Sunday School Lesson

1. Matthew 17:1-13
Is Jesus Fully God?
March 12, 2017
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA
What’s the number one thing?
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The glory of God!
https://forgodalmighty.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/cropped-sunset1.jpg
1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6tzRiT-BrDs/TIGM_Ih3dAI/AAAAAAAAAX0/0AJWPvlAfqw/s640/Gods+Glory.jpg

2. First Baptist Church Jackson Mission:
Multiply Disciples to Live Like Jesus.
http://tse2.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.M824600c9534029193ceef79dc4fff8fcH0&pid=15.1
March Memory Verse:
Romans 12:2 ESV
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your
mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and
acceptable and perfect.
Sunday, March 26th
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

3. Community Dinners
Thursday, March 30th
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Friday, March 31rd
Saturday, April 01st
Forgiven: A Celebration of the Cross
Sunday, April 09th
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

4. Colin S. Smith
Unlocking the Bible
The Moody Bible Institute
The Transfiguration
1) The Glory
2) The Witnesses
3) The Cloud
Colin S. Smith
http://unlockingthebible.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Colin-Smith-Large.jpg
Colin S. Smith (born April 27, 1958 in Edinburgh, Scotland) is a United States
evangelical pastor and author. He is currently the Senior Pastor of The Orchard
Evangelical Free Church in Illinois, where he has been since 1996.
Matthew 17:1-13
IS JESUS FULLY GOD?
Matthew 16:21 ESV
Jesus Foretells His Death and Resurrection
21 From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem
and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be
killed, and on the third day be raised.

5. Matthew 16:24-28 ESV
Take Up Your Cross and Follow Me
24 Then Jesus told His disciples,
“If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and
follow Me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life
for My sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world
and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? 27 For the Son
of Man is going to come with His angels in the glory of His Father, and then He
will repay each person according to what he has done. 28 Truly, I say to you,
there are some standing here (Peter, James and John) who will not taste death
until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” (many times, the true
chapter starts one verse earlier as it does here)
Matthew 17:1-13 ESV
The Transfiguration
1 And after six days Jesus took with Him Peter and James, and John his brother,
and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 And He was transfigured
before them, and His face shone like the sun (Hebrews 1:3), and His clothes
became white as light (Mark 9:3). 3 And behold (pay attention to this), there
appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with Him (His exodus). 4 And Peter
said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If You wish, I will make three
tents here, one for You and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (Jesus is greater
than the Law and the Prophets – not equal.) 5 He was still speaking when, behold,
a bright cloud (Shekinah) overshadowed them (this most likely occurred at
night), and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with Whom I am
well pleased; listen to Him.” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their
faces and were terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and
have no fear.” 8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus
only.
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.” 10 And the
disciples asked Him, “Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?”
11 He answered, “Elijah does come, and he will restore all things. (Malachi 4:5-6)
12 But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but
did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at
their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that He was speaking to them of
John the Baptist.

6. Mount Hermon
http://looklex.com/e.o/slides/mt_hermon02.jpg
Its summit straddles the border between Syria and Lebanon and, at 9,232 ft.
above sea level, is the highest point in Syria.
The southern slopes of Mount Hermon extend to the Israeli-occupied portion of
the Golan Heights, where the Mt Hermon ski resort is located.
A peak in this area rising to 7,336 ft. is the highest point in Israeli-controlled
territory.
Mount Hermon is called "the eyes of the nation" in Israel because its elevation
makes it Israel's primary strategic early warning system.
http://www.keyway.ca/gif/hermon.gif

7. http://www.seektheoldpaths.com/Maps/009.jpg
http://www.snow-forecast.com/resortlocationmaps/mounthermon.8.gif
http://bibleatlas.org/area/mount_hermon.jpg

8. Moses had a mountaintop experience on Mt. Moriah – receiving the Ten
Commandments (twice).
http://angelicencounters.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/moses10commandments.jpg
Elijah’s mountaintop experience was on Mt. Carmel as he defeated the 400
prophets of Baal.
http://static1.squarespace.com/static/5270270be4b029f7b8646768/t/53d083dbe4b0e9800a553a74/1406177111763/AltarofElijah6.jpg
Now we see all three: Jesus, Moses and Elijah on Mt Hermon and Peter makes
the false assumption that they are equal.
http://truthbook.com/images/site_images/William_Hole_The_Transfiguration_400.jpg
Matthew 5:17 ESV
17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not
come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

9. The Transfiguration account is also recorded in Luke 9 and Mark 9.
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Mark 9:1 ESV
1 And He said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will
not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”
(true chapter start)
Luke 9:28-29 ESV
28 Now about eight days after these sayings He took with Him Peter and John
and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And as He was praying, the
appearance of His face was altered, and His clothing became dazzling white.
(praying)
Luke 9:51 ESV
51 When the days drew near for Him to be taken up, He set His face to go to
Jerusalem.
Luke 18:31-34 ESV
Jesus Foretells His Death a Third Time
31 And taking the twelve, He said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem,
and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be
accomplished. 32 For He will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be
mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. 33 And after flogging Him, they will
kill Him, and on the third day He will rise.” 34 But they understood none of these things.
This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.

10. Matthew 17:1-13
1) The Glory
2) The Witnesses
3) The Cloud
http://s3.hubimg.com/u/337414_f520.jpg
So, after Jesus has told the disciples that He is going to die and that they are
going to die, they are wondering, “Does Jesus really know what He is doing?”
“Where is He leading us?” “What does the future hold for us?”
Jesus takes Peter, James and John on a prayer retreat to give them a glimpse of
the future.
He is transfigured into what He would look like in the future, at the Second
Coming in His glorified body.
This is the same appearance of Christ that John would later see in Revelation 1.
These are glimpses of the body of the resurrected Jesus.
http://www.wrightpublications.org/storage/Lampstand%20Picture.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1254150146921

11. Revelation 1:12-18 ESV
12 Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning
I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a
son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around His chest.
14 The hairs of His head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like
a flame of fire, 15 His feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and
His voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In His right hand He held seven
stars, from His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and His face was like the
sun shining in full strength. 17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. But
He laid His right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and
the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of
Death and Hades.
Jesus well knew that the disciples needed this vision of the future.
Within the next few months they were going to see the face of Christ battered
and bruised as He was scourged and beaten.
As Isaiah says that His was so disfigured that is was beyond being recognized.
https://solascriptura15.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/crucifixion.jpg
Isaiah 52:14 ESV
14 As many were astonished at you—
His appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance,
and His form beyond that of the children of mankind—
God is saying, “Look what lies beyond the cross!” and the disciples needed that
(and so do we).
“Here’s where you are headed - Christ, Whom you love is going to be exalted in
glory.”

12. The Kingdom you are investing your life in is not some lost cause, you are part of
a Kingdom that will never end!
See Him – in that Day He will be revealed in glory!
Jesus will come with clouds and be revealed as God’s chosen One and He will
stand on another mount, the Mount of Olives!
We need this vision also.
This whole transfiguration thing was for the sake of the disciples – then and now!
When you see Jesus rejected, know that there is more beyond that rejection.
History is moving towards the Day when Jesus is clearly King, the Day when
Christ will be glorified for all to see.
Before you face the cross – see the glory!
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John referred to this experience when he wrote:
John 1:14 ESV
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory,
glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Peter also wrote:
2 Peter 1:16-18 ESV
16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the
power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His
majesty. 17 For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, and the
voice was borne to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son, with
Whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from
Heaven, for we were with Him on the holy mountain.

13. Matthew 17:1-13
1) The Glory
2) The Witnesses
3) The Cloud
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VWf0y7Qava0/UDQC3IWFyQI/AAAAAAAAErM/NwoHKtSz-rc/s1600/2_jesus-transfiguration.jpg
Matthew 17:1 ESV
1 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother
(three witnesses), and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
Deuteronomy 19:15 ESV
15 A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any
wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the
evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.
Matthew 17:3 ESV
3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah (two witnesses), talking
with Him.
Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared with Jesus in glorious splendor.
The disciples not only saw the glory of Jesus, but now two ordinary humans
sharing in the splendor of the glorified Christ!
A picture to them that other humans will share in this glory as well.
An ordinary human can be transfigured into glory!
Moses had a murder on his record. He was disqualified from entering the
Promised Land due to his failure to uphold the Lord as holy at the waters of
Meribah.

14. After his mountaintop experience, Elijah ran for his life, got depressed and
prayed to die.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4r_2xU4jHqE/UCsK0KqL7MI/AAAAAAAAAiY/Vg_6gCcPSUQ/s1600/Elijah.jpg
Moses continued to struggle with the people and with his own disobedience
after his mountaintop experience.
http://img08.deviantart.net/ed5c/i/2011/310/0/c/moses_striking_the_rock_by_joshthecartoonguy-d4fdc6j.jpg
Yet Moses and Elijah were both glorified and sharing in His glory!
http://www.nowtheendbegins.com/images/bible-images/the-two-witnesses-of-revelation.jpg

15. Peter, James and John sinned and failed (but got up again) after the
Transfiguration.
One mountaintop experience can’t carry you forever.
http://www.lostseed.com/extras/free-graphics/images/jesus-pictures/transfiguration-on-the-mountain.jpg
Nothing can ever replace your daily walk with Christ!
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Notice three things:
1) Your identity does not end at death.
2) Your identity will be known after death.
3) It is possible for you to share Christ’s glory after death.
1) Your identity does not end at death.
• Centuries after Moses died – here he is – still Moses.
• He did not cease to exist, was not in some long slumber or soul sleep
and was enjoying his first trip to the Holy Land!
• He was not reincarnated, nor an angel with wings, he is Moses sharing
the glory of Jesus.
• When God created you He created you for eternity.
• There will never be a time when you cease to be yourself.
• There is continuity between this life and the next.
• The relationship you have with God in this life will be continued with
God in the next life, so make it as close as you can. (James 4:8 – Draw
near)

16. Ecclesiastes 11:3 says, “As the tree falls, so shall it lie.”
1) Your identity does not end at death.
2) Your identity will be known after death.
• The disciples knew it was Moses and Elijah, and there certainly were no
photographs for them to compare them with.
• They had never met them.
• Will we know each other in Heaven?
• Of course we will!
• The purpose of God in Christ is for the community of believers in Christ to
know Him and to know each other.
• Members of the Body of Christ know each other.
Mark 9:2 ESV
The Transfiguration
2 And after six days Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and led
them up a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them,
It is very probable that Moses and Elijah are the two witnesses that are foretold in
Revelation 11:3-13 – 6 They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall
during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to
turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague... 12 Then
they heard a loud voice from Heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” And
they went up to Heaven in a cloud…
Not only does
1) your identity not end at death and
2) will be certainly known after death
3) but you will also share Christ’s glory after death.
http://gorepent.com/wp-content/uploads/posts40/transfiguration.jpg

17. Luke 9:30-31 ESV
30 And behold, two men were talking with Him, Moses and Elijah, 31 who
appeared in glory and spoke of His departure, which He was about to
accomplish at Jerusalem.
1 Thessalonians 2:14 ESV
14 To this He called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of
our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 John 3:2 ESV
2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet
appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because
we shall see Him as He is.
Matthew 17:1-13
1) The Glory
2) The Witnesses
3) The Cloud
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Matthew 17:5 ESV
5 He (Peter) 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.”
The cloud represents the presence of God
in the OT - pillar of cloud by day and fire by
night.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WmjgjJyAp4g/Uk_evPKebMI/AAAAAAAAAdk/y5sROEzvx1Y/s1600/Cloud+by+Day+and+Fire+by+Night.jpg

18. The cloud (God’s glorious presence) filled the Holy of Holies in both the
Tabernacle and the Temple.
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QvoKZbFJlfs/TnIDjBjjIdI/AAAAAAAAAY8/7WUocUQF1X4/s1600/High_Priest.jpg
Ezekiel 1:4 “A GREAT CLOUD”
http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/b2/f6/63/b2f6639307a050ebac32cd5726378581.jpg
Ezekiel 1:4 ESV
The Glory of the Lord
4 As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud,
with brightness around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of
the fire, as it were gleaming metal.
In the NT, the indwelling of the Spirit of the Lord – the presence of God is referred
to as the Holy Spirit.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GERkyLArxpU/UbfpjuJ6F2I/AAAAAAAAGY0/8LdHRT_7Qdo/s1600/presence-of-holy-spirit.jpg

19. Revelation 14:14 ESV
14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a
son of man, with a golden crown on His head, and a sharp sickle in His hand.
Cloud = inscrutable, hidden from view, no one has ever seen God, He dwells in
unapproachable light…
http://beforethebeginning.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/SunsRays.jpg
1 Timothy 6:15b-16 ESV
15b He Who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords,
16 Who alone has immortality, Who dwells in unapproachable light, Whom no
one has ever seen or can see.
Fire by night = frightening, fearful.
A voice, “This is My beloved Son; listen to Him.” (as at His baptism)
The hidden God of the cloud wants us to know Him and He tells us the way to
know Him is through His chosen Son and by listening to Him.
That is the heart of the New Testament.
John 14:6-9 ESV
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to
the Father except through Me. 7 If you had known Me, you would have known
My Father also. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.”
8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus said
to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know Me, Philip?
Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the
Father’?
We have the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
We can’t understand God but we can come to know God through Jesus - listen
to Him!

20. Only through Christ can we stand in the presence of God.
The cloud terrified the disciples and they fell on their faces to the ground.
Folks go through life harboring things against God and you hear them arrogantly
say that when they get to Heaven, they want to tell God a thing or two.
That is not the way it is going to be, they will hit the dirt just like the disciples did.
Matthew 17:6-7 ESV
6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. 7 But
Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.”
Jesus was with them when they entered the presence of God.
We will all enter God’s presence one day and if Jesus is with you, you will be
able to stand in the presence of God with nothing to fear!
This awesome, hidden and frightening God points you to His Son, wanting you to
know Him in faith and trust – walking with Him – and that will continue in Heaven,
standing with Him with nothing to fear!
A glimpse of the future –
1) Christ will be glorified.
2) Christ will share that glory with men and women who believe.
3) Through Christ, you can know God and stand in His presence!
Matthew 17:8 ESV
8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
The cloud left, Moses and Elijah were gone, Jesus was as He had been before
and now the disciples had to go on living by faith, not by sight, as they went
down the mountain into the valley of service. (When it’s Time to Break the
Huddle by Dr. Pollard.)
God does not want you to stay on the mountain top but He
also does not want you in the Valley of Service if you don’t
have the mountaintop experience in your heart.
http://www.bpnews.net/images/IMG2008122502HI.jpg?width=800

21. Peter, James and John went up the mountain wondering if Jesus knew what He
was doing and concerned about the direction that He was leading them, but
they came down the mountain treasuring the privilege of being His disciples.
Jesus had given them a glimpse of where they were headed and that same
glimpse of the future is also given to us today.
http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/4c/69/09/4c6909c949e1473e57b3523882bb2aa9.jpg
This is where we are headed:
1) Jesus will be glorified.
2) He will share that glory with us.
3) We can know God through Jesus and stand in His presence unafraid!
4) Divine glory is ahead for us – always keep that in mind.
5) Don’t talk when you should be listening.
6) Soak up God’s goodness and worship Him.
7) Jesus alone is enough!
8) Peter was so impressed with the presence of Moses and Elijah when he
should have been impressed with God’s presence and the sufficiency of
Christ.
9) You cannot stay on the mountain top and be in the Valley of Service.
10)The mountain top prepares us for the Valley of Service.
http://bongodogblog.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/jesus-heal-boy-1.jpg

22. Since that is our future, how should we prepare for it?
http://victoryoutreachwhittier.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/abiding-in-christ.jpg
1 John 2:28 ESV
28 And now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears we may have
confidence and not shrink from Him in shame at His coming.
http://slideteam.net/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/1/_/1_john_2_28_u
nashamed_before_himat_his_coming_powerpoint_church_sermon_Slide01.jpg
Sunday
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Matthew 19:16-26
What is Required?
March 19, 2017
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA

23. The Plan of Hope & Salvation
John 3:16 ESV
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes
in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John 14:6 ESV
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to
the Father except through me.”
Romans 3:23 ESV
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23a ESV
23a For the wages of sin is death,
• Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.
• Even Jesus, the one who doesn’t deserve death, died in this life to pay the
penalty for our sins.
• The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the second death explained in
Revelation 21:8.
Revelation 21:8 ESV
8 “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the
sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the
lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Romans 6:23b ESV
23b but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 5:8 ESV
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for
us.
Revelation 21:7 ESV
7 "The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will
be my son.”
• Romans 10:9-10 explains to us how to be conquerors.
Romans 10:9-10 ESV
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your
heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart
one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

24. Romans 10:13 ESV
13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
If you have questions or would like to know more, please, contact First Baptist
Church Jackson at 601-949-1900 or http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/