The Gospel According to MARK
Bible Baptist Church | Dover
Pastor Doug Kilchenman
December 27, 2015
Expositional Preaching from the Authorized Version of the Holy Bible
2015 VISION: Redeem the Time!
Current Book: The Gospel According to Mark – Message 40
Scriptures for Today: Mark 9:1-13 – Jesus’ Transfiguration Title of Today’s Message: The Most Incredible “Experience” – and missing the burden of Christ! INTRODUCTION Last week, we concluded a series of messages focusing on WHO Jesus is, WHAT Jesus said would happen to Him, and the importance of following Him before His imminent return. Today, we will turn to one of the most well-known events found in the Gospels – the transfiguration of Jesus Christ. And, we will see the 3 closest disciples to our Lord Jesus Christ literally SLEEP through quite possibly the greatest “EXPERIENCE” in the Bible!
PREACHING NOTES 1. Jesus took Peter, James and John up into a high mountain apart to PRAY. As He prayed, the fashion of His countenance was altered… Luke 9:29 Matthew 17:2 Revelation 1:13-17
NOTE
“the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering” “his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.” “And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead…Fear not; I am the first and the last”
Most people (as hypocrites) make a show of the outside, while the heart (inside) is vile and wicked. Jesus was not that way! While the outside was humble man, inside was holy God!
But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep… Luke 9:32 Luke 22:44-46 1 Thessalonians 5:6
NOTE
“But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep” “And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping” “Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.”
What a thought! What a missed opportunity! I wonder what we miss while asleep on God.
2. Moses and Elijah appeared in glory, and they were TALKING with Jesus. They spake of His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem… Luke 9:31 Deuteronomy 34:5,6 2 Kings 2:11, 12 Revelation 11:1-6
NOTE
“Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem” “Moses the servant of the LORD died…but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.” “appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire…Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” “I will give power unto my two witnesses...fire proceedeth out of their mouth…These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have powers over the waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with plagues, as often as they will.”
Jesus was able to share His burden with Moses and Elijah – while the disciples slept.
He was about to become sin for us and our curse – He was willing, but it was His burden. Luke 22:44 John 12:27 Hebrews 5:7
NOTE
“being in agony he prayed more earnestly…his sweat was as it were great drops of blood” “Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.” “Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard…he feared”
It seems as though we are at a distance from truly understanding Jesus’ burden – even now.
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The Gospel According to MARK Pastor Doug Kilchenman
Bible Baptist Church | Dover December 27, 2015
3. When Peter, James and John awoke, they saw His GLORY, and the two men. The disciples were afraid, and Peter spoke without knowing what he was saying… Luke 9:33 Philippians 3:10
NOTE
“Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here…not knowing what he said.” “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;”
Maybe, if they were praying with Jesus, they might have understood His burden. They were overwhelmed by their emotions from the “experience.” Peter was not seeing “Biblically.” Moses & Elijah, Confucious & Zarathustra, St. Patrick & St. Francis are not to be compared for a moment to Jesus Christ! The first thing people like to do when they get confused is to say, “let us build…” (Gen 11:1-4). False religions and cults like to build and worship statues.
They feared as they entered the cloud, and heard the audible voice of God the Father… Luke 9:34 Matthew 17:5-6
NOTE
“While he thus spake, there came a cloud…and they feared as they entered into the cloud.” “While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.”
These disciples SAW the glory of God and HEARD the audible voice of God! What earthly “experience” could you and I ever “experience” that would even come close to that? None!
Jesus charged them to tell no man what they saw until after He was risen from the dead… Matthew 17:9 Philippians 3:10
NOTE
“Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.” “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death”
Maybe, if they were praying with Jesus, they might have understood His resurrection.
Jesus clarified how the Scriptures spoke of Elijah coming and spoke of John the Baptist (type)… Malachi 4:5 Matthew 17:13 John 1:21
NOTE
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day” “Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.” “And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not.”
Clearly, John the Baptist was NOT Elijah. But, he was certainly a “type” of Elijah. All the conditions at the First Coming of Christ (until Acts 7) were in line with all the OT prophecies of the Second Coming. Elijah, like John, is beheaded, when he does show up (Rev 11:6-14).
As a result of this “experience”, Peter would speak of the Scriptures as a MORE SURE WORD… 2 Peter 1:12-21
NOTE
“For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty…We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed…”
This passage (and passages in Matthew/Luke) gives us much to consider related to our own lives and how we are easily duped and led astray by our emotions. It serves as a warning to us of what can happen to us if we are sleeping when we ought to be watching and praying. We must judge every “experience” by the infallible standard of God’s Word which is GREATER than any experience. As we head into 2016, may we never forget this truth!
A TIME OF DECISION – It is no coincidence that you were here today to hear a message from God… What did God speak to you about today through His Word? Repent, if needed, and obey Jesus Christ.
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