3 Guys 3 Tents 3 Prophets

MARK 9:2-13

1. Recreation of the Sinai experience of Moses for the disciples

• Ex 19:3-5 Tells the experience of Moses with God on Mt Sinai
• This was a transformational time for the Nation of Israel in that now, the people of Isarel would be able know exactly what God wanted them to do and how he wanted them to live
• Moses goes up on the Mountain back and forth a few times, he experiences God and comes back and tells the Israelites how they should live- by the telling of the Law
• Exodus 20 lays out the 10 commandments that God wants as the cornerstone of the law.
• 4 things happened in this interaction: God became tangibly real to the Israelites, Direction and law was given to the Israelites, and Moses was then seen as the obvious leader of the nation of Israel, God was able to speak to his people through moses
• Exodus 20: 20-21 And Moses said to the people, “Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.”²¹ So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God
• This “Sinai experience” was a redirect for all of Israel- from this point forward they knew who they were and where they were going
• This is happening right now for the disciples as well, up on a mountain, God speaking, Jesus being transfigured and glowing
• All the same parts of Moses up on the mountain
• Moses is still revered in Judaism today See God, know he is real, see his glory

• What it means to you
• As much as this was a powerful experience for the disciples, the point of the experience wasn’t the experience- it was the direction that was given
• Peter responds to this experience so carnally- just a while ago- he was declaring that Jesus was the Christ- but now he’s trying to built tents for them so they can have a tabernacle they can dwell in.
• Peter totally misses the point completely- You’re up on the mountain peter- but you’re not going to live up here- you got to go back down and do some work
• But peter wants this hyper spiritual experience to continue- “I want to live on the mountain with these 3 gents”
• ⁸ Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.
• Understand this- You cant live up on the mountain. As wonderful as it is up there, you can’t live there
• I see it often- retreats, mission trips, church services, outreach.
• People want to live there- they want that to be their existence- they don’t want to have to deal with reality- This was an early problem in the church- they were so excited for Christs return- they didn’t want to do any work
• 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.
• 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.
• Its safe on the mountain! You can just bask in the Glory of the Lord there- but that’s not where you’re supposed to live! There’s work to do!
• Matthew Henry- We are wrong, if we look for a heaven here upon earth.
• Its great to read your bible, to pray, to worship, but there’s work that the Lord needs you to do! You can’t live up on the mountain! Some experiences were meant to be temporary- See it many times- Guys who go to the retreats- they love it- They just don’t love coming back- Sure, full caloric food, no wives, and hanging out in the Lord
• Our citizenship is in HEAVEN not here on earth!

1. Establishment of Jesus supremacy

• 4 And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—
• In this moment, Peter wants to establish what he thinks is the best plan- “all these great men are up here on the mountain, lets set up shop. Everyone can come up here and worship”
• To peter, this is a much better plan than the death burial and resurrection-
• Lets take what God is doing, package it, and this plan will be much better
• Here’s the other problem tho- Peter is equating Moses and Elijah with Jesus
• To him, Jesus is just the next step in the process- its not the position that Jesus is supposed to be in tho-
• The reason that Jesus is up on the mountain, with Moses and Elijah is because Moses represents the Law and Elijah represents the Prophets but Christ is shown superior
• V2 and He was transfigured before them.³ His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them.
• To Peter, they are all equal, but the issue is that they are not all equal Christ is SUPERIOR
• Jews revered Moses almost as much as God- Acts 6:11 ¹¹ Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.”
• This was an important part of this process- to establish Jesus as the superior one to Moses and Elijah

• Hebrews 1:1-4 READ
• Christ is superior! He is over the Law, he is the fulfillment of the prophets! This is what He wanted to establish- that he was over all of that
• What it means to you
• It means that Jesus is the messiah- he is the chosen one of Israel
• But who else do you want to built a tent for? A tent for family? A tent for your job? A tent for yourself? A tent for your own ideas? A tent for your own plans?
• Just like Peter- we can see God move, and then want to set up other tents that we can worship at, because we want other things equal with Jesus-
• Eph 1: 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
• Nothing is supposed to be over Jesus! NOTHING. Not your plans. Not your thoughts. Not your ideas. Not your hopes. Not your dreams. NOTHING
• But people want to build their own tabernacle for other people to be equal with Christ, but there is no one anywhere, in or out of the Bible that is equal with Jesus.
• You must subjugate all to Jesus. He’s not A Christ, he is THE Christ
• We’re given some direction here-

1. Direction of the disciples

• ⁷ And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!”
• The point of bringing Jesus up on the mountain with the disciples was to establish his supremacy and to give them marching orders so they could know what to do
• Quite simple from God- This is my son- listen to what he says!
• The disciples need to follow Jesus! They need to follow what he is going to tell them to do!
• Luke 9:35 ESV And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!”
  As Jesus is talking to them- he is describing to them where the plan of salvation is going- to the cross- after this interaction- that’s where its all going!
• These guys should listen to Jesus! Merely being around him, isn’t enough!
• John 8:47 He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”

• What does it mean to you
• Trust what Jesus says is good words just follow what it says- Not even worrying about if you understand it or not. Trust the process.
• There are over 1 billion Christians in the world who, if they would live the words of Jesus we could change the world
• Instead of Arguing with it, just do what it says.
• James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
• Here’s whats funny about being a pastor- People think I’m trying to get them to do what I think they should do- I’m just trying to get them to do what the Bible wants them to do to
• This is why I Preach BIBLE. The BIBLE has the answers the BIBLE has the directions.
• How were you saved? I was saved because someone taught me what the BIBLE said.
• Everything I know about the Lord, I learned from the BIBLE
• Why would you not listen to what the Word says?
• People want direction for their lives, but they want to get it everywhere else but the Bible
• You want advice about your life? Do what the Bible says
• You want a good marriage? Do what the Bible says, Good Kids? Good Job? Good Health? Good life? Good Friends? Good Mind?
• If you would apply the Bible to your life, you’d have a great life, but people don’t want to do it!

1. Comfort for the future

• The end of this section has some information that is hard to decipher- Did Elijah already come? Is Elijah here? Will Elijah still come?
• Mark 9:11-13 NKJV And they asked Him, saying, “Why is it that the scribes say that Elijah must come first? And He said to them, “Elijah does first come and restore all things. And yet how is it written of the Son of Man that He should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? But I say to you, that Elijah has indeed come, and they did to him whatever they wished, just as it is written of him.”
• Malachi 4:5 NKJV Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.
• John 1:21 NKJV And they asked him {John B}, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.”
• Zacharias said Luke 1:17 NKJV He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah
• 11:9-14 NKJV And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. (Jesus saw in John the spirit and Ministry of Elijah the present Elijah but not the yet future Elijah)
• Jesus is implying that Elijah was to come before the Messiah and then before the kingdom. The explanation to both of these statements comes later in the gospel of Matthew when Jesus tells His disciples that Elijah had come and was still to come” (neverthirsty.org)
• 17:11-12 NKJV 11 Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. 12 But I say to you that Elijah has come already,
• John the Baptist came in the spirit and power of Elijah preparing the way for the Messiah (Mal. 3:1-2). He was not Elijah in the flesh because the real Elijah comes before the kingdom – the millennial kingdom. John the Baptist’s ministry was carried out in the spirit of Elijah’s. Elijah himself will come before the Day of the Lord which is the final half of the Tribulation.

• What does it mean to you?
• Elijah has come, but is coming! Get prepared!
• Read Revelation 11- it lays out the two prophets that are going to come and prophesy for a couple years. Many of scholars believe that it is Moses and Elijah that will be the two.
• Revelation 11:5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. 6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.
• You want to be on Team Jesus when this happens! Those on Team Jesus will be protected
• I understand that people say this is ‘fire and brimstone” preaching, but It’s the truth
• I don’t serve Jesus because I am afraid of the end times. I do it because
• I know Jesus is real
• I know the Bible is true
• I know I’m not good enough to get to heaven on my own
• Therefore- I live for Jesus so I can make it to heaven based on HIS merits not my merits!
• Romans 10:13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”