THE DECLARATION The Transfiguration

The confession of Peter by Jesus’ Messiahship is in many ways the turning point of the Synoptic Gospels, because it is from this point that the shadow of the cross falls over the ministry. Matthew 16:13-23

I. THE PERTINENT QUESTION Whom say ye that I am?

II. PETER’S CONFESSION Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Consider all that Peter had seen: *the crowds astonished at Jesus’ authority as he preached the Sermon on the Mount

*Jesus cleansing the leper at a touch *His forgiving and healing of the paralyzed man

*His miraculous feeding of the 5000 *His enabling of Peter to defy the laws of nature by walking on the water.

III. THE PROMISED EDIFICATION Upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

The church is the property and possession of Christ “My Church”

The security of the church building “The gates of hell shall not prevail against it”

IV. THE PENTECOSTAL PROCLAMATION And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

V. THE PENDING CRUCIFIXION From that time forth began Jesus to shew his disciples how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed, and raised again the third day.

In the Bible all roads lead to Calvary, and here at the turning point of Caesarea Philippi the cross came into sharper focus.

THE TRANSFIGURATION Luke 9:28-36 The transfiguration brings us to one of the highlights of His earthly life.

*This event occurred on Mount Hermon. *2814 meters above sea level

This event so affected Peter in his old age he said: 2 Peter 1:17-18

I. JESUS CHRIST: THE PRE-EMINENT SON OF GOD

“And as he prayed the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering” Luke 9:29

1.The vision of glory 2.The voice of God 3.The verity of greatness

The vision of glory In a day of comparative religions He is the incomparable Son of God.

The voice of God A week after Caesarea Philippi we find He is greater than mere human opinion.

The verity of greatness This is the pre-incarnate glory of Jesus Christ.

II. JESUS CHRIST: THE PROMISE OF SCRIPTURES

JESUS CHRIST THE FULFILLMENT OF SCRIPTURE Moses  Represents the Law  Not permitted to promised land?  Authored first 5 books of Bible  Through God gave law on Sinai Elijah  Represents the prophets  He would return as forerunner  John the Baptist was that Elijah  He was the prince of old testament prophets

III. JESUS CHRIST: THE PROCURER OF SALVATION What did they talk about?

1.A departure announced. 2.A deliverance accomplished.

As we leave this mountain top experience let us be reminded it doesn’t last for long. The next scene brings us face to face with an epileptic boy and the unbelief of the disciples in Matthew 17: 14-20