 With that said, we're going to be looking today at Mark chapter 9 verses 1 through 13. I'm going to begin our study by looking at verse 1. For those of you who have never joined us in a Bible study, what I normally will do is I will give an introduction and give you some of the things that have been taking place up to this point to kind of lay the foundation so that as we go through the study, you'll be able to stay up with us and know where we're at and what's going on at that time. And so I'll begin by looking first at verse 1 here in chapter 9. And then I'll pick up at verse 2 and take you to verse 13. So reading verse 1, Mark writes, and he said to them, Surely I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power. Now in our earlier study, we remember that the Apostle Peter has made a confession of faith concerning Jesus Christ. And he had made this confession of faith in front of the other apostles and they all understood what was being said. So in response to Peter's confession of faith, Jesus had given his men a command. In Mark 8 verse 30, he strictly warned them that they should tell no one about him. Well in verse 31 of that chapter, he went on to share with them the price that he would pay for their redemption. He said that he would suffer many things. He would be rejected by the religious authorities. He also made it clear that he would be killed, but that he would be raised from the dead. Now for his men, this was terribly hard for them to grasp after all. Jesus was so amazing. He was their hero. We sing a song. He is waymaker, miracle worker, promise keeper. He's the light in the darkness and for them that's who Jesus Christ is. He's their hero. There's nothing that he cannot do and there's no one he cannot defeat in argument and there's nobody as great and strong as he is. But he made it clear that disciples, if they're going to be followers of him, must pay a price and they must be willing in order to be his followers. In Mark 8 34, he says, whoever desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me. Luke was writing the same thing, but he gave to us a little greater insight in Luke 9.23 when it says that he said whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves, take up their cross daily and follow me. So the Lord was about to go through a betrayal. He's going to go through a violent and terrible death. And with that said, those who were to follow him were to be prepared for a life of sacrifice. Now, a good example of someone in Scripture who understood that very well was a man by the name of Paul. You see, when he was saved, it was made clear to him that he would have a life that was filled with suffering. He was on the road to Damascus. He hated Christians. We all know the story of his amazing conversion. While on the road to Damascus, to arrest people who are followers of Christ, he actually was arrested by Christ himself and the Lord confronted him. And he said, why are you persecuting me? Why are you so bent on persecuting me? Who, who am I persecuting? What have I persecuted you? He says, when you persecute these who are mine, you're persecuting me. And the Lord began to speak to him concerning those things. And, and in that confrontation, we know that famous story. It's recorded in Acts chapter nine. Paul came to faith in Christ. He was blinded by this experience. So the Lord had instructed a disciple, a man by the name of Ananias, to pray for him. And at first Ananias was hesitant because he knew Paul's violent reputation. Paul had been breathing out threatenings concerning those who were followers of Christ who would take them. He put them in shackles, bring them back, try them as heretics. And it was witnessed to their death. He had a violent reputation. But the Lord calmed Ananias down by telling him that, that Paul, he said, is my chosen vessel. In Acts chapter nine, verse 16, he went on to say, I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name's sake. And Paul indeed lived a life of suffering. Later on, when he was writing to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians chapter 11, verses 24 and 25, he began to outline some of the things that he had gone through. He said, five times I received from the Jews, forty lashes, minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was pelted with stones. Three times I was shipwrecked. He said, I spent a night and a day in the open sea. I've gone through many times of suffering and great pain. In 2 Timothy, his last letter that he ever wrote, chapter three, verse 12, he said, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. So discipleship comes at personal cost. And those who follow him should count that cost. In Luke 14, 28 through 30, Jesus said, suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won't you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you saying this person began to build a house and it wasn't able to finish it. I was in Greece back in 1975. And I was in a village with a friend of mine and we were speaking to somebody in the village and he pointed to a house that had begun building it, but they never finished it. And the guy tells me, he says, this is the laughing stock of the village. He started to build it and never finished it. That's exactly what Jesus said would happen 2,000 years before. You see, salvation is free, but discipleship is costly. There was a hymn writer by the name of Amy Carmichael and she wrote a hymn and the name of the hymn was, hast thou no scar? And one of the lines of the hymn says, as the master shall the servant be and pierced the feet that follow me. And so Jesus wanted his men as well as those listening to understand that there is a cost. He didn't want them to emotionally respond and then walk away from him. And because of this, he made it clear that following him is costly. If you desire to save your life, you'll lose it. If you lose your life for his sake and the gospels, you'll find it. And he asked the question and it related to profit. He said, what profit is there to you if you gain the world but lose your soul? So the thought of him being killed and that they should be willing to die. Well, that was a very difficult thought because at first it might appear to them that his ministry would be unsuccessful. And it may be that that was part, at least, of the reason that the Apostle Peter tried to intervene in and calm him down, if you will. Because after Jesus had made these statements concerning the cost of discipleship and all in that he was going to die, well, actually that he was going to die, Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. Matthew 16, 22 tells us what he said, Far be it from you, Lord. This shall not happen to you. And you remember as we went through that passage together that Jesus took him and rebuked him for being Satan's mouthpiece. You see, Peter tried to keep Jesus from going to the cross, but Jesus came with redemption as his mission. And that wasn't something that he was going to avoid. He wasn't going to avoid going to the cross. And in Luke chapter 12, verse 50, he said, I have a baptism to be baptized with him. And what stress I am under until it's completed in John 12, 27, he said, now my soul is troubled. What shall I say? Father, save me from this hour. But for this purpose, I came to this hour. So no, you cannot discourage me from going to the cross. You can't discourage me from doing the thing that I have come to do. He came to lay down his life and his followers were to lay down theirs also. The thought that they were to commit themselves to this fate could be discouraging. So in light of all of this, Jesus now gives them a wonderful promise. Notice verse one, how it says assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power. Some of his disciples will not die until they see God's kingdom, as he said, present in power. Luke 9, 27, saying the similar thing says, I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God. Before they see the kingdom of God, before they see the kingdom of God with power. Now, as you look at that, let me take a moment to consider that with you. There are two ways that this passage has been interpreted. One is, when Jesus is speaking in this way, they will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power. There are those who view this as a promise of the sending of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit fell on 120 believers, baptizing them in power. And the 11 faithful men who were present at Pentecost would have seen this occur. And in that way, there are those who would say that this would be God's kingdom coming in power. But there's a second way to look at that. And the second way is to see it fulfilled in what is called the transfiguration. Notice that Jesus said, some standing here will not taste death till they see the kingdom. That word kingdom in the original language, which is called Koinei Greek, the word kingdom is basalea. The word basalea is used to speak of royal splendor. It also can speak of a kingdom. So speaking of royal splendor would be referring to the transfiguration, an event that they're going to see take place. And some would be speaking of Peter, James, and John. And this is going to cause them to be moved into a deeper faith as they see His glory. And so this is in reference, I would say, to the transfiguration. So in verse 2, now after six days, Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up on a high mountain, apart by themselves, and He was transfigured before them. His clothes became shiny and exceedingly white like snow, such as the launderer, as no launderer on earth can whiten them. And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three tabernacles, one for you, one for Moses, one for Elijah. Because he didn't know what to say, they were greatly afraid. A cloud came, overshadowed them. A voice came out of the cloud saying, this is my beloved Son, hear Him. Suddenly when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves. Now, as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept this word to themselves, questioning what the rising of the dead from the dead meant. They asked Him, saying, why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first? And He answered and told them, indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all things. And how is it written concerning the Son of Man that he must suffer many things and be treated with contempt? But I say to you that Elijah also came, and they did to him whatever they wished as it is written of him. And so, notice in verse 2, after six days, six days after Jesus gave this promise it was fulfilled before these men. Now I'm going to touch on something some of you would probably be interested in. Others may have not noticed this at this point. So I'll bring it up to you to bring confusion to your poor little hearts. If you notice with me in verse 2, it says after six days. But if you look at Luke 9, it says something that appears to be different. And there are those who say this is a contradiction in Scripture, seeing that people like to point out contradictions. Let me point one out to you and give you an explanation. In Luke 9, 28, it says, now it came to pass about eight days after these sayings that he took Peter, John, and James and went upon a mountain pray. Now wait a minute. Once it's six, the other said eight. What's the answer? Is that a contradiction? I don't know. Let's keep going. No, yes. Yes. I'll answer it. No, it's not a contradiction. Why would you have two different days, amounts of days, eight and six? Well, Luke included the day Jesus made the promise and the day of the transfiguration. Mark was speaking of the six days before or in between the promise being given and the actual event. There's no contradiction. It's an explanation in terms of the timeline as it related to that. No contradiction at all. So what happens? Well, verse 2 tells us that Jesus took three men with him, Peter, James and John. These men are part of what has been called by theologians over the centuries his inner circle. Jesus had a group that are referred to in that way, the inner circle. Sometimes that inner circle of the 12 included Andrew, which would have made it four. Jesus had many who followed him. He had 70 that are referred to as the 70. He also had the 12. But within the 12, he had his inner circle. His inner circle, Peter, James, John, Anocation, Andrew. And you see in various places in Mark's gospel, these men mentioned. For example, in Mark 5.37 at the raising of Jeres' daughter, it says that Peter, James and John went with him. In Mark 13, verses 3 and 4, it says as Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, tell us when will these things happen and what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled. When they were with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, according to Mark 14, 32 and 33, it says they went to a place called Gethsemane. Excuse me, and Jesus said to his disciples, sit here while I pray. He took Peter, James and John along with him and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. All of the apostles had attention from the Lord and all of them were growing in their understanding, but not all of them were receiving some of the things that these men did receive. Earlier Jesus granted to them to know the mystery of the kingdom, but within the confines of the twelve, there were some that were given greater insights. And these men are the ones that are being referred to. And so he took notice with me, he took three men. He took these men with him so that they would be eyewitnesses to what was about to happen. That follows what the Jewish law in Deuteronomy 19 verse 15 says. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. That's why you have these men going with Jesus onto this mountain. Now in verses two and three, it says after six days, Jesus took Peter, James and John, led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves and he was transfigured before them. His clothes became shining exceedingly white like snow such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. Now notice it says that he went on a high mountain. That would be in the north. Jesus was there by Caesarea Philippi and the highest mountain around him would have been Mount Hermon. Mount Hermon is just a little to the north. It's 9,200 feet in elevation and so more than likely that's what is being spoken of. And it says that he was transfigured before them and his clothes became shining exceedingly white. Luke tells this in chapter nine verses 28 and 29 about eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up into a mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face changed and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. As he was in prayer, the appearance of his face changed. Matthew 17 verse 2 says that he was transfigured before them and his face shone like the sun. The word transfigured is a Greek word metamorpho and it speaks of changing into another form or transforming. Jesus' appearance was changed and he was resplendent, it said, with divine brightness. The word metafuo is a word that we use metamorphosis. It speaks of a transfiguring or a changing, usually speaks of a caterpillar that's being transformed into a butterfly. And so what we see here is the Lord showing his glory. He said the brilliant glory of his divine nature blazed forth through the veil of his humanity. And they're seeing this for over 30 years. Jesus had hidden his glory from man. He was seen as a baby. He was seen as a young boy. He was seen as a man. But he had clothed that divine glory in human form over the course of his lifetime and now they're getting a glimpse of it. In the book of Hebrews in chapter 1 verses 1 through 3, the writer said God who had various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets as in these last days spoken to us by his son whom he has appointed heir of all things through whom also he made the worlds who being the brightness of his glory and the express image of his person and upholding all things by the word of his power when he had by himself purged our sins sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high. God who had veiled himself in human flesh is now being revealed. The portion of his glory is partially seen by Jesus' disciples. Now in the future those who have believed him will see him in full glory. In John 17 24 Jesus prayed Father I want those who 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. In first John 3 2 John said beloved now are we the sons of God and it does not yet appear what we shall be but we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is. I look forward to that how about you to see the Lord Jesus as he is amen overwhelming applause so anyway notice verse 3 his clothes became shining exceedingly white like snow the light reveals various things it reveals his glory it reveals his holiness it reveals his purity it reveals his majesty and they see this as they see this it must have been something that contributed to to what John was later to write in in first John chapter 1 verse 5 he said this is the message which we have heard from him and declare to you that God is light and in him is no darkness at all. In Revelation 21 23 it says the city had no need of the sun or the moon to shine in it for the glory of God illuminated it and went on to say the lamb is the light and so they saw the glory and as this is taking place verse 4 tells us Elijah appeared to them with Moses and and they were talking with Jesus as overwhelming as this almost have been there's more to come Elijah and Moses are appearing and talking and they're shrouded in glory now when it says Elijah Moses appeared to them Hebrews chapter 12 verse 23 speaks of the assembly of the firstborn whose names have been written in heaven and the the names that are spoken of would would include those who are God's children even those who are waiting to be saved both Elijah and Moses belong to what has been called the assembly of the saved and they're awaiting their resurrection bodies but they're appearing now in physical bodies and it says in verse 4 that they appeared to them with Moses and were talking with Jesus now what were they talking about well they would be confirming what Jesus had recently been saying to the disciples they were speaking of his upcoming death now how do we know that well in Luke 9 verses 30 and 31 it says behold two men talked with him who were Moses and Elijah who appeared in glory and spoke of his decease which was about to accomplish at Jerusalem so Moses and Elijah are speaking to Jesus about what Jesus has just been teaching his disciples and they're overhearing this conversation the question is asked why Moses and why Elijah well Moses and Elijah sum up what is called the law and the prophets Moses is the lawgiver he's the one to whom God gave the commands in Ezra 7 verse 6 it says that Ezra came up from Babylon he was a teacher well versed in the law of Moses which the Lord the God of Israel had given so Moses is known as the lawgiver now Elijah is a prophet and was known as the defender of the law he was a man of uncompromising godliness he was the premier prophet of Israel he performed many miracles was greatly revered by all Israel and so what you have is a summation of the law and the prophets because the law and the prophets all are pointing to the Lord Jesus Christ the Messiah who will fulfill those things that have been prophesied so as this is taking place verse 5 Peter answered and said to Jesus rabbi it's good for us to be here let us make three tabernacles one for you one for Moses one for Elijah and Jesus said shut up can you not for a moment stop being a lunkhead you know he would move one foot out of his mouth only to put the other one in I love the guy it says in verse 6 he didn't know what to say well when you don't know what to say don't say anything just kind of smile it's like yeah that's cool it's better to be quiet and thought a fool then to open your mouth and remove all doubt right so he opened his mouth they didn't know what to say and so one he didn't know what to say they were greatly afraid but there may be another reason because in Luke 9 32 and 33 it reads Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep and when they were awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him came to pass as they departed from him Peter said to Jesus master it's good for us to be here and let us make three tabernacles one for you one for Moses one for Elijah not knowing what he said so he was speaking he was sleepy a little afraid he opened his mouth as was his his his his behavior that's what he does but once again he speaks without thinking his fear provoked him to say what he was thinking in Proverbs 18 13 this is a good proverb to answer before listening that is a folly and a shame it's always wise for us to listen and when you have nothing to say that can contribute to what's being said it's always better for us just to remain quiet and to listen well Jesus had just said something he had said that there are those who will not taste death until they see the kingdom in power so his thought is very simple he's thinking perhaps you can remain here if you remain here and we build these these shelters these tabernacles then that means once again that means you won't have to die well he's missing the point you see the law and the prophets point to Jesus who is messiah Paul spoke of that in Romans chapter 10 verse 4 he said Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes the word end is it means the goal the law is summed up in messiah the law is pointing to Jesus I wouldn't know what it means to lie had not the law said thou shall not lie I wouldn't know what it means to covet had not the law said thou shall not covet Paul spoke concerning that to the Romans and he said that he was awakened to a sinful condition by the law so the law tells you what God is not pleased with the commands that God gave tell us what he is not pleased with and it also awakens in us the reality of the fact that that we cannot fulfill those things that the law prohibits because by the flesh we can't please God Jesus went so far as to say adultery isn't simply the act itself it's the desire in the heart it's the lust that would push you to consummate an act of adultery if you were given opportunity it's not the actual act it's the desire that drives you were you to be able to do it without being caught you would do so you want to lie you you you want to steal something it's what would drive you to steal something if you knew you wouldn't get caught that's why a man's character is demonstrated by what he does when he's by himself because laws will keep you from doing certain things only for fear of punishment but it also awakens us to the fact that I am a thief in my heart or I can be a covetous person in my heart an adulterer in my heart a variety of other things because like we already saw in the in the gospel of Mark these things originate in the heart these are the sin nature that show themselves or express themselves and all of that so the law of Moses and the prophets combined point to us our need for a savior and who the savior is that's why you would have Elijah and that's why you would have Moses the law giver and the one who prophesied the prophet and the law combining for us to awaken to say we need Jesus Christ but what you have is the apostle Peter who's saying great let's build three little tabernacles shelters tents and each one of you can occupy that that means Jesus you don't have to go to the cross also that means that we can we can keep this mountaintop experience going because what a thrill it would be to be able to see those whom you have read about imagine Peter is seeing Moses imagine that Moses he's going wow that's big moe now he's looking at Moses and and and Elijah these are men that he read about these are men that he knew about these are men that he had memorized things related to and there they are I can't imagine what an amazing experience that would be we need to build some tabernacles let's keep this thing going I want to stay right here and once again he's misspeaking once again he's saying you really don't have to die again the law and the prophets pointed to messiah as for prophecy revelation 1910 says the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy in other words Jesus is the theme among all prophecy all true prophecy points to him and true prophecy causes us to worship him and Jesus is the essence of all true prophecy pointing us to God as the source of true prophecy so Peter wanted to build three tabernacles and in doing so he wanted to avoid the death of Jesus and that was not something that should be done Moses and Elijah had to leave so that Jesus could fulfill his mission and so it makes it very clear that this is something that must take place this is something that has to take place and so he's making it very clear that I have to do this in order for all our prophecies to be fulfilled and so as we look at verse seven it says that a cloud came and overshadowed them and a voice came out of the cloud saying this is my beloved son hear him so as Peter is speaking the cloud overshadows him luke 934 says they feared as they entered into the cloud the glory of the Lord is being revealed now this glory that is being revealed all of you have heard this word before it's referred to as the chicana glory I used to think it was the chicano glory but it's not it's the chicana glory I'm sorry I'm in a silly mood I don't know maybe we shouldn't have paid off that bill I don't know but the chicana the word chicana refers to the divine presence that's what chicana means the divine presence in Exodus 40 verses 34 and 35 it says the cloud covered the tent of meeting and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled upon it and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle it's called the chicana and as the glory descends and it's is beginning to be experienced it says a voice in verse 7 a voice came out of the cloud saying this is my beloved son hear him and suddenly when they had looked around they saw no one anymore but only Jesus with themselves a voice spoke this is my beloved son hear him God referred to Jesus in this way at his baptism when his ministry began in Matthew 3 17 it says this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased this is my son my beloved son and I'm pleased with him so God declares his approval of everything that the son has done and everything this the son says later john 8 29 Jesus said he who sent sent me is with me the father has not left me alone for I do always those things that please him so once again he speaks of him as his son and this ministry is now to be accomplished he spoke at the beginning and now he's speaking at its conclusion and notice how it says that God says hear him Peter you and the men must remain silent and obediently hear what my son is saying if he's telling you that he must go to Jerusalem to die then listen to him if he tells you to deny yourself to pick up your cross follow him then listen to him because it's your obedience that in so you demonstrate true faith and you reveal your true love there are a lot of people that you encounter and I encounter and I've been this way in the past in my early days especially where I would say I really love the Lord but I didn't do those things that please do I really love the Lord but I'm not doing those things that I know I should do I I still remember I was two years old in the Lord two and a half years old in the Lord it's a new Christian no excuse but an explanation I was a young believer and I had a struggle with alcohol off and on for a long time in my in my young life and as a Christian on occasion I struggled with it and I was at a wedding my cousin is getting married I was a Christian I was 23 and they had free beer and free um what do you call it what do you call it it's a bubbly stuff champagne how'd you know now a champagne gotcha um but they had free and I and I you know I'm 23 I drank a beer drank another beer before you know it I'm getting a little little inebriated and I'm sitting on the couch I still remember it many years ago now but I haven't forgotten and two Christians because my cousin's a Christian came and sat down one on one side the other and the other and and started witnessing to me about Jesus and there I was a bit tipsy and that's an old word nobody uses anymore I was a little drunk and um I told them I'm a believer and they just kept witnessing well why why were you why are you witnessing to me because you're drunk Christians don't drink they don't get drunk what are you doing and I said you know and I tried the Lord used that it was one of those things in my life where the Lord began to speak to me saying there are certain freedoms you think you have that really are not appealing to me and and make you a candidate for being witnessed to it's one of those things that that God used in my life in the earlier days don't do anything that causes people to think you're not saved it's one of those early things giving you an insight into the passion I have about living for Christ it's one of those things and so you can appear that way sometimes you can appear you can act as if well you see you can say I love God but Jesus said if you love me keep my commands Jesus asked a question why do you call me Lord Lord and do not the things which I say why do you say that to me why I think that those words mean something different to you than they do to me because if you really loved me you'd obey me the Father's even telling us that this is my beloved son listen to him obey him what he says you need to do he's going to go die on a cross you cannot convince him not to don't be talking about building a tabernacle or two or three up there to try and keep this spiritual moment going you need to understand that he has to go to the cross so you can take that message of the cross to a world that needs to hear it so don't try and keep him here why don't you obey him why don't you listen to him in John 14 24 Jesus said he who does not love me does not keep my words and the word which you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me if you don't love me you don't obey me very simple now the disciples responded Matthew 17 verse 6 when the disciples heard it they fell on their faces were greatly afraid and that's very natural that's a proper response for such an encounter there are those who speak casually of such things and and they are not to be heard they're not to be listened to don't listen to the person who speaks casually of spiritual encounters I remember one person I John MacArthur a very fine Bible teacher once was speaking about how that he was speaking to a man and the man said to John MacArthur a good Bible teacher once again said to him you know John every morning when I'm shaving Jesus appears next to me while I'm shaving and we have a conversation and the man asked John MacArthur do you believe that and John says no but what makes me nervous is I think you do that you cannot speak casually of an encounter with God and anyone who does doesn't see how even when an angel appears how the people will fall at their feet and even sometimes wrongly worship them no when God when God breaks into the scene it's not casual it's not like yeah I'll talk to you in a minute God I got some things I'm doing over here it's not one of those things at all when the Lord begins to speak and and move and show himself they were greatly afraid well verse 8 continuing says certainly when they had looked around they saw no one anymore but only Jesus with themselves the revelation is now complete the men are now left to sort out what has happened as this is taking place verse 9 now as they came down from the mountain he commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen till the son of man had risen from the dead so they kept this word to themselves questioning what the rising from the dead meant and so he speaks to them he says keep this to yourself now remember in chapter 8 verse 30 he strictly warned them they should tell no one about him and once again he tells him keep this to yourself now why why would they need to keep quiet well some may once again try to make him a king by force they'd already done that at the feeding of the 5000 but also they were yet to completely understand the resurrection after Jesus was risen from the dead both Peter and John wrote about what they saw in second Peter 1 16 through 18 the apostle writes we did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty for 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 we ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain so Peter later was to write about that John refers to this it appears at least that he did in his gospel in John 1 verse 14 where it says the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us we have seen his glory the glory of the one and only who came from the Father full of grace and truth now one thing seems to have stuck with them in verse nine and that was when he spoke concerning that he would be rising from the dead what does that mean as they came down the mountain that's what they spoke amongst themselves about now it wasn't that they were ignorant of resurrection they were familiar with concepts it's found in in the book of Daniel in chapter 12 it's found in the Psalms so it's found in various places at least a hint for resurrection not a full disclosure but a hint towards it you find that in the Old Testament at all and they would have been aware of the teachings having Jesus with them besides that they were with Jesus when he raised the widow of Nain's son from the dead as well as Jairus's daughter they were aware that Jesus could raise the dead and all but they didn't understand the full import of it they didn't know what that meant they were confused about the resurrection of Jesus himself their question is really a matter of when is this going to happen when is this resurrection that you're speaking of going to occur when is the kingdom going to be established we we would like more information when you read your bible and you go into the book of Acts it speaks concerning the fact that one of the things the last things they ask is are you going to establish your kingdom now because what is called eschatology or the dealings or theological teachings of the last days one of the subjects related to that in the in the nation of Israel that there were certain things that would take place when Messiah came and they thought that he would immediately begin the the uh ruling as Messiah on the face of the earth they didn't see the church age when we're going through Ephesians right now you'll see that if you come with us on Wednesday through the journey you see that that there are things that they don't know that are mysteries that are being revealed and the church age was one of those mysteries they didn't realize that there would be a time when the Gentiles would be welcomed into the family of God and so they're wanting to know what this all means what does this mean while they asked them a question verse 11 it says they asked him saying why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first and he answered and told him indeed Elijah is coming first and stores all things and how is it written concerning the Son of Man that he must suffer many things and be treated with contempt but I say to you that Elijah has also come and they did to him whatever they wished as it is written of him since you're the Messiah we haven't seen the physical appearance of Elijah you see in the Old Testament the last book of the Old Testament Malachi chapter four verses five and six says behold I'm going to send you Elijah the prophet before they come in of the great and terrible day of the Lord and he will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers lest they come and spite the land with the curse he says he's going to send Elijah Isaiah 40 verse 3 speaks of a voice of one calling in the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord make straight in the desert of highway for a God that's going to be a ministry of Elijah and so they're asking that question why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first well he answers then he says Elijah does come first and restores all things in other words one already has come who filled the role of Elijah he preached in the same spirit and this one he's referring to is John the Baptist in Luke 1 16 and 17 it says many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord the God he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just to make ready of people prepared for the Lord in Matthew 11 verses 11 through 14 I say to you among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist but he was least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he and from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force for all the prophets and the law prophesied until John and if you're willing to receive it he is Elijah who is to come he has come he has come the spirit of Elijah has already been with us he prepared the way for me and so he has in spirit already come but even as they rejected John as they did and he died they will also reject and kill Jesus and that is something that you have to know many of the things and I'll close with this many of the things that we learn we learn in stages don't become discouraged because sometimes you may I've been a christian for three years already and I don't understand these things I've been a christian for five years I don't understand I've been a christian for 10 years I've been a christian for 40 years I've been a christian for 50 whatever I've been a christian for over 50 years and I still and I wouldn't even pretend and I would never want anybody to think that I think I know everything I don't I just know most things no I don't of course not you're learning we're all learning don't get discouraged some lessons the Lord gives to you are repeated you already know this I'm just saying it they're repeated sometimes several times same kind of lesson little variation here in the same lesson same lesson same lesson why because over time you begin to learn these things the apostles were to take the message to the world a message of salvation but their eschatology the way they thought of last days didn't include what Jesus was teaching them they had yet to learn that or understand it so Jesus begins to repeat over and over again I will be betrayed I will be judged I will be put on a cross I will die I will be put in a cave in a tomb in the third day I'll arise from the dead over and over and over even to the point where when those things happen we'll see this we're going to celebrate the reality of this in Easter coming up and the men the apostles are hiding for fear of the Jewish authorities only the women went to the tomb the men were hiding and then when Mary comes and says that Jesus is alive and he appeared to us they thought it was the ravines of a of a mad woman he's dead we saw him die we saw him die why are you telling us these things some things you learn over time and sometimes the Lord will will will kind of move your step here and then you move your step here and he begins to to weave your path till it comes to a conclusion one step at a time I get saved I go in the army I come out of the army I start a Bible study at my my parents' house my brother gets saved he lives in Ontario I live in Norwalk he needs discipling I come to Ontario I start giving him a Bible study I wouldn't have come to Ontario or Chino for me that was the that was the farthest reaches of the earth why would I go there you know cows and flies I mean why I wouldn't have but my brother he got saved he needed a Bible study God knew that it would take a woman to get me here so my brother invites a friend who works with him named Marie that's how I meet my girl I start teaching a Bible study here I used to teach a Bible study right over here off of Philadelphia just across east end there's a house there it's got rocks and called it the rock house it's a different name now but it's a rock house but anyway I used to teach a Bible study there and Marie and I would drive by here this place not this place the church building over there I still remember talking to Marie saying that would be a great place for a Calvary cell ministry that would be a great place if you had told me at the beginning you're going to move to Chino the wage is a sin I want to go to San Luis Obispo not Chino but God orchestrates your footsteps that's what he does has he done it for you I went here then I ended up here then I ended up here then I ended up here and I just got a chance to dedicate my grandbaby from all those little steps that God has put my life through to this one moment where I can say just tell us to paid in full God gave us this place that I couldn't in my imagination ever understand that he had prepared for us that's what he does he takes you step by step step by step you don't need to know exactly where you're going you just need to know I'm supposed to be moving then you move there and you wait then he opens the door and you move there and you wait then you turn around like I can now after over 40 years of being pastor of this church and I can say so that's what you wanted to do Jesus if he had told me at the beginning I just said if God were to open the windows of heaven could such a thing be oh he can where is he leading you right now what is he doing in you what are you arguing with him about I can't do that no I won't go there I let me tell you he has a way of getting you there one way or another if you're married I hope it's not another guy or girl but he'll he'll get you there one way or another and you may not see at that moment what he's doing but one day you'll say so that was it so that was it you saved my brother thank you Jesus but you gave me a wife thank you Jesus and you gave me babies thank you Jesus and he gave me a fellowship thank you Jesus and he gave us his property thank you Jesus you're so good you're so good and father we do