we're going to look at Happens after his death after the after his resurrection and after his ascension.

And the reason I bring up all three of those is because this passage in in Matthew 17 brings up all three of those Before we get to his sermon. Let me touch on those three things. The first one is the the death of Jesus if you notice when Jesus asked them Why why does why did the scribe say that Elijah must come and Jesus says well, he did come but they didn't recognize him and they did whatever they wanted to to him and in the same manner The Messiah the Son of Man will suffer at their hands.

The.

Connection here with John the Baptist is that they didn't recognize John the Baptist as the fulfillment of prophecy and They did what they wanted to with him. They're also not going to recognize Jesus as the Messiah and so therefore they they kill him.

We've already talked about the resurrection. Why do I bring up the the ascension or another word is departure that the Bible uses? The reason I bring that one up is because if we read this account in Luke's version he says Jesus Moses and Elijah.

We're talking about his departure. So after his death resurrection and departure. Which also in my opinion, I think that's what Matthew 16 Verse 27 to 28 are talking about we have Peter's sermon. So if you want to flip over to to acts Acts chapter 3. I want us to recognize two things.

When we listen to Peter's sermon, I like for us to recognize that Peter Takes advantage of his circumstances of his situation and he's testifying about Jesus to his neighbors and to the governing bodies to his leaders.

And the other thing that I would like for us to recognize as we listen to a sermon is How much he draws from this event on the Mount of Transfiguration. So acts 3 11 through 26 While he was clinging to Peter.

This was this was a man that had been healed by them. He was clean to Peter and John all the people ran together to them at the so-called portico of Solomon full of amazement. But when Peter saw this he replied to the people men of Israel.

Why are you amazed at this or why do you gaze at us as if by our own power or piety? We made him walk the God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob the God of our fathers Has glorified his servant Jesus to whom you delivered and disowned in the presence of Pilate When he had decided to release him.

But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you. But put to death the Prince of life the one whom God raised from the dead a fact to which we are.

Witnesses and.

On the basis of faith in his name it is in the name of Jesus Which has strengthened this man whom you see and know and the faith which comes through him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.

And. Now brethren, I know that you acted in Ignorance just as your rulers did also but the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of the prophets that his Christ would suffer and has thus fulfilled.

Therefore repent and return so that your sins may be wiped away in order that times of Refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord and that he may send Jesus Christ Appointed for you whom heaven must receive the the ascension.

Heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things About which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from ancient times. Moses said the Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brethren to whom you shall give heed to everything he says to you and it will be that every soul that does not heed the prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people and Likewise all the prophets who has spoken from Samuel and his successors onward also announced these days.

It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with your father saying to Abraham and In your seat all the families of the earth shall be blessed for you first. God raised up his servant and sent him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.

Peter calls them out of their ignorance for not recognizing Jesus as the Messiah. By God's grace they are given another chance here to be redeemed. Just as the successors of Samuel spoke of the days of Jesus.

So are we the successors of the Apostles and we should be speaking the name of Jesus to the world. Jesus came through the Jews and for them first. But we are the families of the earth that Abraham's seed has blessed.

We are one church and one people in Christ. We too must speak the words of life to the nations. We must warn others of the destruction to come if they do not heed these words of life. We must lift our eyes and see no one but Jesus the exalted one for he is our King.

He promised to never leave us or forsake us. He will come down with us off the mountain And give us the words of life. Now let us all go out into the world our family marketplace the streets and even to our governing bodies and Speak the words of life To the world.

Let's pray father. We thank you for letting us gather together.

In your name.

Thank you for allowing us to have the fellowship That Jeff was teaching us about earlier. That fellowship only happens because we are united in you and by you. Father we pray and ask that you would help us in every aspect and Avenue of our lives.

Would you help us to be? Your witnesses to the world. Because you are a king in Jesus name. We pray. Amen.