Page 42 - Back to Bethlehem 2-5-19

There were so many events in Peter’s life and as he’s ready to
die he looks back and he says, “Of all of those events, there is
one I want you to know about.” He chose the transfiguration.
To him that was what the people needed to hear before he died.

I just want to review the facts about the transfiguration and then
we’ll look at the principle. This record is written in Matthew,
Mark and Luke. Listen to Matthew 16:28, “Truly I say to you,
there are some of those who are standing here who shall not
taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His
kingdom” The event begins with this strange promise. He said
that there were some standing there who would not die until He
came back. Many refer to this as the second coming of Christ.
But Christ still hasn’t come back. What did he mean, “Some of
you standing here will not die until you see the Son of Man
coming in His glory?”

Many commentators believe that the answer is the
transfiguration. One week after Jesus gave that promise, the
disciples – Peter, James and John – went up with Him on the
mountain. Some say that is like the second coming in a picture
because Christ is in the middle and the three disciples,
representing the Jews, are there and the world is at the base and
He’s being glorified. So, they say that maybe that is what He
meant.

I’m going to let Matthew tell the story, Matthew 17:1-8, “And
six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his
brother, and brought them up to a high mountain by themselves.
And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like
the sun, and His garments became as white as light. And
behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him.
And Peter answered and said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us
to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one
for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ While he was
still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and
behold, a voice out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved
Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!’ And when