Today, on the verdict with Pastor John Monroe. I've called this message to see And to hear Jesus. You find it difficult? I find it difficult sometimes every day to keep my eyes on Jesus, to see her. Every day to hear him.
But that's what we want. Welcome to The Verdict, the Bible teaching ministry of Pastor John Monroe. We live in a noisy world, so many voices are competing for our attention and offering endless options for entertainment.
So where is your focus? Today on the verdict, we're continuing in Matthew and realizing the importance of seeing and hearing Jesus and understanding what it takes to obey and follow Him.
Now, let's join Pastor John Monroe with today's message. Last time we journeyed with Peter, James and John to the Mount of Transfiguration. We wanted to see and hear the Lord Jesus. To see and hear Him is to be forever changed. The more we see the Lord, the more we listen to Him, the more there will be a supernatural change which impacts all of life.
Jesus told us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
So let's go again to the Mount of Transfiguration to see the Lord and to hear him. We live in a noisy world. And it's difficult to have times of silence, of meditation, of prayer. This week, try to find a quiet spot. and read the account of the Transfiguration in Matthew 17.
See the Lord. Hear the Lord. Obey the Lord. Matthew chapter 17, verse 1. After six days, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up to a high mountain by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them. and his face shone like the sun. And his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, Lord, it's good that we're here, if you wish.
I'll make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. He was still speaking. Here's a divine interruption. He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.
When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, Rise. And have no fear. And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but... Jesus Oh, I'm late.
Matthew's a good rider, isn't he? We want first of all to see the Lord Jesus. Peter, James, and John have this incredible Experience of witnessing the transfiguration of Jesus.
Now look back at Verse 28 of chapter 16. Chapter sixteen, verse twenty eight: Truly I say to you. There are some standing here. Notice what he's saying. There are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.
Now what nascent that means?
Some say this refers to the resurrection of Jesus or his ascension or Pentecost. What do I think? The way that Matthew has laid out his material makes it pretty clear, I think, that verse 28 refers to the transfiguration. which in turn is a foretaste, a foreshadowing Of the second return of Jesus Christ. And so Peter and James and John Here they are.
They are, to use the words of verse 28, they are standing here. And they are about to see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom. Not the full display of it, but a, can we say, a sneak preview. A foretaste, a foreshadowing of a greater, most glorious event. When the power and glory and majesty of the Lord Jesus Christ will be evident to all as he returns as king of kings and lord of lords.
Habakkuk says that the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. Can you imagine this world? filled with the glory of God. That's what's going to happen. And the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.
You see? The disciples Had struggled with this idea that the Messiah would die. We saw that in chapter 16, verse 21. From that time, that's after Peter declares that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, after that time, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, the chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. to the disciples.
A crucified Messiah doesn't make sense. But they had to understand That before the coming, Of this glorious kingdom of God in his full manifestation before that's going to happen. The Messiah. God incarnate is going to die on a cross. Yeah.
But now after explaining to the disciples That he is going to die, that he must suffer. Of course, he must suffer. There is no other way for your sins to be forgiven. He must suffer, but first. Before the coming glory.
There must be the cross. And Jesus graciously gives his disciples This foretaste of his coming glory. There is a cross, that is true. Jesus is saying. Ah, but there's coming.
Glory. First the cross and then the glory. And he's going to give them. This taste. The sneak preview.
of the coming glory of the Lord. Remember the old song, Heaven Came Down? And glory filled my So we want to get a taste of heaven. I want us to behold God. I want us to see our Lord Jesus Christ.
That when I keep my eyes on the Lord Jesus Christ, I'm changed. I see the world, I see my priorities. I see my values changed. to bring them in line. with the will of God to see Jesus.
But not only are we to see Jesus, were to hear and obey The Lord Jesus. Did you notice that rather than listening to Jesus, Peter spoke?
Sound familiar? Yeah. We were singing. Be still, be still. Do you find it difficult to be still?
We're very uncomfortable with silence, aren't we? We're bombarded with noise and opinions. Here are Moses and Elijah symbolizing the law and the prophets. And they're talking with Jesus. You say, what were they talking about?
Matthew doesn't really tell us, but Luke does. Luke says that we're talking about the departure of Jesus. The word in Greek is exodus. Second book of the Bible is Exodus. Why Exodus?
Exodus is the leading out of the people. They were talking. Could you imagine a conversation between the Lord Jesus and Moses and Elijah, and they're talking about his departure? The disciples don't want to hear about the cross, but Moses and Elijah with Jesus are talking about the cross. And his disciples have to understand that central Two.
The mission of Jesus is The cross. These two Old Testament saints are talking with Jesus. about the death of the Messiah for the sins of his people. Moses and Elijah themselves had unique deaths. Moses is the leader from Egypt.
He leads the people right to the very border of the promised land. He looks out and he sees Jericho and he looks west and there he can almost see the Mediterranean Sea. He looks to the north and he looks to the south and he sees this land flowing with milk and honey, but he never gets into the land. The Lord buried him. In the land of Moab.
But no one knows the place, the Bible says the place of his burial. To this day, God buried them. Where? We don't know. That's not the point.
God buried them. Elijah Yeah, yeah. of two men who never died. Elijah How did he... Leave this world.
Well, he left it with chariots of fire. That's pretty impressive, isn't it?
Okay. Imagine watching someone. In the parking lot, and you see the chariots of fire, and the horses gone up to heaven. That's how Elijah did. A strange entrance into heaven.
We all would like that. It's a figure, I think, of the rapture, isn't it? Going into the presence of God without death, that was Elijah.
So here's this great man. And rather than listening to their conversation, Peter speaks. Luke says in Luke 9:33, not knowing what he said. Yeah, yeah. Been like that.
Something wonderful is going around you, and instead of listening. Y you're speaking. You're talking about yourself. Oh, it's pretty good to be here. Peter, stop, stop, stop.
God tells the disciples He's telling you and me, what does he say? This is my beloved son, with whom I'm well pleased. Listen. To him. Stop.
Talking. Be still and listen to God. See, those following Jesus have to have humble attitudes listening. We have to have humble actions obeying. Jesus said, my sheep hear my voice.
And I know them, and they follow me. One of the important characteristics Of the authentic follower of Jesus Christ is that we listen to his voice. Listen. Take time out. Switch off the television.
Switch off your iPhone. Oh really? Yeah, switch it off. Go walk. Sit down under a tree.
Get out in the porch, wherever it is. Get a quiet place and open your Bible. and listen To Jesus. Do you ever do that? See, most of us, like Peter, we speak too much and too quickly.
We need to improve our listening skills. Are you listening to God? Do you come here today with a desire to hear God? We believe that God speaks to us through this book. The question is.
Are you listening? You come to see the Lord. You come to listen to him. See, God's truth isn't what you think or I think. It's not what you feel or I feel.
It's what God says in His inherent word. God is speaking. Here's the young boy, Samuel. Under the mentorship of Eli the old priest in the tabernacle in Shiloh. And God speaks to Samuel, but Samuel doesn't recognize God's voice.
And he has a conversation with Eli, and Eli says, now. That happens again. I want you to say this: Speak, Lord. for your servant Here's That's good, isn't it? Do you get up this morning?
So you're going to bed, you take your Bible. And you read a few verses, a chapter. Could you say Speak, Lord. for your servant hears. Here's, yes, but in a sense of a being.
Here I am, Lord. I'm in a very tough situation. Don't know if I can get another through another day. I need your help. I need your strength.
Anyone ever feel that? I've been feeling this. I don't know if I can get through another day.
So this is hard. This situation is hard.
Some of you are dealing with a terminal illness.
Some of you are dealing with a very difficult family issue.
Some of you Are you dreading to go to work tomorrow because you've got an impossible situation, or your business is falling down? And you think, I don't know if I can go on. Yes, you can. If you stop. And say, speak, Lord.
for your servant hears. Today, Lord, I want to do your will. Today Through your spirit, through your word, I want to get my eyes on Jesus. I want to see him. And I want to hear her.
And so So we look back at the text we're learning. There is no glory of the kingdom of God without the cross. There is no glory without suffering. First the cross, then the crown. First the suffering.
And then the glory. First the humiliation and then the exaltation. See, Peter wants. The glory, but he doesn't want the cross. He wants, we read in verse 4, to make three tents.
Three little tabernacles, one for each of them, but he needs to be reminded as The father reminds him, no. My son is unique. This is my well-beloved son. Great. Lawgiver Moses, great prophet Elijah, but they are no peers to my son.
There is none like him, nor will there ever be anyone like him. No one can share the glory of the Lord Jesus. It is, as we read in verse 8. Jesus One way. We'll make tabernacles for him.
Interesting, John. In John 1, verse 14, he uses this word for tabernacle, verse for 10, when he describes the Lord. It says that the word became flesh and Tabernacled. Dwelled. Pitched his tent.
It's the same word as tent here. That when our Lord Jesus Christ came, he dwells with Yeah. And Peter is looking for this glorious kingdom to be set up immediately on earth. But before the exaltation and the returning glory, first Jesus must suffer. Read with me now very quickly in verse 9.
And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, tell no one the vision. until the Son of Man is raised from the dead. And the disciples asked him, and then, why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come? Malachi said that in Malachi chapter 4. Elijah's got to come first before the day of the Lord.
So I don't understand this. You're talking about your coming in glory, but And I just got to come first. He answered, Elijah does come. and he will restore all things. But I tell you The Elijah has already come and they didn't recognize him.
but did to him whatever they pleased.
So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands. There we have it again. Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John. The Baptist. Yes, the long-promised Messiah must suffer first.
He must go the way of the cross. The road of glory, says one commentator, leads through the valley of death. Suffering. Do you understand? What the gospel means.
The Lord Jesus Christ came. Why must he suffer? Why was it essential that Jesus Christ must die on the cross? Because there is no other way for your sins to be forgiven. We are guilty men and women before a holy God.
We were singing, holy, holy, holy. Do you think you could go into the presence of God? By yourself, you say, Well, actually, I'm a I've been a member of of church for thirty years. Uh in fact, I have Uh I'm president, an elder. Don't you see the badge?
Mm-hmm. Thank God. is impressed by these things. Good things. None of us However good in human terms, However zealous, however faithful to our responsibilities, not one of us by ourselves could stand before a holy God.
We need a mediator. We need someone who has atoned for our sin. We need someone to stand between a holy God and ourselves, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. He's the only mediator between God and man. He is the perfect peacemaker, the bridgemaker, so that with all of my sin, I come to Christ.
Good. Who died, was buried, and rose again, and I receive him as my Savior. And now the Bible says, I'm clothed with his righteousness. And I come before God, not saying, well, actually, I was a pastor for several years, Lord. That's got to count for something.
I said, no, you're a sinful man, John Monroe. I know your heart. I know every word that you said. I know all of your past, things you've forgotten about. I know.
No, my only plea, my only argument is this: that Jesus died for me. that I come in his Righteousness. And after this mountaintop experience, The disciples are confused and ask Jesus about Elijah. Who should have come? And Jesus is saying, like Elijah has come in a person, in the form and spirit of John the Baptist.
And notice what they did to him, they took off his head. And so I don't want you to tell others about this until after the resurrection. Verse 9. He is going to suffer. And therefore is it not all that surprising?
that he calls us. to deny self Take up her cross and follow him. And sometimes. That involves suffering. I've known people who have come to saving faith in Jesus Christ, and as they started to follow Christ, life was much more difficult for them now than it was in the past.
Why? Their friends want to bring them back into. into that party attitude. Their family sometimes thinks they're strange. The friends at work say, Well, you're not as much fun as you used to be.
And there's sometimes persecution. And to follow Jesus Christ doesn't mean that you're going to have a problem-free, comfortable life. Not at all. This is the realism of the gospel. That you follow Jesus Christ.
It often involves suffering, but be assured, you have eternal life and there is absolute certain glory. There is no way that all of the forces of death and hell Can stop our magnificent Lord Jesus Christ coming back. For his bride. catching us up. Whether through the rapture or death, to be forever with him.
Meantime, He deserves, doesn't he? your total allegiance. your obedience and worship. Keep looking to Jesus. Whether on you're on a mountaintop or whether you're in the valley.
See her. Hear him. Obey him. Follow him. Be prepared to suffer for him.
Glory. Our hearts are glad, for we have seen the Lord. The living Lord, victorious from the grave, will joy to see him, joy to hear his word. Our Lord and Master, strong to bless And say, I'm saying to you, get your eyes on Jesus. I'm saying to you, listen to him.
And if you have never known him as your Savior, come to him. He'll receive you. He'll forgive you. He'll give you the gift of eternal life. And you'll have the wonderful joy.
are following Our Lord Jesus Christ. As your Savior, as your friend, as your Redeemer. And the one with whom we shall spend all of eternity. Father, We thank you. For this passage.
We realize we're only touching the fringes of his garment. As we think of your glory, as we think of the magnificence and brilliance. of our matchless Lord Jesus Christ. We thank you. That when he came to this world, he didn't come to condemn us.
He's all glorious. He's all holy. But he came to save us. He dwelt with us. He pitched his tent with us.
So that we Maybe redeemed. that their sins may be forgiven. And that we would be adopted into your family. And that we would become more and more like Jesus as we await that great day when we shall see him. And we will be like him.
for we'll see him. As he has been time, Father. Help us. Strengthen us now in Christ's name. Amen.
This is the verdict featuring the Bible teaching of Pastor John Monroe. There's still more to hear when John returns in just a moment, so stay with us. From matters of truth and identity, to the subjects of love and grace, our world seems more confused than ever. but to find truth and certainty about who we are and find peace, we must turn our attention away from the world and look to the Word of God. To help you do that, John wrote a booklet titled Eternal Security, Finding Certainty in a Chaotic World.
Through this special resource, John shares his personal testimony, along with a careful examination of Scripture, to offer us clarity on matters of eternity. Get your copy today by visiting our website at theverdict.org. While you're there, consider making an investment in this Bible teaching ministry. Whether it's $5, $50, or more, your gift today helps cover the cost of sharing these gospel messages to listeners around the world. And if you haven't already, be sure to subscribe to the Verdict Podcast, featuring John's weekly podcast exclusive called Avizandam.
It's available wherever you get your podcasts, or simply go to our website. Again, that's theverdict.org. The verdict is a ministry of Calvary Church in South Charlotte. We're located on the corner of Highway 51 and Ray Road. If you've been looking for a church home or a community to help you grow in your walk with Christ, We invite you to join us for our Sunday services.
For more details about Calvary and our service times, visit theverdict.org.
Now, here's Pastor John Monroe.
Well, what's your verdict? When did you last take time to find a quiet spot, pray, or Open your Bible and ask God to speak to you through His Word. How wonderful to know that the Word of God is living. And that God will speak to us. Be like Daniel and say, Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.
Perhaps your Christian life may be stale or routine. You need a fresh vision of the Lord Jesus. Don't miss next time as we see the disciples coming down the mount and experiencing spiritual failures and difficulties. Thanks for joining us today on The Verdict. I'm Michelle Davies.
Today's program with Pastor John Monroe was produced and sponsored by Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.
