MATTHEW 17:1-9
Three disciples of Jesus saw Him glorified in a transfigured form, standing with Him were Moses and Elijah on the mountain. Beloved in the Lord and my dear listeners; Akwasi in the opening drama asked rightly: How did Moses and Elijah get to that mountain?
Prayer:
Gracious Heavenly Father, the Christian church throughout the world is about to enter into the holy season of Lent. Before we journey with Your Son Jesus Christ into His passion, give us a glimpse of His glory. Give us, O Lord, some encouragement from the mountaintop as we walk through the valley of the shadow of this world’s sorrows. Give us the strength found in the eternal hope which is in the life, death and victorious resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Lord, in whose name I pray. Amen.
Friends Don’t let your hearts be troubled about how Moses and Elijah got to the mountain; surely Moses and Elijah on the mountain top should give us real hope for our salvation in Jesus Christ…. Thanks be to God.
Akwasi and Adjo: You want to know more: therefore let me tell you some famous biblical stories .., in each of these stories you will learn that God Himself made farewell preparation for His faithful servants.
The first in mind is about a man named Enoch who lived before the days of Noah in the Old Testament. Enoch lived a total of 365 years and we are told that he walked with God.
My cherished Listener: do note that throughout the ages; many people at different times walked with God. But what makes Enoch’s walking with God unique; is that the Bible says he did not see death. Yes “God took Enoch home”.
Narratives
Enoch’s narrative is like this: God and him were one day walking. At that point in time they walked further than they ever did before. Then God said to Enoch, “my dear son, do you know, we are closer to My home than yours?… You definitely need rest, so come home with Me and I will give you that rest?”
Yes, “God took Enoch home and he was no more”. It was God Himself who made the arrangements for Enoch’s farewell… for him to enter heaven.
Akwasi and my dear listeners; You can read about Enoch in Genesis 5 and Hebrews 11.
The second man for whom God made final arrangements for was Elijah, the great prophet of God. On Mt. Carmel, Elijah had confrontation with 450 prophets of Baal. He called upon the Lord’s mighty power and He defeated them all.
Shortly after that incident Elijah appointed his successor prophet Elisha. As both master and servant walked along, a chariot and horses of fire separated them and Elijah ascended to heaven in a whirlwind.
Akwasi and my cherished listeners: Thanks be to God; that like Enoch, Elijah’s earthly farewell arrangements were made by God Himself.
Case of Moses
The third person had a special end. — When the life of the great deliverer of Israel was near the end, his story took an interesting turn. This prophet and the people of Israel had wandered for 40 years in the wilderness and they finally camped at the edge of the long awaited Promised Land. But before they could get to the promised land, God took this Prophet to the top of Mt. Nebo and allowed him to have a clear and a full view of the land he had labored and given his entire life for.
Moses, yes the Prophet’s name is Moses, saw the land which God promised Abraham 500 years earlier. This very-promised land, which Moses saw, would be under King David as the greatest nation on the face of the earth… in 500 more years to come
Indeed God wanted Moses to see this land from a distance, because he was not going to cross the Jordan River alive…. But thanks be to God, that He had a far better promised land in mind for Moses…. Friends, Jesus is preparing a better place for you in heaven by faith you will see it..for Moses and Elijah on the mountain confirmed it.
The Bible tells us that:
“Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there on Mt. Nebo at the age of 120 years, and the Lord buried him and to this day no one knows where his grave is.” (Ref Deuteronomy 34)
How wonderful:
- God made the final arrangements for Enoch.
- God made it for Elijah and
- No wonder God made final arrangements for Moses too: and the book of Jude in the New Testament says that: The Archangel Michael and the devil fought over Moses’ body.
- My dear listeners…. if Archangel Michael or otherwise Jesus and satan the devil fought over Moses’ body… You should guess right who won….. to help you answer… note that Moses showered up on top of the mountain with Jesus in the company of Elijah…..
- Christian doctrine teaches rightly: that Moses’ body went straight to heaven and nobody will ever find his grave….. Praise be to God!
These are the stories I want to share with you on this day of Transfiguration. So that we learn how God made the final arrangements for Enoch, Elijah and Moses.
Akwasi and Adjo: All these 3 Old Testament stories leads to another great story in the New Testament.
Moses and Elijah on the mountain
Before going to Jerusalem for the last time, Jesus goes up a mountain and takes three of His disciples, Peter, James and John.
On that New Testament Mountain, Jesus gives His 3 disciples the opportunity to see His glory. Jesus’ form and cloth became brilliant as light, and there standing with Him in glory were — no other persons than Elijah and Moses of old!… We are told that Peter, James and John looked on as “Moses and Elijah spoke with Jesus about His departure which He was about to fulfill. Ref (Luke 9:31).
God the Father made one more earthly farewell arrangement— this time round for no other person but, for His only begotten Son Jesus Christ!.
Season of Lent
My dear listeners: Throughout the Christian church, this coming week begins a season called LENT. Throughout the ages, and by the practices of the Church; this story of Jesus’ transfiguration is read on the Sunday before Lent starts.
Akwasi and Adjo: This practice is done for a couple of important reasons.
- First, the disciples were just about finished with their three-year training and soon they will be on their own.
- These disciples needed some encouragement; He took Peter, James and John and gave them the opportunity to see the “Glory of God in the face of Jesus”
- That is how the disciple described his experience; when he wrote to the churches.
Dear Listeners: this year 2020; before going into the season of Lent, we, too like the disciples, need a glimpse of the glory of God in the face of no other person or pastor; but in the face of Jesus Christ.
To tell you the truth: in today’s world, we are in difficult times! Life is tough for us and for many of our neighbors and loved ones. There are depression, divorce, loneliness, addiction, abuse and anxiety… to mention but a few.
In the mist of all these life threatening challenges, there comes times in our lives where we lose courage… In desperation we wonder where help will come from.
My dear listener; don’t let your hearts be troubled: I assure you and encourage you today that, God is with us. On the mountaintop we can get a glimpse of the glory of our God in the face of Jesus Christ?
Imperfection of man
Akwasi and Adjo: Just as Moses was taken to Mt. Nebo to see the Promised Land, much the same way Jesus was taken to the Mt of Transfiguration and Jesus saw your sins and my sins… on the mount of Transfiguration Jesus saw the sins of the whole world. Do understand that, the Christian church observes Lenten season because of the sin.
- The great prophet Elijah, at one time, wanted to resign as God’s prophet, because he saw himself not perfect.
- Moses couldn’t go into the Promised Land because of his own imperfection.
- Friends: You and all humanity, including me… we are imperfect and sinful, we need a Savior.
The Bible teaches in (1 John 1:8-9), “If you say you have no sin, you deceive yourselves and the truth is not in you. But if you confess your sin, God is faithful and just and will to forgive you your sin and cleanse you from all unrighteousness”
Akwasi and Friends listening to me: Before we get glimpse of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, we need to face our sinful nature; our sins of greed and selfishness; immorality and intolerance; our lack of faithfulness to God and His Word. All humanity need to re-examine our lives.
Unfortunately many in our land and society want nothing of Jesus in their lives.
- They want Jesus out of public places.
- They want any kind of moralistic judgment out of their way.
- The powers that be, want Christianity out of politics, out of schools, and out of the media.
In fact; today’s contemporary lifestyle has no room for Jesus at all– the gambling, immorality, drugs, revenge, and gossip, excessive leisure, cheating, name them.
The dubious pleasures of this lavish world and the spiritual arrogance that seeks to find salvation in human achievement is what is promoted.
The world’s glory
The world seek glory all right; but not in the face of Jesus Christ.
As Jesus looks down from the mount of His transfiguration, He sees nothing but the valley of our failures, and just beyond our failures, Jesus sees His cross.
In the scriptures we are told Jesus set His face toward Jerusalem to His cross –
Jesus goes to Jerusalem to willingly take our sins and failures upon Himself.
And that’s exactly what Jesus, Moses and Elijah talked about that day— that day in the New Testament, when God the Father made arrangements for the death of His Son.
Here is the Good News for you and me.
- No one can ever find the grave of Enoch.
- No one can ever find the grave of Elijah.
- Yes No one can ever find the grave of Moses.
- More importantly, the grave of God’s Son, Jesus Christ cannot be found today.
Akwasi: I perceive someone is loudly asking why? To answer:
- I will say the tomb is empty.
- The body of Jesus did not decay. Jesus rose victoriously on the third day.
- The tomb in which they laid His body could not hold Him.
In glory Jesus ascended into heaven – Jesus is in heaven with Enoch, Moses and Elijah and all who slept in the Lord.
My dear listeners: Truly I have more Good News for you:
Be assured that God the Father has made some final arrangements, this time for the faithful and those who believe in Him.
That little glimpse of God’s glory in the face of Jesus Christ is what will enable us to walk through this world’s wilderness until we cross over into our “promised land.” The New Jerusalem in Heaven. (Rev 3:12 & 21:2)
Assurance
Now to my co-servants in His Vineyard: Whilst we journey in this part of eternity, troubles and sufferings will abound, but, be guided that, as Moses laid his hand on Joshua; and Elijah laid his hand on Elisha, so much more Jesus has laid His hands on us through the apostolic succession…and by the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus enables you and me to move from this mountain of faith through the valleys of this sinful world…, my fellow workers and colleagues in His vineyard be encouraged and of good cheer, run the race of faith till the end; confidently- trusting that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is with you.
Jesus is making the best farewell arrangement for you on your last day… the appearance of Moses and Elijah on the mountain should give you a firm conviction that Jesus is indeed preparing a place for you in His Father’s house…. Amen.
Now may the peace of God which surpasses all human understanding, keep our hearts and our minds unto Christ Jesus, until life everlasting..
In the name of God the Father; and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit… Amen!
