I'm pretty confident that you would agree with me that the invention and the continued development of the cell phone, the cellular phone, with its communication abilities, immediate access to the internet and so much information, as well as its ability in taking photos, video, has really caused quite a change, a sea change in our culture for good or ill. I can still remember my first sort of memory of a cell phone. I had gotten into the suburban of our neighbors, friends and neighbors, and Mr. Goodwin was driving us somewhere. We were only a mile or two down the road, and we came upon an intersection where there was a serious wreck. And Smoke was there. We probably showed up just after. And Mr. Goodwin took out his phone and called 9-1-1. But I remember the phone he had, probably in the mid-90s, I would guess. It was about this big, probably. Things have changed. But one of the consequences of the cell phone is that it has enabled us to be able to capture a moment any moment, any time by video or photo, to the extent now that photos and videos, they're so ubiquitous, they're so constant that without realizing it, some people are looking to capture moments, all the while perhaps missing moments. Capturing experiences and yet missing the experience. It probably happened over Christmas. Families gathering, friends gathering, sitting down for dinner and someone says, we should get a photo of this. They get up and they take a picture and someone says, here's my phone, take a picture. Wait, let me go into the room, I wanna get my phone. And you start hearing the language, just one more. Wait, just one more, just one more photo. To the extent that the moments are being captured, but perhaps in a way missed. Well, we want both, right? We want to capture the experience. We want to bottle it up. We want to keep it. At the same time, we want to enjoy the moment, and we want to enjoy the experience. Well, as we continue in Mark's gospel, we come to chapter 9, and there's something of this going on with the apostle Peter. We're going to see Jesus and hear of Jesus in his transfiguration. and Peter is trying to figure out how to relate, how to respond to this moment, to this experience. The text is Mark 9, beginning at verse 2. Let's give our attention to the Word of God. Mark 9, verse 2. And after six days, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And Jesus was transfigured, before them. His clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. There appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter said to Jesus, Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents One for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, this is my beloved son, listen to him. Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them, but Jesus only. And as they were coming down the mountain, He charged them to tell no one what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. And they asked Him, why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come? And He said to them, Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that He should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? But I tell you that Elijah has come. And they did to him whatever they pleased as it is written of him. At the end of chapter eight in Mark's gospel here, in the previous episode, Jesus, we saw last week, begin for the first time instructing his disciples about his necessary suffering and his crucifixion, his death, and his rising from the dead. Not only that, Jesus followed up that teaching by saying that if anyone would come after him, if anyone would pursue being a disciple, they must deny themselves, carry their own cross, and follow Him. This whole picture at the end of chapter 8 would have been a kind of heavy burden, if you will, hard to hear for the disciples, a difficult path, something hard and heavy. And yet what we have in chapter 9 of the transfiguration is a picture of what the disciples and what the church in every age is to be keeping their eyes fixed upon in the midst of discipleship, in the midst of the valley, in the midst of the sometimes hard path of following our Lord. And that is Jesus in his glory and in his majesty. This is a glory that Peter sees, that the disciples see, that is to capture the church. It's a glory that anticipates his resurrection, his ascension. It anticipates the glory of the church, our glory. And so while last week we heard the term cruciformity, a term that I like, it's a word I have grabbed and taken from the title of a book by Michael Gorman, Cruciformity, it's Paul's narrative of the cross. Well here we want to say that the Christian life is also not only to be cruciformed, have a cross shaped to it, but glory formed, majesty formed, formed by the risen and the glorified Christ of which we are getting a glimpse here. The uplift and the hope that this may provide for the Christian journey. Think for a moment how central humanity is in God's creation and purpose for the world that he made. He creates a whole world in Genesis 1 and 2. It's teeming with life, but at the center of that creation are people, Adam and Eve. They are the ones who are made in the image of God. They are the ones who are given the mission by God. Later, the call of Abraham, through Abraham, the call of Israel, It's his people called who are to be reflecting the grace of God, the truth of God, justice to the nations. And we hear the language of the psalmist. What is man that you're mindful of him, yet you have crowned him with glory and honor. We see our Lord Jesus coming from the heights of glory to the depths of earth for the central purpose of redeeming people, people. So God gives great attention to people, to man. But what has man done? In his fall, in his corruption, he has, as St. Augustine put it, turned inward on himself. That's what we do naturally. We turn inward on ourselves. The value, the worth, and the attention God gives to man is not to result in man living for himself. But that's what happens. In this episode here, the transfiguration of our Lord serves to lift the eyes and the hearts of the disciples to where they ought to be. It's also to serve as a glimpse of hope amidst the cross-worn path. We can all so easily fall prey as a result of sin, opposition, trials, pain, to despair. to despair, to discouragement. In John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, that allegory in which the main character, Christian, is making his journey to heaven, his journey to the celestial city, there is a point where he and his companions come to a point in the path where they begin to doubt and they begin to question, did we even ever really see the great city? Did we even see it? And Christian speaks up and he encourages his companions, albeit with tears and crying, he said, did we not see the city to come from the top of Mount Clear? Did we not see the city? Because the journey can be so hard at times, we forget. Oh yeah, we saw the city. Oh yeah, we're on our way there. Oh yeah, the Lord, He did get hold of my life. Oh yeah, He is near me. and with me and upholding me, even if I don't sense it. Last week, I think it was last week at a book reading event for children, our U.S. President and the First Lady were sitting in a room full of children. You couldn't see the children in the video. And the First Lady's reading a book. President Biden is sitting next to her. And all of a sudden, you see in the screen a little child, probably one and a half or two, probably broke loose from the group. And he's up front now with the First Lady. And he's kind of messing around with President Biden's shoes and walking around him. He's got his elbow on him. The President's kind of looking around. He's smiling. He's not sure what to do, maybe looking at the Secret Service like, is this OK? You know, it's not normal that you can get that close to someone like the President of the United States. It was cute, but sometimes, like the child, our world is so small we sometimes forget that the person and the presence and the power of the Lord of Glory is near us, is with us, indwelling us, And the disciples here in this transfiguration story and scene get a glimpse of the majesty and kingship of Jesus. The location in this story and text here is significant. Verse two says, after six days, Jesus took Peter, James, and John up a high mountain. Some believe this is Mount Tabor, 12 miles west of the Sea of Galilee. Most believe it is Mount Hermon, 60 or so miles north of the Sea of Galilee. present-day border of Israel, Lebanon, and Syria, standing over 9,000 feet high. So Mark is, as we read along, Mark is taking us up the mountain. And he's doing this because it happened, and he's doing this because important things happen on mountains. Mark has made no attempt in his gospel to focus on dates or times. specific of Mark's Gospel. The most common word he uses to move through, which Mark is the shortest Gospel, it's the most rapid Gospel, so you move from event to event most quickly than any of the Gospels, but the most common word he uses is the word immediately or the word and. That word immediately occurs over 40 times in the Gospel of Mark here. But here an important time stamp is given. After six days. After what six days? Mark is wanting us to see a parallel very much between what happens with Jesus and what happened to Moses when he called Moses up Mount Sinai. Moses waited six days on the mountain. He waited amidst a cloud-covered mountain. just like Jesus, after which the Lord spoke forth his word, and he appeared in glory. Think about the book of Exodus. After the Lord delivered his people from slavery in the first chapters of Exodus, From Exodus 19 and 20, you have the Ten Commandments. From Exodus 19 through at least Exodus 34, we see the Lord calling Moses up Mount Sinai. He's going up the mountain and back down the mountain. Up the mountain, back down the mountain several times. And what's He doing? God is revealing His Word to Moses, that Moses would hear it, that Moses would inscribe it, and that Moses would give the Word of God to the people of God. And what happens in Exodus 24, which is the text we heard read earlier, and in chapter 34, reveal a very strong parallel to our story. Just to reflect and hear again a few of the verses from Exodus 24. Verse 12, the Lord said to Moses, come up the mountain, wait there. that I may give you the tablets of stone with the law and the commandments, which I have written for their instruction. Verse 15, Moses went up the mountain. The cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the Lord dwelt on Mount Sinai. The cloud covered it six days. On the seventh day, he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. The appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain. The parallels are very strong. Consider a few of the parallels. In Mark, Jesus takes three disciples up the mountain. In Exodus, Moses goes with three named persons, probably referring to Aaron, his brother, and his two first sons, Nadab and Abihu, that are mentioned. In Mark, Jesus is transfigured. His clothes become radiantly white. In Exodus 34, Moses' skin shines when he descends from the mountain and talks with God. In Mark, God appears in veiled form in an overshadowing cloud. In Exodus 24, God appears in veiled form in an overshadowing cloud. In Mark, a voice speaks from the cloud, same as in Exodus 24. In Mark, the people are astonished when they see Jesus after he descends. That goes into the next passage of verse 15. And in Exodus 35, the people are afraid to come near Moses after he descends from the mountain. There's a few things worth emphasizing here. One, many Jews throughout history have recognized Moses' ascent here up Mount Sinai as a kind of enthronement. an exalting of Moses. And that partly has to do with the proximity Moses had to God. If you read the larger context, you read about not just Moses, but 70 elders are called up, along with Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu. But it is only Moses to whom God will appear from out of the cloud and reveal his word. So it is with Jesus, but to a much greater degree. He is enthroned and exalted as Lord. But not only does the Lord reveal Himself in His word from the mountain, but He points to His Son saying, listen to Him. He has the words of life. He's the greater Moses in this way. We heard earlier Pastor Brett speaking about, among other things, types and shadows that we see in the Old Testament fulfilled in the New Testament. Many people recognize this event as a type in Exodus. Being fulfilled. Filled out in Jesus' transfiguration. God gives to Moses the Word. But Jesus is the Word. He has the Word. Amidst His transfiguration, you have Elijah representing the prophets. You have Moses representing the law. They appear. A cloud covers it. It's only Jesus who is seen. He's the one that the law and the prophets point to. The language of after six days is important. The transfiguration occurs after six days, on the seventh day. It's very likely tying what Jesus has said previously about his suffering, about cross bearing and that path, to that now of his majesty and glory. The cross comes But then the crown comes. Glory comes. And for the disciples, they're getting a glimpse of the glory of Christ. Of His resurrection to come and of their own glory to come. How important that as we live our lives and live out our faith, that we are keeping our eyes on the glorified Lord Jesus. In our relationships, keeping our eyes upon the Lord Jesus. Seeking His Word in our vocations, in our trials, in our life direction. Is this what is capturing my heart and leading me in my life of faith? Perhaps we could imagine someone with great, great wealth inviting us to their mansion for a week-long ski trip. And as you arrive, they begin to give you a tour of the house from room to room, and you're seeing the niceties and amenities and luxuries, comforts. And they get done, and you say to them, this is so great. Thank you again. We've been looking forward to staying and enjoying this time. We'll take any one of these rooms. And he says, oh, no, no, no. This is just the guest house. This is just the guest house. You'll be staying with us just down the way in the actual house. as wonderful, as joyous, as beautiful as the Christian life and worship and discipleship can be at times, it's hard for us to imagine. It's hard for us to imagine, as Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4, though there he's comparing it to the trials that we endure. As Paul says that this life and path is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory. beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen, but to the things that are unseen. The disciples are getting a foretaste of glory. But an important point for us, and central to this episode, is that such a foretaste, such a vision of the glory of Christ, does not last. It does not last. Think of the highest points that come in your Christian life. They do not last. They do not last. The disciples need something more than such a vision. Peter tries to make it last. He's terrified, not sure what to do. I think it's hard not to hear Peter's response as a bit humorous. He's transfigured Jesus. His clothes radiantly white. If that's not enough, you have Elijah and Moses appear. The three are conversing. I mean, Peter, just take it in. Just take it in. But it's Peter. He can't not talk. Verse 5. His response. And Peter says, Jesus, Rabbi, it's good that we are here. You think? Let's make three tents. Let's make this last. One for each of you. Who doesn't want to prolong and preserve a glorious moment? Let's stay on the mountain. The Lord gives His people moments and glimpses of great joy, of glory, of spiritual height and elation, but it is not enough for the path ahead. He gives those things to us. I trust you experienced those times where the Lord is impressing something of His presence, of His word, of His grace, of His truth upon our hearts. Mary Magdalene could not cling to Jesus for long after His resurrection. We read in John 20, after the resurrection, Jesus said to her, do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Think of the Israelites. They could not take the manna in the desert, which God was providing only on a daily basis, and freeze dry it. We can't stuff enough manna in our bag and take it for the week or month ahead. We have to take the trek back to the wilderness daily to receive from the Lord. Peter could not preserve, he could not memorialize his experience on the mountain to be sufficient steam or strength for the path or valley tomorrow. But what does emerge in this scene tells us where it is that we are to find our daily strength, our daily guidance, our daily help. As Peter is witnessing the three of them, a cloud overshadows them, God's voice emerges, quote, this is my beloved son, listen to him. It is the word. It is the Word of God. It's the Word of Christ. Not brief visions or passing feelings that are to be our strong foundation for the journey. And this is what Peter, as we heard in the New Testament reading, reflects on as he writes what we know as 2 Peter. Hear those words again. Peter says, we don't follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus. And here is referring to this very event. We were eyewitnesses of his majesty. When he received honor and glory from God, the father, the voice was born to him from the majestic glory. This is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased. Peter says we heard we ourselves heard this very voice. Born from heaven. We were with Him on the holy mountain." And then he says this, and we, writing to these Christians, and we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place. Not only were we witnesses of His majesty, not only did we hear the divine voice, but he's saying you have the word of God inscripturated, preserved, written down and preserved. And he's saying, you will do well to pay attention as a lamp shining in a dark place until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Those terms, both of them, the day dawning, we think of the day of the Lord, the day of the Lord, and the morning star, they both refer to the return of the Lord Jesus. Two points or applications here. One, we see the Word of God, the Word of Christ emerge through Mark now as central for the life and path of faith. This is my beloved son. Listen to him. As we press into the new year, as you press into the new year, in what ways will the Word of God be giving shape to your life? What patterns? What practices will you devote yourself to in feeding upon the Word? And I would emphasize feeding upon the word, because the scriptures are not first a textbook for study. It is a text for our study, but it is food. It is to be food for the very life of faith. Blessed are those who hunger, Jesus said. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst. Blessed, right? Joyful and happy. are those who have a hunger. That's what we pray for. That's what we need is a hunger. Hunger in our hearts for the Lord, for his glory, for his word. Secondly, God's work of restoration. The restoration of creation, the restoring, the building up of his people, the saving, the sanctifying of sinners, extension of His kingdom reign. That comes in the context of suffering. The disciples were told they come down the mountain and they're wondering, what does this rising from the dead mean? What are we to make of resurrection and of Christ's transfiguration? And so they ask in verse 11, they ask Him, why do the scribes say first Elijah must come? And he said, Elijah does come first to restore, there's the word, restore all things. And how is it written of the son of man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? I tell you, Elijah has come. And they did to him whatever they pleased as it is written of him. The prophet Malachi in the close of the Old Testament, he had prophesied that an Elijah figure would come. That would be the beginning of restoration, redemption, creation. Jesus has made clear that John the Baptist was that very figure, the Elijah figure, to begin restoration. And so the question is surfacing, if Elijah has come and that means restoration, why are you talking about suffering? And it's because in God's design, restoration and growth and building and sanctification comes through sacrifice. not joyous sacrifice, but sacrifice. First and foundationally, the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, and then our walking the path of sacrifice. We go up the mountain, but we come down the mountain of cross-bearing as we grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ. Every day, every week, we're to go up the mountain to behold the glory and majesty of our risen Lord and Savior, and then we come back down with that impressed on our hearts and our minds, bearing the cross and building His glorious kingdom. Let's pray together. Lord, how we thank You for Your Word. How we thank You, Lord, for the work of Your Spirit to impress Your Word upon our hearts and our minds. Lord, that You are a God at work constantly in our lives, growing us, shaping us. And Lord, we thank You that upon this cross-bearing path that You fill us with joy. You give us glimpses of Your glory and Your majesty. Glimpses, foretastes of what it will be, Lord. to be in Your presence forevermore. And Lord, how we thank You for the church that we can, in fellowship, walk this path together, encouraging one another all the more as we see that day approaching. And so lift our hearts again this day, O Lord. Draw us near to You and strengthen us, Lord, for our journey ahead. Fill us with joy and thanks. In Jesus' name we pray.