Yardley United Methodist Church
Feb 15 - Unafraid Witnesses
  • Christ Whose Glory Fills The Skies
  • Thy Word

      • Matthew 17:1–9NRSVUE

      • 2 Peter 1:16–21NRSVUE

      • Matthew 17:1–9NRSVUE

      • 2 Peter 1:16–21NRSVUE

      • Matthew 17:1–9NRSVUE

      • 2 Peter 1:16–21NRSVUE

  • Unafraid Witnesses: Bold Revelation of Glory

    Texts: Matthew 17:1-9 & 2 Peter 1:16-21

    Summary: In Matthew 17:1-9, the transfiguration of Jesus reveals His divine glory, witnessed by Peter, James, and John, affirming His identity as the Son of God. In 2 Peter 1:16-21, Peter stresses the reliability of the prophetic word and the importance of Scripture in strengthening belief, emphasizing the truth of Christ’s majesty and the encouragement to proclaim it boldly.
    Application: This message encourages Christians to anchor their faith in Scripture while pursuing personal encounters with God. By doing so, they can step into the boldness exemplified by Christ in their witness to others, despite challenges or doubts.
    Teaching: The sermon teaches that a deep understanding and application of Scripture, alongside genuine spiritual experiences, empower believers to proclaim their faith courageously, reflecting the glory of Christ to the world.
    How this passage could point to Christ: Christ is central to the Scriptures, as seen in His transfiguration which affirms His divine nature and messianic authority. The prophetic words in Scripture point towards Him and culminate in the gospel, establishing Him as the foundation for our faith and witness.
    Big Idea: When grounded in Scripture and experiencing God’s presence, believers are transformed into bold witnesses of Christ’s glory.
    Introduction:
    We often think of witnessing as a duty, but true witnessing comes from an overflow of seeing who Jesus really is.
    Today, we look at how a glimpse of glory transformed the disciples. It was a moment where the veil of flesh was pulled back, revealing the King promised in the Psalms—the Anointed One against whom the rulers of the earth set themselves in vain.

    1. Glory Unveiled to Disciples (Matthew 17:1-3; Psalm 2)

    The story begins with Jesus taking Peter, James, and John up a high mountain, by themselves. This wasn't a random hike; it was a divine appointment.
    The Transformation: Suddenly, Jesus was transfigured before them. The Greek word here is metamorphoō—a total transformation. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became bright as light. The commentary tells us that the indwelling deity darted out its rays of light through the veil of the flesh. This was the manifestation of Christ’s eternal son-ship, declaring with power that He is the Son of God.
    The Witnesses: Then, Moses and Elijah appeared. Why them? They represent the Law and the Prophets, and both men, as "Old Testament saints," are still awaiting their final resurrection. Their presence confirms that Jesus is the fulfillment of all Jewish hope.
    The King on Zion: This scene on the mountain echoes God’s promise in Psalm 2: "I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill". While the kings of the earth conspire in their counsel together against the Lord and his anointed, God laughs. On this mountain, we see the King who shares in God’s majesty and will eventually crush all opposing power.
    Transition: But even with this display of majesty, the disciples were still human, prone to confusion and fear.

    2. The Voice, The Fear, and The Touch (Matthew 17:4-9)

    Peter, overwhelmed by the moment, interrupts. Peter blurted out, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will set up three tents here...".
    Divine Interruption: While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them. This is the cloud of God's presence. A voice speaks: "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!".
    This repeats the affirmation from Jesus' baptism, but now, at the beginning of the road to the cross, God repeats his endorsement even more dramatically.
    The command "Listen to him!" establishes Jesus as superior even to Moses and the prophets.
    The Touch of Grace: When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. This wasn't just respect; it was terror. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Get up and do not be afraid". Doubtless, in that moment, he gave them courage and strength.
    Jesus Only: And when they raised their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. This is crucial. The disciples must focus on Christ alone. He will prove sufficient for their needs.
    Transition: This experience wasn't just for the glory of that moment. Years later, as Peter faced death and false teachers, he looked back to this mountain to anchor his faith.

    3. Firsthand Faith: Not Myths, but Majesty (2 Peter 1:16-18)

    In his second letter, Peter defends the faith against those who treated the idea of Jesus’ return as a fable, a myth.
    Eyewitnesses of Majesty: Peter insists, "For we did not follow cleverly devised myths... but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty". The false teachers claimed the Second Coming was a myth—stories without basis in reality. But Peter argues that the Transfiguration was a historical event. Peter combated the idea that the coming of Christ is a fable by appealing to history... to what was seen and heard.
    Honor and Glory: Peter recalls that Jesus received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory. The glory that belongs to God also belongs to Jesus.
    The Purpose: Why does this matter? Because the transfiguration foreshadows Jesus’ resurrection and his return, his “coming again” to us. It serves as the full confirmation of their faith in Jesus.
    Transition: Peter’s experience on the mountain did something else: it validated the Scriptures we hold in our hands today.

    4. Scripture’s Steadfast Light (2 Peter 1:19-21)

    Peter says, "So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed".
    The Lamp in the Dark: Because of what they saw, we can trust the Old Testament prophecies. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place. The world is a dark place, but the prophetic word illumines people with the truth about the end of history.
    The Morning Star: We hold to this Word until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. This refers to the powerful coming of Christ in glory. When He returns, the prophetic word will be eclipsed forever by the living Word.
    Moved by the Spirit: finally, we can trust this Word because no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation. It didn't come by human will. Instead, men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. They were literally carried along by the Spirit, just as a ship is moved by the wind.

    We are called to be unafraid witnesses.

    We can stand firm because our faith is not based on cunningly devised fables, but on the testimony of those who saw His majesty.
    As Psalm 2 warns the rulers of the earth: "Serve the Lord with fear... Kiss the Son,” warning them of angering God to the point of death. But, it also promises: "Happy are all who take refuge in him".
    Let us take refuge in the Beloved Son, listening to Him, until the Morning Star rises in our hearts and throughout the world.
  • Majesty
  • Praise God, From Whom All Blessings Flow
  • You Are My All In All
Yardley United Methodist Church
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(215) 493-3345
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