1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:06,080 Speaker 1: Let us pray, and after six days, Jesus taketh Peter 2 00:00:06,320 --> 00:00:09,680 Speaker 1: James and John his brother, and bringeth them up into 3 00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:15,400 Speaker 1: a high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them Matthew 4 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:21,680 Speaker 1: seventeen one and two. Like Peter, James and John, I 5 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:25,040 Speaker 1: thank you, Jesus that you are giving me uncommon access 6 00:00:25,600 --> 00:00:31,160 Speaker 1: to understanding and experiencing you in new and powerful ways. 7 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:35,760 Speaker 1: I praise you for your continued desire to take me 8 00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:40,839 Speaker 1: higher and deeper into the things of the Lord. In 9 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:44,440 Speaker 1: the same way that you were transfigured, Jesus, I thank 10 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:48,240 Speaker 1: you that I am being transformed into the very likeness 11 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:53,040 Speaker 1: and image of You, in the same way our heavenly 12 00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 1: Father validated your purpose Jesus with John the Baptist, I 13 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:01,800 Speaker 1: also am recognizing the validor I have from You Lord 14 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:08,119 Speaker 1: to be seen and heard, transform me from the inside out, 15 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:11,560 Speaker 1: and let me bring others who are close to me 16 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:21,160 Speaker 1: in on the journey of a transformed life. In Jesus' name. Amen, 17 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:26,520 Speaker 1: thank you for praying with us today. Continue your time 18 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:30,399 Speaker 1: with God by listening to today's Bible story brought to 19 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:34,280 Speaker 1: you by bibleine Year dot com. 20 00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:40,720 Speaker 2: Christ Compassion Community. These three characteristics connect all believers. Here 21 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:45,160 Speaker 2: at Christian Healthcare Ministries, we prioritize our shared faith based 22 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:49,880 Speaker 2: values by offering programs for every Christian. Why because that 23 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 2: every Christian is you. From flexibility and picking providers to 24 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:58,520 Speaker 2: the ability to personalize your care with affordable options, you'll 25 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:02,960 Speaker 2: see Biblical unity in action as our members make a difference. 26 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:30,240 Speaker 2: Learn more by visiting hmnistries dot org slash pray. 27 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:25,800 Speaker 3: A beautiful transfiguration. In our last story, Jesus healed a 28 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:29,280 Speaker 3: man who was blind from birth. The young man who 29 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:32,639 Speaker 3: was healed was questioned by the Pharisees, for they did 30 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:35,520 Speaker 3: not want to admit that Jesus was truly good and 31 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 3: had the power to heal. The once blind man stood 32 00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:42,200 Speaker 3: firm and declaring that no evil man could do what 33 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:46,600 Speaker 3: Jesus did. Now we get a glimpse of Jesus's true glory. 34 00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:50,120 Speaker 3: It emerges forth on a mountain, and three of the 35 00:02:50,200 --> 00:02:54,800 Speaker 3: disciples come in contact with the true holiness of Christ himself. 36 00:02:55,520 --> 00:02:58,080 Speaker 3: Inspired by the Gospels. 37 00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 4: Hello, I'm pastor Jack Graham with today's episode of the 38 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:06,920 Speaker 4: Bible in a Year. In our last episode, we heard 39 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:09,919 Speaker 4: how Jesus healed a beggar who had been blind since birth. 40 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 4: He used the opportunity to teach his disciples an important 41 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:17,680 Speaker 4: lesson about God's compassion and to correct their wrong thinking 42 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:21,720 Speaker 4: about the cause of illness and disease. He also used 43 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:24,720 Speaker 4: it as an opportunity to show the Pharisees their own 44 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:29,000 Speaker 4: lack of compassion and spiritual vision. Today, we'll hear how 45 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:33,639 Speaker 4: Peter demonstrates a deeper understanding of who Jesus is. Then 46 00:03:33,680 --> 00:03:36,720 Speaker 4: we'll learn how Jesus gives three of his closest disciples 47 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:40,360 Speaker 4: an opportunity to see his true glory and a mountaintop 48 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:44,080 Speaker 4: experience that would lead them both terrified and in wonder 49 00:03:44,120 --> 00:03:47,880 Speaker 4: at the same time. Let's listen now to the gospel reading. 50 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:53,960 Speaker 3: The fire crackled under the evening stars. Jesus and his 51 00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:59,120 Speaker 3: disciples lounged around the warm flames. Jesus was praying silently 52 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:02,800 Speaker 3: to the Lord. The disciples were staring into flickering light. 53 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:07,360 Speaker 3: Jesus lifted his eyes to the disciples. What do people 54 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:11,640 Speaker 3: say that I am? He asked. The disciples shrugged. Some 55 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 3: say that you are John the Baptist, Thaddeus said while 56 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:18,960 Speaker 3: poking the fire. Others say you are Elisha. Some would 57 00:04:18,960 --> 00:04:21,119 Speaker 3: even say you are one of the prophets of old 58 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:25,400 Speaker 3: that has risen from the dead. James answered, Jesus looked 59 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:28,320 Speaker 3: deep into the flames. But who do you say that 60 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:31,919 Speaker 3: I am? He asked. It was a serious question, a 61 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:36,200 Speaker 3: question that required thought. Peter lifted his gaze to Jesus. 62 00:04:36,680 --> 00:04:39,240 Speaker 3: He was not known as a deep thinker. In fact, 63 00:04:39,560 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 3: Peter was often known for his fast mouth and brash actions. However, 64 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:46,559 Speaker 3: Peter was sure of what he was about to say. 65 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:50,400 Speaker 3: He knew it in his bones. Peter looked deeply through 66 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:54,159 Speaker 3: the flames towards Jesus. You are the Christ, he said, 67 00:04:54,720 --> 00:04:58,240 Speaker 3: the Son of God. It was early the next morning, 68 00:04:58,279 --> 00:05:00,560 Speaker 3: and the sun had not yet peered over the horizon. 69 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:05,919 Speaker 3: Darkness still shrouded the cool morning, and Jesus gently woke Peter, James, 70 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:09,560 Speaker 3: and John, not waking the other disciples, Jesus led them 71 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:12,880 Speaker 3: up a hill it overlooked the first moments of sunrise. 72 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:16,400 Speaker 3: As Peter, James, and John stood over the valley below, 73 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:20,760 Speaker 3: a bright light emerged from Jesus. The brightness was piercing, 74 00:05:20,839 --> 00:05:24,120 Speaker 3: and his face shone like the rising sun itself. It 75 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:27,560 Speaker 3: was as if his humanity was unzipped and the essence 76 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:30,520 Speaker 3: of his deity shone through the cracks. It was too 77 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:33,960 Speaker 3: amazing and too terrifying for the three men to describe. 78 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:38,200 Speaker 3: Emerging from the light was Moses and Elijah themselves. The 79 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:41,200 Speaker 3: three men watched as Jesus spoke with them, yet they 80 00:05:41,200 --> 00:05:44,240 Speaker 3: were not as equals. The two historic men of faith 81 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:47,279 Speaker 3: bowed to Christ as their lord and spoke to him 82 00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:50,720 Speaker 3: as God. It was too great for Peter's heart to handle. 83 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 3: He spoke up and said, Lord, it is good that 84 00:05:54,440 --> 00:05:57,440 Speaker 3: we are here. Let us make three tenths up here 85 00:05:57,480 --> 00:06:01,400 Speaker 3: for you, Moses and Elijah, then we can. As Peter 86 00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:05,200 Speaker 3: was speaking, a bright light consumed Peter and the others completely. 87 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:09,120 Speaker 3: A cloud of holy radiance swirled around them like a tempest. 88 00:06:09,760 --> 00:06:12,919 Speaker 3: Peter shrunk on the floor into a fetal position, covering 89 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 3: his eyes from the light. A voice like thunder boomed 90 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:20,320 Speaker 3: from the clouds, saying, this is my beloved son, with 91 00:06:20,400 --> 00:06:25,599 Speaker 3: whom I am pleased. Hear him and only him. The 92 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:29,160 Speaker 3: voice sent all the disciples onto their faces. Then the 93 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:33,920 Speaker 3: light disappeared. The disciples opened their eyes to see Jesus 94 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:36,800 Speaker 3: standing alone on the top of the hill. They saw 95 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:41,360 Speaker 3: Jesus only without his radiance, but equally holy. He helped 96 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:43,640 Speaker 3: them to his feet and led them down the hill. 97 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:46,400 Speaker 3: The sun was beginning to rise, and they could see 98 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:50,000 Speaker 3: the other disciples beginning to stir awake. Tell no one 99 00:06:50,040 --> 00:06:52,880 Speaker 3: of what you saw this morning. Jesus commanded the three 100 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:55,880 Speaker 3: not until the Son of Man is raised from the dead. 101 00:06:56,720 --> 00:06:59,400 Speaker 3: As they were descending down, one of the disciples asked, 102 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:02,640 Speaker 3: isn't it said that Elijah will return before the Son 103 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:06,880 Speaker 3: of Man. Jesus nodded and said, it is true, but 104 00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:11,640 Speaker 3: Elijah has already come back. You just did not recognize him. 105 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:15,640 Speaker 3: The disciples understood who he was referring to. John the 106 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:19,640 Speaker 3: Baptist was a voice crying from the wilderness. He was 107 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:22,880 Speaker 3: the one who came before Jesus declaring the way. 108 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:28,560 Speaker 4: Of the Lord. We begin today's reading with Jesus and 109 00:07:28,640 --> 00:07:31,920 Speaker 4: his disciples sitting by a fire. By this point, they've 110 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:35,760 Speaker 4: seen their teacher do amazing things, from healing the crippled 111 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:40,000 Speaker 4: lame and even raising the dead, to feeding thousands in 112 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:43,840 Speaker 4: a miraculous display of God's provision. They've heard him speak 113 00:07:43,880 --> 00:07:47,480 Speaker 4: to the Pharisees, challenging their understanding of God's law and 114 00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:51,560 Speaker 4: the purpose of God's law. So Jesus begins with a 115 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:56,520 Speaker 4: simple question, who do people say I am? The disciples 116 00:07:56,560 --> 00:07:59,760 Speaker 4: are quick to reply, some say he's Elijah, others that 117 00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:02,640 Speaker 4: he's John the Baptist. There seems to be no general 118 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:06,600 Speaker 4: consensus or true understanding among many as to who is Jesus. 119 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:10,280 Speaker 4: So then he asked the harder question, who do you 120 00:08:10,480 --> 00:08:14,720 Speaker 4: say that I am? They've been closer to Jesus than anyone. 121 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:17,560 Speaker 4: They've seen him in public, spoken to him in private. 122 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:21,560 Speaker 4: If anyone is to grasp his true nature, it should 123 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:24,800 Speaker 4: be them. I can almost hear the crickets as the 124 00:08:24,920 --> 00:08:28,480 Speaker 4: question hung in the air silence, but not for long. 125 00:08:28,960 --> 00:08:31,160 Speaker 4: If there's one thing you can say about Simon Peter 126 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:33,720 Speaker 4: is that he's quick to jump up and speak his mind. 127 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:38,280 Speaker 4: So he says, you are the Christ, the son of God. 128 00:08:39,120 --> 00:08:43,240 Speaker 4: Jesus replied that Peter was correct, but as Jesus continued, 129 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:45,480 Speaker 4: he told him that the insight did not come from 130 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:49,959 Speaker 4: Peter's on understanding. God had revealed this truth the foundation 131 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:53,000 Speaker 4: of the Church. God would one day build the truth 132 00:08:53,040 --> 00:08:55,840 Speaker 4: that Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah, the 133 00:08:55,880 --> 00:08:59,280 Speaker 4: Savior of the world, is the core of the Christian faith. 134 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:03,520 Speaker 4: Less than a week later, Jesus took Peter John and 135 00:09:03,640 --> 00:09:06,040 Speaker 4: James with him to the top of a high mountain. 136 00:09:06,679 --> 00:09:09,120 Speaker 4: As we've seen before, these three men had a very 137 00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:14,320 Speaker 4: special closeness with and access to Jesus, but nothing they'd 138 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:17,000 Speaker 4: seen so far had prepared them for what was about 139 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:21,560 Speaker 4: to happen. There on top of the mountain, Jesus was 140 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:25,720 Speaker 4: transformed right before their eyes. Jesus the light of the world, 141 00:09:25,800 --> 00:09:29,319 Speaker 4: shone brightly around them. His face was bright as the sun, 142 00:09:29,400 --> 00:09:33,160 Speaker 4: and his clothes shone in brilliant white. The disciples were 143 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:36,319 Speaker 4: amazed at what they were seeing, but there was more 144 00:09:36,360 --> 00:09:40,320 Speaker 4: to come. Then. Elijah and Moses were standing with Jesus 145 00:09:40,400 --> 00:09:43,880 Speaker 4: talking to him. The moment was so spectacular that Peter 146 00:09:44,000 --> 00:09:46,880 Speaker 4: had an idea. Why don't we just stay here forever? 147 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:51,760 Speaker 4: He asked. It's understandable when we experienced something incredible and 148 00:09:51,840 --> 00:09:55,520 Speaker 4: life changing, our desires often to capture that moment and 149 00:09:56,080 --> 00:09:59,000 Speaker 4: never let it end. But to do so would have 150 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:02,120 Speaker 4: been self serving. This moment was meant to move these 151 00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:06,040 Speaker 4: disciples to greater things in the future. Everything that Jesus 152 00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:09,560 Speaker 4: is on the inside is now radiating on the outside. 153 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:14,760 Speaker 4: It is a metamorphosis, a transfiguration, and they, the disciples, 154 00:10:15,120 --> 00:10:17,920 Speaker 4: would then be empowered to take Jesus the light of 155 00:10:17,920 --> 00:10:21,960 Speaker 4: the world, to every person they could. It's a reminder 156 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:25,240 Speaker 4: for all of us to take these high mountaintop experiences 157 00:10:25,280 --> 00:10:28,160 Speaker 4: when we feel very close to God, and allow them 158 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:31,199 Speaker 4: to strengthen us and encourage us so that we would 159 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:34,920 Speaker 4: pursue God and share his love with others. No sooner 160 00:10:34,920 --> 00:10:38,480 Speaker 4: had Peter spoken than a cloud came over them, just 161 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:40,760 Speaker 4: as a cloud had covered Israel in the days of 162 00:10:40,840 --> 00:10:44,840 Speaker 4: Moses in the desert. God's voice thundered out of that cloud, 163 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:47,880 Speaker 4: repeating what God had said when Jesus was baptized by 164 00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:51,160 Speaker 4: John the Baptist, this is my son, with whom I 165 00:10:51,160 --> 00:10:55,440 Speaker 4: am well pleased. But this time the identification of Jesus 166 00:10:55,480 --> 00:10:59,199 Speaker 4: as God's son came with a command. And that command 167 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:03,520 Speaker 4: is this, listen to him. If there had been any 168 00:11:03,600 --> 00:11:06,080 Speaker 4: question in their minds that Jesus had come from heaven, 169 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:08,920 Speaker 4: that he is the son of God, now all doubt 170 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:12,920 Speaker 4: was wiped away. This realization filled Peter, James, and John 171 00:11:13,040 --> 00:11:16,760 Speaker 4: with fear because they were in the presence of God. 172 00:11:17,720 --> 00:11:20,440 Speaker 4: But then we see in Matthew seventeen and verse seven. 173 00:11:20,960 --> 00:11:23,640 Speaker 4: But Jesus came and touched them, saying rise, and have 174 00:11:23,760 --> 00:11:27,360 Speaker 4: no fear. They had nothing to fear because Jesus was 175 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:30,839 Speaker 4: with them, and the same is true today. Because of Christ, 176 00:11:30,960 --> 00:11:33,240 Speaker 4: we do not have to fear the presence of God. 177 00:11:33,559 --> 00:11:36,760 Speaker 4: We can fear Him properly and respect him and revere him. 178 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:41,080 Speaker 4: But fear real fear. The fear of God is love 179 00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:44,679 Speaker 4: on its knees and worship of our God. As they 180 00:11:44,720 --> 00:11:47,280 Speaker 4: descended the mouth, and Jesus told them to keep what 181 00:11:47,400 --> 00:11:49,880 Speaker 4: had happened to themselves until the Son of Man had 182 00:11:50,000 --> 00:11:54,280 Speaker 4: risen from the dead. This command likely perplexed them, as 183 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:57,160 Speaker 4: they still did not fully understand what Jesus was going 184 00:11:57,240 --> 00:12:00,800 Speaker 4: to do. One of the disciples asked why some say 185 00:12:00,840 --> 00:12:04,200 Speaker 4: Elijah must return before the Son of Man, and Jesus 186 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:08,079 Speaker 4: explained that in a way, this had already happened. John 187 00:12:08,120 --> 00:12:11,360 Speaker 4: the Baptist had completed the ministry of Elijah, preparing the 188 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:14,680 Speaker 4: way of the Lord. But just as the people fail 189 00:12:14,720 --> 00:12:18,240 Speaker 4: to recognize Jesus, they did not recognize that John the 190 00:12:18,280 --> 00:12:21,680 Speaker 4: Baptist was the one declaring the arrival of the Savior. 191 00:12:23,080 --> 00:12:25,640 Speaker 4: Dear God, we thank you for your word, which is 192 00:12:25,920 --> 00:12:29,000 Speaker 4: light and life to us. Thank you that you are 193 00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:32,000 Speaker 4: the Savior, the Son of God. Who is the light 194 00:12:32,160 --> 00:12:35,600 Speaker 4: of the world. Help us to remember that in mountaintop 195 00:12:35,679 --> 00:12:39,520 Speaker 4: experiences when we see you clearly, that it's not enough 196 00:12:39,559 --> 00:12:41,800 Speaker 4: for us to remain there, but we are to go 197 00:12:41,880 --> 00:12:44,880 Speaker 4: and tell others of your love and your grace. We 198 00:12:44,960 --> 00:12:48,760 Speaker 4: pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen. Thank you 199 00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:52,360 Speaker 4: for listening once again to today's Bible in a Year podcast. 200 00:12:52,840 --> 00:12:56,880 Speaker 4: I'm Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas. Please download thepray dot 201 00:12:56,920 --> 00:12:59,760 Speaker 4: com app and make prayer and Bible study the prayer 202 00:12:59,800 --> 00:13:03,120 Speaker 4: or of your life. And if you enjoyed this podcast, 203 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:06,559 Speaker 4: share it with someone you love because by sharing this 204 00:13:06,679 --> 00:13:10,079 Speaker 4: word of God, you can make a difference in someone's life. 205 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:12,480 Speaker 4: And if you want more resources on how to tap 206 00:13:12,520 --> 00:13:15,920 Speaker 4: into God's power for living the Christian life, be sure 207 00:13:15,920 --> 00:13:19,800 Speaker 4: to visit us at Jack Graham dot org. God bless