The Transfiguration and the Hope of Glory

We have a citizenship in heaven. When Christ returns, He will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.

Scripture: Mark 9:1-29

Sermon Notes:

1. In Mark 9, Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem, in keeping with the suffering foreshadowed in Psalm 2, Isaiah 42, and Genesis 22.
2. On the mountain, Peter, James, and John are with Jesus as He is transfigured and the Father says: This is My Son. Listen to Him.
3. The voice, radiant glory, and cloud echo the theophany of Exodus where Moses met with God. In Exodus 34, Moses' face shone brightly, and in 1 Kings 19 Elijah also met with God on the mountain.
4. Jesus drives out the evil spirit by prayer, calling on God's supernatural power.
5. The Transfiguration is a manifestation of the glory of God in Jesus, further proving His deity.
6. The account of the Transfiguration echoes the account of Jesus' baptism (Mark 1:9-13) and His prayer of agony in the garden (Mark 14:32-42).
7. God the Father, Son, and Spirit manifest themselves at Jesus' baptism.
8. The Transfiguration is a trinitarian event; the cloud which overshadows the mountain signifies the presence of the Spirit of God.
9. Glory and suffering are connected in the NT; Jesus endured the suffering of the cross because of the joy set before Him (Heb. 12:1, Rom. 8:18).
10. The application we can draw from this passage can be summed up in three points: the Ministry of the Spirit, the Hope of the Church, and the Mission of the Church.
11. The cloud overshadows and protects. Similarly the Spirit overshadows and protects us in our homes, our work, etc. (Exodus 40, Psalm 91:4).
12. The Spirit enables us to hear God's voice and to see the Son.
13. We know we are sons and daughters of God because of His Spirit (Romans 8:14-16).
14. One day we too will be transfigured to radiate God's glory just as Jesus did in the Transfiguration (Phil. 3:20-21).
15. We have a citizenship in heaven. When Christ returns, He will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.
16. We are being transformed now by the Spirit (2 Cor. 3:18).
17. Listening and obeying the Son is the means of transformation.
18. In the book of Revelation, the saints are clothed in bright white garments, which are righteous deeds (Revelation 19).
19. We need to move where the Spirit's presence leads us.
20. Spiritual idleness leads to spiritual insecurity. We need to be active in the ministry of the church, in addition to engaging in personal devotion.
21. Like Paul, we are called to open blind eyes, to call people out of darkness into the community of light (Acts 26:12-18).
22. Westminster core values and pillars: Regeneration and Revival, Education, Apologetics, Proclamation; Service (Justice and Compassion), Evangelism, Worship, Nurture
23. We who have worshiped must leave this place and go down the mountain to serve.

Application Questions:

1. What is the significance of the Transfiguration?
2. How do you know that you have the Spirit and that you are a child of God?
3. How is cross-bearing obedience a necessary part of listening to Jesus?
4. As the bride of Christ, how are we to adorn ourselves?
5. What is the significance of the overshadowing presence of the Spirit in our lives?
6. How are you using your God-given gifts to contribute to the life and ministry of the church?
7. Are you neglecting worship and prayer, and therefore busy but powerless to serve? How can you adjust your priorities, so that worship and prayer become important in your life?
8. How is the fulfillment of Westminster's core values and four pillars tied to the transforming of the Word and Spirit on our lives?

Sermon Notes