INtroduction
Main Point: Behold the glorious Christ and follow him to calvary.
1 - A Glimpse of His Glory (V.2-8)
“Who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ” - Mark 8:28-29
“When they embraced him as Messiah, they embraced a suffering Messiah and a life that included taking up their own crosses (8:34–38). It was a radical, revolutionary revelation—totally out of sync with their messianic expectations. It was naturally confusing and depressing. And with what was coming, the Lord realized that it needed to be balanced with some positive realities. So now he had them in the crisp atmosphere of the alpine heights of Mt. Hermon, away from everything, alone with him under the spinning summer constellations. They were on top of the world with Jesus. Here they were going to be bombarded with the most stupendous blast of encouragement mortals have ever known.” - Kent Hughes
“We beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” - John 1:14
“They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.” - Luke 9:31
“When the cloud lifted, Moses and Elijah had vanished. Jesus alone remained as the sole bearer of God's new revelation to be disclosed in the cross and resurrection. Moses and Elijah had also followed the path of obedience, but having borne witness to Jesus' character and mission, they can help him no more. The way to the cross demanded the submission of the Son and Jesus must set out upon it alone.” - William Lane
“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him…I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him.” - Deuteronomy 18:15, 18
“The one who calls disciples to follow him does not abandon them for glory, but turns from glory to accompany them “on the way” to Jerusalem and the cross.” - James Edwards
2 - The Son of Man Must Suffer (V.9-13)
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.” - Malachi 4:5-6
“The Exodus launched a millennia-long journey that will culminate in the Messianic era. Until injustice, violence, and greed disappear, we remain enslaved. Until God makes His home on Earth, we have not truly left Egypt. Each Passover empowers us to complete what was begun so long ago. The last of the biblical prophets declared that Elijah will herald the ultimate redemption. His cup at our Seder encourages our march from every form of internal and external slavery and re-inspires our faith in the coming of Moshiach (Messiah).”
“He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.” - Isaiah 53:3
“Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.” - Isaiah 53:10
“O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” - Luke 24:25-27
“For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. 19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” - 2 Peter 1:16-19
“Light after darkness,
Gain after loss,
Strength after weakness
Crown after cross;
Sweet after bitter,
Hope after fears,
Home after wand’ring,
Praise after tears.
2
Sheaves after sowing,
Sun after rain,
Sight after mystery,
Peace after pain;
Joy after sorrow,
Calm after blast,
Rest after weariness,
Sweet rest at last.
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Near after distant,
Gleam after gloom,
Love after loneliness,
Life after tomb;
After long agony,
Rapture of bliss,
Right was the pathway,
Leading to this.”
-Frances Ridley Havergal