A number of years ago, Jennifer and I set out on a bright bluebird winter morning for an epic snowshoe adventure. We drove to the village of Montgomery, VT and took Route 58, otherwise known as “Hazen’s Notch Road” and parked at the trailhead for Burnt Mountain. We knew the beauty of its summit in the summer and fall, but we wanted to see what it was like in the wintertime. So, we strapped on our snowshoes and began our accent. The snow was about eight feet deep and it took us four hours to trudge to the top. It was a frustrating and exhausting climb, but when we got to the summit, we knew that the payoff was worth the work. The snow formations among the trees looked like giant white mushrooms. They were so unique and pristine that we actually felt like we were in another world—a true winter wonderland. And when we got to the clearing on the summit and gazed at the 360 degrees of snow capped valley below us, we were paralyzed by the breathtaking beauty. It was a true mountaintop experience!

The expression “mountaintop experience” is commonly used in the English language to describe any transcendent or awe-inspiring event whether it actually happens on a mountain or not. Getting married, having a baby, winning an award, and achieving a sports victory are all considered “mountaintop experiences.” Have you ever had a mountaintop experience?

This expression has originated from the Bible because of the dealings God had with His people on various “mountain-tops”. Noah’s ark came to rest on one of the mountains of Ararat. Abraham passed God’s test with his willingness to sacrifice his own son on Mount Moriah. God revealed his glory and gave Moses the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel and God spoke to him in a still small voice on Mount Horeb. The Old Testament is filled with mountaintop experiences!

In today’s text, Peter, James, and John, the three disciples in Jesus’ inner circle, have a mountaintop experience like no other. Jesus took them up a high mountain and was transfigured before them. Jesus revealed his divine glory to these disciples in a way that he has never shown anyone else. Let’s take a closer look at Jesus’ transfiguration, the ultimate mountaintop experience!

1.) Jesus’ Divine Glory (1-8)

Six days after Peter’s climactic confession that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the Living God and Jesus’ first prediction of his death, he led his inner circle up a high mountain to witness one of the most significant events of their lives, Jesus’ Transfiguration. The precise mountain is not identified. Mount Tabor has been favored throughout most of church history, but new archeological discoveries reveal that there was a Roman garrison stationed at the foot of Mount Tabor during Jesus’ time, making this theory highly unlikely. Today, most biblical scholars favor Mount Hermon, which was the most majestic peak in the region, towering 9,166 feet above sea level.

Regardless of which mountain it was, Jesus and the disciples ascended to the exact he wanted, and Matthew tells us that Jesus was transfigured before their very eyes. The Greek word translated here as “transfigured” is (metamorphoo) from which we get our English word metamorphosis. As a common caterpillar goes into a cocoon and is transformed into a beautiful butterfly, Jesus was momentarily transformed from his human form to his pre-incarnate divine form. Matthew uses the descriptions of Jesus’ face shining like the sun and his clothes became as white as light. The passive voice indicates that God the Father is the one who orchestrated Jesus’ transfiguration. Seeing Jesus in all of his divine glory would have been an incredible sight and it would have left no doubt in the disciple’s minds of Jesus’ true identity as God in human flesh and the promised Messiah.

As the three disciples fixed their eyes on Jesus, just then Moses and Elijah appeared and were talking with Jesus. They were two of the greatest Old Testament figures, representing the law and the prophets. Interestingly, both of these men had marvelous mountaintop experiences of their own. Their appearance on the mountain with Jesus indicates the greatness of Jesus, who transcends them both as the One who will be declared the Son of God. Peter recognizes that it was good for he and his fellow disciples to be there and offers to build three shelters or memorials in honor of the three holy men. But while he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my son, whom I love, with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

The voice from the cloud is obviously the voice of God the Father delivering the same statement of divine approval that he gave at Jesus’ baptism. Jesus has fulfilled the law and the prophets, now it is made clear that he is superior to Moses and Elijah, who revelations ultimately point to Jesus.

When the disciples saw this amazing sight and heard God’s unmistakable voice, they appropriately fell facedown to the ground in fear, wonder, and respect. And when Jesus came over to calm their fears, they looked up and saw no one but Jesus.

This mountaintop experience of Jesus’ transfiguration gives us a glimpse of Jesus’ divine glory and supremacy. Many people today like to say that Jesus was just another man. They say he was a good moral teacher, a wise philosopher, a powerful religious leader, but they say the same thing about Mohammed, Buddha, Confucius, Joel Osteen, and the Dali Lama.

A few weeks ago when I was flying home from Florida, I sat beside a girl from St. Johnsbury, who is a freshman at Tulane University. She was flying home to visit her family. After I asked her a few questions about college, she asked me what I did for work. When I told her that I was a pastor, she had a somewhat suspicious yet curious look on her face. Our conversation immediately turned to the topic of religion. She enthusiastically told me everything that she learned in her religion class last semester. She told me that her class even covered a unit on Satanism. I said, “Really! How was that?” She said it was really interesting. I asked her, “Now that you have studied Satanism, would you say that you believe in Satan more or less now.” She replied, “Oh, less, of course. I don’t believe in Satan.” Then she proceeded to tell me that she fell in love with the teachings of the Dalai Lama and that she respected him more than Jesus Christ. I asked her if she had much religious background before taking the class. She said, “Oh yeah, I’m Catholic and I can’t wait to attend mass on Sunday.

The girl obviously did not have a clue who Jesus really is. Even though she was raised Catholic, to her Jesus was just another religious figure. People are so confused today. Mohammed is not God—he is dead. Buddha is—he is dead. Confucius is not God—he is dead. Joel Osteen is not God—he isn’t even a good preacher. And the Dalai Lama is no different.

Jesus is the only one who is different. He is the second person of the Holy Trinity, he is the only begotten Son of the Father, he was the only one to be conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, he is true God of true God and yet humbled himself to become human flesh and dwell among us, he is the promised Messiah who is superior to Moses, Elijah, and the other figures of Judaism. He is the firstborn of all creation and is transcendent and supreme over everything because he created everything. He revealed his glory to these three disciples in this mountaintop experience! Do you know who Jesus is?

3.) Jesus’ Divine Mission (9-13)

As Jesus and the three disciples were coming back down the mountain, Jesus instructed them not to tell anyone what they had seen until after he was raised from the dead. Jesus didn’t want them to say anything because the crowds would have interpreted Jesus’ transfiguration and meeting with Moses and Elijah as the time for Jesus to effect national and military liberation. They would have pressured him into a different mission than he came to accomplish.

Then Jesus proceeded to explain to these disciples that the Old Testament prophecies about Elijah returning were already fulfilled by John the Baptist, but the Jews did not recognize him. Instead of recognizing him as a true prophet that came in the spirit of Elijah, they persecuted him, imprisoned him, and cut his head off.

Then, at the end of verse 12, Jesus drops the bomb again when he says, “In the same way, the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” Jesus knew exactly what his divine mission was. His mission was not to liberate the Jews from Roman occupation. His mission was not to provide the needs of the poor. His mission was not to bring justice to the oppressed. His mission was not to heal the sick and the lame. His mission was to die for the sins of the world, and he wasn’t going to let anything get in the way of that mission.

Today people use Jesus to support whatever social, political, or military agenda they are peddling, but Jesus will have none of it. His mission was to come to earth and die on the cross for the forgiveness of sins so that we would have a way of escaping eternal damnation in hell. His mission was to carry his cross to his own mountaintop experience on Mount Calvary. His mission was to endure the nails, the thorns, and the spear and to shed his precious blood for the atonement of our sins. His mission was and still is to bring hope to lost sinners like you and me.

Have you benefitted from Jesus’ mission? Have you repented from your sins and put your faith in the divine Son of God who died in your place. If not, I pray that you will do it today!

As I conclude this sermon, I would like to point out one last phrase found at the end of verse 5. After God the Father verbally affirms his Son during the transfiguration, he says three little words to the disciples—“Listen to him!”

We have seen a glimpse of Jesus’ glory at the transfiguration. We have seen a glimpse of Jesus’ divine mission when he told the disciples that he would suffer like John the Baptist. And these three words real God divine mission for our lives today—“Listen to him!”

So, as we leave this place today, I challenge you to listen to Jesus. Pattern your thoughts, words, and actions after him. Respond to him in faith. Follow him wherever he leads you. Listen to him every day. And you too, may have a mountaintop experience of your own!

 

“Jesus never wrote on paper; he left no printed book; instead he wrote his message upon men, and these men were the apostles.” These profound words were penned by the great Scottish theologian William Barclay.

At the end of his public ministry, Jesus had nothing tangible to leave as a monument of his life work. There weren’t any buildings, foundations, institutions, or scholarships left behind to memorialize him. Instead, he invested himself in a small group of men called the Twelve “Disciples” or “Apostles.” From them eventually came the literature and institution of the church. As we look back at Jesus’ life, it is easy to see that his most important work before his death and resurrection was the selection and training of these disciples who would represent him in the world after he was gone.

A striking contrast between Jesus and the Jewish leadership of his day appears in the way the relationship with the disciples was set up. In the Judaism of the time it was the obligation of the individual to seek out a rabbi to whom he would attach himself for instruction. This was probably the way John the Baptist gathered his followers. But Jesus was different. He took the initiative in personally selecting and calling each one of his immediate circle. The disciples were the product of the Lord. They bore his stamp. They were not self-made men. We would not have heard of any of them had not the Master passed their way.

This is exactly what Jesus does with us today. He initiates a relationship with us. He calls us to become his disciples. He wants us to be partakers of his kingdom by becoming his followers. The question that continually haunts us is, “Will I respond to his call?”

In today’s text, Luke tells us the story of how Jesus extended the call to his first four disciples and how they responded. There was nothing particularly special about Simon Peter, Andrew, James, or John; they were just a bunch of blue-collar small town boys. They were two sets of brothers from a small fishing village of Bethsaida along the Sea of Galilee. They all worked together in the same family fishing business. They did not come from noble families; they did not possess any advanced degrees; and they did not have any amazing abilities. But they all responded to God’s call to become Jesus’ disciples, and they changed the world!

As we look at the way these four men responded to Jesus’ call and became his disciples, we see a pattern for how we can respond to Jesus’ call and become his disciples too. Like the first disciples, we can become Jesus’ disciples by obeying his instructions, bowing before him in humility, and sacrificing everything to follow him. Let’s take a look at these prerequisites for discipleship individually!

1.) We become Jesus’ disciples by obeying his instructions. (1-7)

One morning a large group of people from Bethsaida followed Jesus to the Sea of Galilee. No doubt, they had heard the rumors of Jesus’ powerful preaching and miraculous healings from the nearby town of Capernaum, and now they were crowding around him to see if he was going to say or do something spectacular.

As he was walking along the shore, he came upon two fishing boats and some fishermen washing their nets. They probably had disappointed and exhausted looks on their faces because they obviously hadn’t caught any fish. Jesus got into Simon’s boat and asked him to push it out into the water so that he could teach the people from the boat. He did this to create some space and enhance the acoustics so the crowd could hear him better.

We don’t know what Jesus taught the people that day, but we do know what he said to Simon when they were on the boat. He told Simon Peter to go out into the deep water and lower his nets. Now you have to stop and think about this for a minute. What was Simon’s occupation? Right, he was a fisherman who had fished these waters his whole life. What was Jesus’ occupation? Right, he was a carpenter who had never fished these waters before. If you were a professional fisherman, how would you feel about receiving fishing advice from a carpenter?

Not only this, but Jesus’ instructions didn’t even make sense. Simon Peter and his colleagues had fished all night which was the best time to fish on the Sea of Galilee, and they didn’t catch anything. And now that the sun was coming up and the water was getting warmer, which was the worst time to fish, Jesus tells Simon Peter to go out further and let down the nets.

Simon had a dilemma! He had a decision to make! Was he going to trust his experience or was he going listen to Jesus? Was he going to follow conventional wisdom or was he going to obey Jesus’ instruction? We see that Simon made the right decision. His statement in verse 5 is powerful, “But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” Simon obeyed Jesus’ instructions because Jesus knows best. And the catch was so big that both of their boats started to sink. Simon learned that Jesus was better than the best Bass Pro Fish Finder.

We who would become Jesus’ disciples face the same dilemma in our own lives. There are times when we have to decide between trusting in our experience and listening to Jesus’ voice. There are times when we must choose between conventional wisdom and heeding Jesus’ instruction. Sometimes Jesus’ instructions don’t make sense to us, but we need to decide who knows best—us or Jesus? If you want to become Jesus’ disciple, you have to obey his instructions!

2.) We become Jesus’ disciples by bowing before him in humility. (8)

When Simon Peter saw the miraculous catch of fish, he immediately fell to his knees and said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” Each of these actions shows Simon Peter’s humility before Jesus. First, falling before someone’s feet was an act of humility, symbolizing lowliness before that person. Second, when Peter tells Jesus to depart from him, he is declaring his humility. He did not think that a holy God should have anything to do with a sinful man, but what Peter did not realize that humbly admitting one’s sin is one of the most crucial prerequisites for becoming Jesus’ disciple. Third, Simon Peter addressed Jesus as Lord. These responses show that he understood his humble position below God and that he was ready to become Jesus’ disciple.

The famous inventor Samuel Morse who was once asked if he ever encountered situations where he didn’t know what to do. Morse responded, “More than once, and whenever I could not see my way clearly, I knelt down and prayed to God for light and understanding.”

Morse received many honors from his invention of the telegraph but felt undeserving: “I have made a valuable application of electricity not because I was superior to other men but solely because God, who meant it for mankind, must reveal it to someone and He was pleased to reveal it to me.”

Just like Simon Peter, Samuel Morse bowed before Jesus in humility. If we are to become Jesus’ disciples, we too must understand our lowly position before God. We must be willing to fall down on our knees and admit our ignorance and our sin. We must acknowledge God for who he is and us for who we are! Even though Peter’s nets were full, he recognized that Jesus is really the one who caught the fish.

3.) We become Jesus’ disciples by sacrificing everything to follow him. (9-11)

The fishermen were so astonished by this miraculous catch of fish, and Jesus used this as an illustration for his call discipleship to discipleship. “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men,” have become some of Jesus’ most famous words. This was a call to leave their ordinary and comfortable lives behind and follow Jesus wherever he would go. It was a call from God to give their lives for the sake of the souls of other people.

Notice what is says in verse 11—“So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. It was the greatest single catch of their lives, and they were willing to leave it behind to follow Christ. They left their boats, their equipment, their families, their hometown to become Jesus’ disciples. They didn’t know it yet, but their decision to follow Jesus would ultimately cost them their lives. Each of these four fishermen would eventually be martyred for Jesus. They would follow him in life and they would follow him in death.

Sometimes following Jesus will cost you your job, your family, your friends, or even your life. Think about that for a minute! If you know that following Jesus would cause you to lose your job, would you do it? If you knew that becoming a disciple of Jesus would force you to give up your friends, would you do it? If accepting Jesus call for life meant leaving your family behind, would you still do it?

Following God’s call sometimes means sacrificing your plans, your, dreams, your goals, and your desires. Sometimes I think about my Roman Catholic brothers and sisters who have been called to be priests, monks, or nuns. I ask myself the question, “If God called me to a life of singleness (no marriage and no family of my own), would I have accepted his call?”

How about you? Are you willing to give up your livelihood or your family to become Jesus’ disciple? Would you, like these two sets of brothers, sacrifice everything to follow him? Now I am not saying that God will call you to sacrifice all of these things; he may not. But if he did, would you?

This story shows us that there are three prerequisites to becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ: obedience, humility, and sacrifice. Jesus is extending the call to each one of us today. Will you become a disciple?

 

“Jesus never wrote on paper; he left no printed book; instead he wrote his message upon men, and these men were the apostles.” These profound words were penned by the great Scottish theologian William Barclay.

At the end of his public ministry, Jesus had nothing tangible to leave as a monument of his life work. There weren’t any buildings, foundations, institutions, or scholarships left behind to memorialize him. Instead, he invested himself in a small group of men called the Twelve “Disciples” or “Apostles.” From them eventually came the literature and institution of the church. As we look back at Jesus’ life, it is easy to see that his most important work before his death and resurrection was the selection and training of these disciples who would represent him in the world after he was gone.

A striking contrast between Jesus and the Jewish leadership of his day appears in the way the relationship with the disciples was set up. In the Judaism of the time it was the obligation of the individual to seek out a rabbi to whom he would attach himself for instruction. This was probably the way John the Baptist gathered his followers. But Jesus was different. He took the initiative in personally selecting and calling each one of his immediate circle. The disciples were the product of the Lord. They bore his stamp. They were not self-made men. We would not have heard of any of them had not the Master passed their way.

This is exactly what Jesus does with us today. He initiates a relationship with us. He calls us to become his disciples. He wants us to be partakers of his kingdom by becoming his followers. The question that continually haunts us is, “Will I respond to his call?”

In today’s text, Luke tells us the story of how Jesus extended the call to his first four disciples and how they responded. There was nothing particularly special about Simon Peter, Andrew, James, or John; they were just a bunch of blue-collar small town boys. They were two sets of brothers from a small fishing village of Bethsaida along the Sea of Galilee. They all worked together in the same family fishing business. They did not come from noble families; they did not possess any advanced degrees; and they did not have any amazing abilities. But they all responded to God’s call to become Jesus’ disciples, and they changed the world!

As we look at the way these four men responded to Jesus’ call and became his disciples, we see a pattern for how we can respond to Jesus’ call and become his disciples too. Like the first disciples, we can become Jesus’ disciples by obeying his instructions, bowing before him in humility, and sacrificing everything to follow him. Let’s take a look at these prerequisites for discipleship individually!

1.) We become Jesus’ disciples by obeying his instructions. (1-7)

One morning a large group of people from Bethsaida followed Jesus to the Sea of Galilee. No doubt, they had heard the rumors of Jesus’ powerful preaching and miraculous healings from the nearby town of Capernaum, and now they were crowding around him to see if he was going to say or do something spectacular.

As he was walking along the shore, he came upon two fishing boats and some fishermen washing their nets. They probably had disappointed and exhausted looks on their faces because they obviously hadn’t caught any fish. Jesus got into Simon’s boat and asked him to push it out into the water so that he could teach the people from the boat. He did this to create some space and enhance the acoustics so the crowd could hear him better.

We don’t know what Jesus taught the people that day, but we do know what he said to Simon when they were on the boat. He told Simon Peter to go out into the deep water and lower his nets. Now you have to stop and think about this for a minute. What was Simon’s occupation? Right, he was a fisherman who had fished these waters his whole life. What was Jesus’ occupation? Right, he was a carpenter who had never fished these waters before. If you were a professional fisherman, how would you feel about receiving fishing advice from a carpenter?

Not only this, but Jesus’ instructions didn’t even make sense. Simon Peter and his colleagues had fished all night which was the best time to fish on the Sea of Galilee, and they didn’t catch anything. And now that the sun was coming up and the water was getting warmer, which was the worst time to fish, Jesus tells Simon Peter to go out further and let down the nets.

Simon had a dilemma! He had a decision to make! Was he going to trust his experience or was he going listen to Jesus? Was he going to follow conventional wisdom or was he going to obey Jesus’ instruction? We see that Simon made the right decision. His statement in verse 5 is powerful, “But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” Simon obeyed Jesus’ instructions because Jesus knows best. And the catch was so big that both of their boats started to sink. Simon learned that Jesus was better than the best Bass Pro Fish Finder.

We who would become Jesus’ disciples face the same dilemma in our own lives. There are times when we have to decide between trusting in our experience and listening to Jesus’ voice. There are times when we must choose between conventional wisdom and heeding Jesus’ instruction. Sometimes Jesus’ instructions don’t make sense to us, but we need to decide who knows best—us or Jesus? If you want to become Jesus’ disciple, you have to obey his instructions!

2.) We become Jesus’ disciples by bowing before him in humility. (8)

When Simon Peter saw the miraculous catch of fish, he immediately fell to his knees and said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” Each of these actions shows Simon Peter’s humility before Jesus. First, falling before someone’s feet was an act of humility, symbolizing lowliness before that person. Second, when Peter tells Jesus to depart from him, he is declaring his humility. He did not think that a holy God should have anything to do with a sinful man, but what Peter did not realize that humbly admitting one’s sin is one of the most crucial prerequisites for becoming Jesus’ disciple. Third, Simon Peter addressed Jesus as Lord. These responses show that he understood his humble position below God and that he was ready to become Jesus’ disciple.

The famous inventor Samuel Morse who was once asked if he ever encountered situations where he didn’t know what to do. Morse responded, “More than once, and whenever I could not see my way clearly, I knelt down and prayed to God for light and understanding.”

Morse received many honors from his invention of the telegraph but felt undeserving: “I have made a valuable application of electricity not because I was superior to other men but solely because God, who meant it for mankind, must reveal it to someone and He was pleased to reveal it to me.”

Just like Simon Peter, Samuel Morse bowed before Jesus in humility. If we are to become Jesus’ disciples, we too must understand our lowly position before God. We must be willing to fall down on our knees and admit our ignorance and our sin. We must acknowledge God for who he is and us for who we are! Even though Peter’s nets were full, he recognized that Jesus is really the one who caught the fish.

3.) We become Jesus’ disciples by sacrificing everything to follow him. (9-11)

The fishermen were so astonished by this miraculous catch of fish, and Jesus used this as an illustration for his call discipleship to discipleship. “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men,” have become some of Jesus’ most famous words. This was a call to leave their ordinary and comfortable lives behind and follow Jesus wherever he would go. It was a call from God to give their lives for the sake of the souls of other people.

Notice what is says in verse 11—“So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. It was the greatest single catch of their lives, and they were willing to leave it behind to follow Christ. They left their boats, their equipment, their families, their hometown to become Jesus’ disciples. They didn’t know it yet, but their decision to follow Jesus would ultimately cost them their lives. Each of these four fishermen would eventually be martyred for Jesus. They would follow him in life and they would follow him in death.

Sometimes following Jesus will cost you your job, your family, your friends, or even your life. Think about that for a minute! If you know that following Jesus would cause you to lose your job, would you do it? If you knew that becoming a disciple of Jesus would force you to give up your friends, would you do it? If accepting Jesus call for life meant leaving your family behind, would you still do it?

Following God’s call sometimes means sacrificing your plans, your, dreams, your goals, and your desires. Sometimes I think about my Roman Catholic brothers and sisters who have been called to be priests, monks, or nuns. I ask myself the question, “If God called me to a life of singleness (no marriage and no family of my own), would I have accepted his call?”

How about you? Are you willing to give up your livelihood or your family to become Jesus’ disciple? Would you, like these two sets of brothers, sacrifice everything to follow him? Now I am not saying that God will call you to sacrifice all of these things; he may not. But if he did, would you?

This story shows us that there are three prerequisites to becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ: obedience, humility, and sacrifice. Jesus is extending the call to each one of us today. Will you become a disciple?

 

The 19th century author and humorist Mark Twain has two famous quotes on the topic of temptation. The first is: “I never struggle with temptation; I just yield to it.” And the second is: “There are several good protections against temptation, but the surest is cowardice. These two statements highlight the attitudes that many people have about temptation. On one hand, you could just have a flippant attitude toward sin and just give in to temptation, or on the other hand, you could hide from anything that even looks like sin and live your life in a box. As Christians, we know that neither one of these extremes is a viable option for dealing with temptation.

There are many places in the New Testament where we could go to learn about the best way to deal with temptation. James 1 is pretty good: “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” I Corinthians 10 is also helpful when Paul says: “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”

Or you could also glean insights from the Old Testament stories of Samson and Delilah, David and Bathsheba, and King Solomon and his 300 wives; where all of their lives were ruined by giving into temptation. And certainly, we must remember the very first temptation story where Adam and Eve yielded to the temptation of eating the forbidden fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. This is what got us into this whole mess of sin in the first place.

But among all of the places in the Bible that teach us about temptation, there is one that stands out from all of the rest. The story of the temptation of Jesus Christ not only provides us with incredible look into the way the devil uses temptation to destroy people, but it also provides us with a model for how we can overcome the temptations that we face as we go through life. Let’s take a look at how our Lord tackled temptation!

 

The Context of Temptation (1-3)

Matthew tells us that after Jesus was baptized by his cousin John in the Jordan River and received divine approval from his Father, he retreated to the wilderness to complete his preparation for his public ministry. The Holy Spirit personally led him up to the wilderness to fast and to be tempted by the devil. If Jesus could not rule over his own body and soul, how could he lead anybody else? This significant event took place to prove that Jesus was ready to begin his earthly ministry and fulfill his divine destiny.

In a rather ironic understatement, Matthew tells us that after fasting for 40 days and 40 nights, Jesus was hungry. It makes me want to say to Matthew, “No, really?” It is certainly possible to go 40 days without food, but it is extremely difficult. For most of us, 40 hours without food would be difficult. Let’s be really honest—most of us start getting a little grumpy after about 4 hours without food. The longest I have ever fasted has been three days, and I felt like I was going to die. I cannot imagine going without food for 40 days.

Notice how Satan shows up at during Jesus’ 40 day fast, when he was tired, hungry, alone, and weak. There was no food, no shelter from the desert sun, and no other human beings around to hold him accountable to his mission. Satan attacked Jesus at the time when and place where he was most vulnerable.

Have you ever noticed that Satan employs the same tactic with us? He is clever and crafty. He doesn’t tempt us in times or areas where we are strong; he waits to attack us at the times and in the places where we are most vulnerable. He knows our individual weaknesses and waits for opportune times to capitalize on them.

A number of years ago now, Satan tempted a good friend of mine when and where he was most vulnerable. My friend loved his wife deeply and he was always faithful to her, but one day she confessed to him that she had been cheating on him with another man and now she wanted a divorce so that she could be with him. He was devastated! She moved out and he started going to bars to drink away the pain. One night when he was sitting at the bar, feeling particularly weak and vulnerable, a woman approached and propositioned him. Even though he knew that this woman had a promiscuous reputation, in a moment of weakness he succumbed to temptation and hooked up with her for the night. He justified his actions as a way of getting back at his wife.

A few weeks later when he began to notice some changes in his body, he knew that he had contracted a sexually transmitted disease. He was too embarrassed and stubborn to see a doctor and get treated. He kept his secret hidden for the next eight years until one morning when he simply hunched over and dropped dead at work. He was only 47 years old.

Do you have certain times and places when you are most vulnerable? Do you know your weaknesses? That is where Satan is most likely to attack us! We need to be prepared for Satan’s temptations in the times and areas where we are most vulnerable!

 

The First Temptation- Relying on God’s Provision (3-4)

Satan knew that Jesus was the true Son of God, but in this first temptation he tries to derail him from doing God’s will by tempting him to rely on his own self-sufficiency rather than on the provisions of God. To do this, he challenged Jesus to turn the desert stones into loaves of bread, which is something that I am sure would have delighted Jesus in that moment. There was nothing inherently wrong or sinful about turning stones into bread to satisfy a hungry stomach, but this would have been a departure from God’s will. If Jesus had done this, he would have misused his power and have exercised improper independence from God.

This is really the same trick that Satan used with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. It worked with the first Adam but not the second Adam. Jesus outwitted him by quoting scripture, a verse from Deuteronomy 8:3 which asserts that man should not live by bread alone, but every word that comes from the mouth of God. God had fed the Israelites with manna from heaven when they were wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. Their hunger had been intended to show them that hearing and obeying God’s word was the most important thing in life. Jesus had already learned this lesson. He knew the importance of relying on God rather than relying on his own power and abilities.

How many of us face the temptation to rely on ourselves rather than God? Sometimes it appears so much easier to do things ourselves, rather than to wait for God. But that is exactly what Satan wants us to do! He wants us to act independently from God.

It is just like little kids who want to do everything by themselves, rather than waiting for their parent’s instructions. Little Miss Independent thinks she can figure it out all by herself. Little Mr. Independent thinks he knows what he is doing. Grown-ups do the same thing with God all the time!

Do you rely on your strength, abilities, intelligence, and experience, or do you rely on God? Are you ever been tempted to misuse your power to get what you want? Think about all of the people in our world who abuse their power to wrongly satisfy their desires! Do you really believe that hearing and obeying God’s Word is the most important thing in life? When you do, then you will be able to resist temptation!

 

The Second Temptation- Trusting God’s Protection (5-7)

In the second temptation, Satan tries to trick Jesus by twisting God’s word. The devil takes Jesus to the top of the holy temple in Jerusalem which was about 450 feet high and challenges him to jump off so that God would send his loving angels to rescue him. Like the first temptation, Satan approaches Jesus with the words, “If you are the Son of God,” but this time he uses (or rather misuses) Psalm 91:11-12, where the Psalmist asserts God’s protection for the faithful in Israel. Satan twists this passage to trick Jesus into forcing God into a supernatural demonstration of his protection.

Jesus’ hesitation came, not from wondering whether his Father could or would rescue him if he jumped, but because Scripture forbids putting God to the test (Deuteronomy 6:16). For both Israel and Jesus, demanding miraculous proof of God’s protection is wrong; the appropriate attitude is trust and obedience.

Does Satan ever tempt you to put God to the test? Do you ever hear a little voice in your head saying, “If God really loved me, he would—if God really cared about me, he would—if God was really there, he would…” Do you ever demand miraculous signs and wonders? Do you ever try to bribe or manipulate God into doing what you want him to do? Again, this is exactly what Satan wants us to do! God simply wants us to trust him!

 

The Third Temptation- Following God’s Plan (8-10)

The third temptation may have been the most appealing of the three, not because of the anticipation of the glory of ruling all the kingdoms of the earth—that was already part of God’s plan—but because Satan’s offer would allow Jesus to rule the earth without enduring the suffering and shame of the cross. God the Father already had a plan for Jesus to be the king of the world, but now Satan offers Jesus an even more appealing plan—a kingdom and all of its glory, minus the suffering. Satan promises Jesus that he can offer a better plan and way than God could. Had Jesus taken the easy way instead of the right way, he would not have gone to the cross and we would have no hope of salvation today.

Again, Jesus reaches into Scripture, interprets it accurately, and sends Satan on his way. Jesus goes back to Deuteronomy 6 and preaches a sermon to Satan about worshipping and serving God alone. Those words in particular must have stung Satan because this is exactly what Satan did not do when he rebelled against God. Satan must not have liked Jesus’ sermon because he immediately got up and left.

Satan does this same thing to us all the time. He offers an easy way as an alternative to God’s way. There is no doubt about it—God’s way is hard! God’s way is always marked with suffering and sacrifice! Satan offers us a bunch of empty shortcuts to glory and happiness, but they are all lies in the end. He tells us “go ahead and cheat on your income taxes; you deserve that money.” He says “if you divorce your spouse you will be much happier.” He says “it doesn’t matter who you hurt; all that matters is that you are number one.” He promises more money, power, popularity, success, and happiness if we take his easy way. But the only way to true happiness is through worshiping and serving the Lord!
And if there was any doubt about God’s love or compassion, look at how the story ends! Angels came and ministered to him. God was completely sufficient! He provided everything that Jesus needed! And he does the same for us today.

Like Jesus, if we if we rely on God’s provision…trust in God’s protection…if follow God’s plan…we will be able to resist the devil’s temptations too!

 

How many of you remember when you were baptized? Those of you who were baptized when you were babies probably don’t remember it (unless you have the greatest memory in the world). Those of you who were baptized as adolescents, teenagers, or adults probably remember not only when, but also where, how, and by whom you were baptized. Some of you have been baptized three or four times, so you have a lot of memories—that is, if you can keep them all straight. Baptism is a significant life event that we should always remember.

I remember my baptism well. I was 21 years old and was in my second year of Bible College. I had been a Christian for a few years, but for some reason I had never gotten baptized at my home church. When I was going to become a member of the church I was attending in college, the pastor asked me when I was baptized. When I told him that I had never been baptized, a strange look came over his face. It may seem a little backward that I had been studying for the ministry for two years before I was baptized, but most things throughout my life have been a little backward—so why should my baptism be any different? Therefore, I was baptized at a Presbyterian church in Chicago in preparation for a life in ministry.

Likewise, when Jesus was 30 years old, he went to the Jordan River and was baptized by his cousin John the Baptist in preparation for his public ministry. Matthew fast-forwards from Jesus as a 12 year old boy in chapter 2 to Jesus undergoing the waters of baptism as a full grown man in chapter 3. We don’t know anything about Jesus’ teenage or young adult life, but this 18 year gap of silence is ended with the significant event of Jesus’ baptism.

 

John the Baptist Prepares the Way (1-12)

When Jesus showed up on the banks of the Jordan, John the Baptist had already been engaged in the ministry of preaching and baptizing for some time. Even though John conducted his ministry in the remote wilderness regions of Judea, he had gained considerable popularity. The nation of Israel hadn’t had a bona fide prophet in their midst for 400 years, and John raised curiosity because he lived and spoke like a true prophet from God. With the peculiar garments of camel’s hair and an all natural organic diet of locusts and wild honey, he reminded people of the prophet Elijah from Old Testament times. (It is a good thing that PETA didn’t exist in John’s time, or they would have taken him to task for his camel’s hair clothing.)

John’s message was simple and straightforward: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Repentance means sorrow for and a turning away from sin. John’s baptism was a symbolic gesture of repentance in preparation for the coming Messiah. After people confessed their sins, he immersed them in the river as a symbol of their souls being cleansed.

John’s message of repentance is important for us to consider today. For some reason, the necessity of repentance has gotten lost in the modern theological shuffle. Some people have said, “All you have to do is believe to be saved.” Is repentance necessary for salvation? Do I have to repent to go to heaven? The answer is unequivocally “Yes!” Here is why: if someone does not take their sin seriously, they completely miss the point of Jesus’ death on the cross. If we are not genuinely sorrowful for the things we have said and done that have broken our relationship with God, then Jesus died in vain. If we are unwilling to confess and turn away from our sin, we do not understand the gospel of Jesus Christ.

How about you? Have you repented from your sin? Do you feel sorrowful for your sinful thoughts, words, and deeds? Have you made a decision to turn the other way? Only then will you be ready to receive God’s forgiveness through Jesus’ death and the promise of eternal life through his resurrection! Repent, the kingdom of heaven is at hand!

John was an intriguing figure and his ministry became so popular that even the religious leaders (the Pharisees and Sadducees) came to the wilderness to hear his preaching and to the Jordan to see his baptism. But when they showed up, they were not greeted with terms of endearment; he lambastes them for their hypocrisy. In an instance of divine and sarcastic name calling, John accuses them of being a “brood of vipers”—a slew of spineless serpents who took pride in their spiritual heritage rather than a personal commitment to God. John tells them that if they don’t take their spiritual lives seriously that their souls are in jeopardy of judgment. Jesus will chop them down and burn the trees that don’t bear spiritual fruit. He will use his winnowing fork to separate the spiritual wheat from the spiritual chaff, and the chaff will burn in hell.

There are many people today who make the same mistake as these religious leaders. They base their spiritual security on their religious heritage rather than their own relationship with God. People say things like, “Well, my grandfather helped build that church! My grandmother attended church her whole life! My father gave a lot of money to that church! My mother reads the Bible all the time! I used to go to church when I was a kid! My family is Catholic—or Methodist, or Baptist, or some other denomination.”

Do you know what John the Baptist would say to any of these things? He would say a big sarcastic “Whipp-di-dooo!” He would say that God is not impressed by any of these things! He would say that none of these things matter! He would ask, “What about you? How is your relationship with God? How is your spiritual life? Have you taken Jesus Christ seriously?” Your salvation does not depend on your spiritual heritage or going through religious motions; it depends upon what you do with Jesus Christ!

Before we move on, I would like to notice one more thing about John: his humility. He never let his own abilities or popularity go to his head. He was comfortable with his call to be the forerunner to the Messiah. He knew that he was just a voice calling in the wilderness to prepare the way for the Lord. He knew that the one coming after him was mightier than him and he wasn’t even worthy to carry his sandals. He knew that his baptism was only a physical baptism for repentance but that the Messiah would baptize with the Holy Spirit. He knew that he should be baptized by Jesus; not the other way around. He understood his position under Christ.

This is a good reminder for us today. American’s especially need to be reminded that we are not the Messiah. We need to be reminded of our humble position before God. God doesn’t owe us anything! The world does not revolve around us! We need to be reminded that life is not about our dreams, our desires, our goals, our aspirations, our preferences, or our possessions—our lives are about God’s call and plan. John understood that; do you?

 

Jesus’ Baptism (13-17)

Well, Jesus eventually came to the Jordan to be baptized by John. John immediately recognized Jesus for who he was; that is why he was reluctant to baptize him. But Jesus must have been a big disappointment for the people standing there. Matthew makes a point to say that Jesus “came from Galilee.” Galilee was the insignificant rural northern area of Israel. Judeans looked down upon Galileans as being backwoods, uneducated, and unsophisticated. To be from Galilee was to be from the wrong side of the tracks. Jesus, as an average sized Galilean who wanted to be baptized by John like everyone else, would not have met the people’s Messianic expectations. They wanted a strong, powerful, outspoken, take the bull by the horns type leader who would overthrow the Romans and reestablish Jewish glory. At first glance, Jesus didn’t fit the bill. He was royal disappointment (pun intended).

Have you ever been disappointed with Jesus? If we are truly honest, I suspect most of us have. There has probably been a time in your life when you wanted Jesus to be something that he is not? You have probably had the experience where you wanted him to answer one of your prayers in a certain way and he didn’t? Maybe things didn’t turn out the way you thought they were going to, and you doubted God? This is exactly what the people by the Jordon were feeling, but let’s see what happens!

In spite of John’s reluctance, Jesus insists upon being baptized for the purpose of “fulfilling all righteousness.” Jesus did not need a baptism of repentance because he never committed a sin, but he wanted to be baptized to fulfill God’s saving activity that had been prophesied in the Old Testament. Instead of being the one standing up with John and calling on sinners to repent, he wanted to be down in the water, making himself one with the very sinners he came to save. Jesus’ baptism affirmed his humanity and inaugurated his ministry of salvation.

As Jesus walked into the water and John immersed his body, his baptism was complete. When he came up from the water two miracles took place. God opened the heavens and the Holy Spirit takes on the appearance of a dove and lighting and descends upon Jesus. A dove was a common symbol of peace and lightning was a symbol of judgment. Here stood the one who was destined to bring both peace and judgment to the world. Then everyone heard God’s voice from heaven say, “This is my son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” These words confirmed Jesus’ divine identity as the Son of God and the promised Messiah as was prophesied in Isaiah 42:1. The crowd that witnessed this vision and heard these words from heaven must have been dumbfounded. Jesus did not meet their expectations, but this little family reunion between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit left no doubt about Jesus’ identity.

Likewise, Jesus did not come to meet our little religious expectations; he did not come to advance our political agendas; he certainly did not come to affirm our self-esteem. He is God’s divine Son, the promised Messiah who came to fulfill his Father’s will of bringing salvation to lost sinners like you and me. His ministry was inaugurated at his baptism, it was accomplished through his death and resurrection, and it will be consummated at his second coming. Have you repented from your sins? Have you put your faith in God’s son? Have you received his gift of salvation? Are you ready for his return?

 

Just like it does every year, Christmas has come and gone. By this time many of our Christmas trees have begun to wilt, pine needles are all over the floor, toys have been played with and some of them are already broken. The leftover cookies on our counters are dried up and our refrigerators look empty again. The department stores have stopped playing Christmas music and the holiday clearance sales are being replaced with new merchandise. (Next week we will start to see Valentine’s Day candy on display.)

Now that we have celebrated Christmas, responsibility is staring us in the face again. For most of us this week means back to waking up early, going to work and school, and fulfilling all of the obligations that make our lives what they are. We go through this same dreadful cycle every year. If you are feeling depressed about the reality of responsibility after Christmas, you may be encouraged to know that Mary and Joseph went through this same cycle.

 

Joseph and Mary’s Responsibility (21-24)

After the angels had disappeared and went back into heaven and the shepherds returned to their flocks and after all of the excitement of Christmas settled down, Joseph and Mary had some responsibilities to fulfill. First, they had the responsibility of circumcising their baby boy on eight days after he was born to comply with Jewish custom. When the boy was circumcised he was also given his formal name. Mary and Joseph obeyed the angel and gave their boy the name Jesus. This name means “savior” and was a foreshadowing of his divine destiny to become the savior of the world.

Second, Mary and Joseph had the responsibility of taking Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem to dedicate him to the Lord. But before they could do this they had to wait 33 days for Mary’s purification to be completed. Once the appropriate time had lapsed, they took Jesus to the temple and consecrated him. It appears that Mary and Joseph were quite poor; for they gave the poor man’s offering of two doves or pigeons, because they could not afford the usual offering of one lamb and a dove or pigeon.

When we read these verses, we catch a deeper glimpse into Joseph and Mary’s character. They were people who fulfilled their obligations to God and to the law. (Just like today, it cost money to have a baby in ancient Palestine.) Despite their difficult financial situation, they fulfilled their responsibilities. They whine or complain about their circumstances. They didn’t make excuses. They simply did what they were supposed to do!

How about you? Do you do what you are supposed to do? Are you fulfilling your responsibilities to God, to your family, at work, at school, etc? Do you take care of your financial obligations? Are you the type that whines and complains about your circumstances, or do you humbly do what you are supposed to do like Joseph and Mary?

 

Dying in Peace (25-33)

As Joseph and Mary entered the temple to fulfill their responsibility, they met up with a most interesting character. Simeon is usually thought to be a very old man, although there is nothing in the text that explicitly suggests this. Regardless of Simeon’s age, we know that he lived a righteous life and he was deeply committed to the Lord. It was certainly not coincidental that he entered the temple at the exact time that Joseph and Mary were there. For Simeon had been led to that precise place at that exact time by the Holy Spirit.

Why did the Holy Spirit lead Simeon to Joseph and Mary? The Holy Spirit had promised Simeon that he would not die until he saw the Messiah. In this one moment Simeon accomplished his life’s purpose of seeing the promised Messiah and pronouncing a prophecy over his life. And now that he had seen and embraced God’s salvation for all people—both Gentile and Jew alike—he was now ready to die in peace.

Now I am quite sure that none of us will ever get an opportunity to hold the baby Jesus like Simeon did, but we all have the chance to embrace God’s promise of salvation. This divine child would one day grow up and die on the cross for our sins and rise from the grave on the third day to give us the hope of eternal life. Regardless of whether you are young or old, you are not ready to die until you have embraced God’s salvation by giving your life to his son! You can only die in peace when you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven! You can only die in peace when you know that you are heaven bound!

None of us knows when we are going to die, but we can know if we will die in peace! Have you embraced Jesus Christ? Have you put your faith in God’s plan of salvation? Have you given your heart to the only one who can save you?

 

Our Divine Destiny (34-40)

As Mary and Joseph marveled at Simeon’s words, Simeon blessed them and spoke directly to Mary a prophecy about the child’s future. For God had already destined this child to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign spoken against, to reveal the hearts of many. Don’t miss the irony in this verse: Simeon’s divine destiny was to prophesy the destiny of the divine!

We ought to stop and think about that word “destined.” This is a clear statement of God’s sovereignty. God had already planned Jesus’ life before he was even born. He had a divine destiny to bring salvation to the world through his suffering and death.

At some point, all of us who call ourselves Christians have to reckon with this idea of destiny. The Bible often uses the term predestination. Now some people don’t like the idea that God has already planned our lives for us—they get frustrated because they think it interferes with our free will. But consider this: Would you with your finite knowledge, limited power, and propensity for making mistakes, like to go through life making every decision for yourself? Or would you rather trust the plan that the Creator of the universe has laid out for your life?

The Bible teaches us that God has a specific purpose and plan for each one of our lives. He doesn’t usually reveal all of it to us at one time, but as we live by faith every day, we begin to see how the “coincidences” of our lives were not coincidences at all, but they were planned by God from the very beginning. Do you know what God’s divine destiny is for your life?

 

Jesus’ Divine Destiny (34)

Now let us take a deeper look at Jesus’ divine destiny in verse 34.

1.) Jesus’ divine destiny is to cause many to fall (34).

This is the sad truth for some who encounter Christ! It is hard to imagine that the little baby lying in Simeon’s arms would someday be the reason for the fall of so many. It’s not so much that Jesus is the cause of stumbling as he is the stumbling stone. For man would not be judged by what he does, but by what he does with Jesus. Throughout the New Testament we repeatedly see this prophecy fulfilled. Many of Jesus’ disciples deserted him when he was on earth. They followed him when he was popular and comfortable, but they left him as soon as things got tough. Judas Iscariot sold him to the religious leaders for a few pieces of silver.

It is very much the same today. There are so many who reject Jesus today.

2.) Jesus’ divine destiny is to cause many to rise (34).

Jesus would be the cause of people rising to new life. This little baby Simeon held in his arms was the long-awaited Messiah. He was not the political leader or the military conqueror that many of the Jews were expecting, but he was the fulfillment of all of God’s promises to Israel. This little baby would be the one to deliver Israel from sin. He would not only deliver Israel from sin, but all humanity (32).

This is the reason why Jesus Christ stepped out of eternity and into time. He came to seek and to save that which was lost. The whole earth was lost in a sinful state, but this little baby would one day grow into a man and die for us on a cross. Through his death and resurrection, he would forgive sin and raise to new life those who believe.

Scripture constantly testifies to how this prophecy was fulfilled, and it is still being fulfilled today. Even two-thousand years after Jesus lived on earth there are still thousands of people putting their faith in him every year. They are finding forgiveness of sin and new life in Christ. Jesus’ divine destiny of causing people to rise is still happening today.

3.) It is Jesus’ divine destiny to face much opposition (34).

William Barclay comments, “Toward Jesus there is no neutrality. We either surrender to him or we are at war with him. The tragedy is that so many are at war with him.” This aspect of Simeon’s prophecy was also fulfilled in the pages of Scripture.

Jesus faced opposition his whole life. Even when he was a baby King Herod tried to kill him. Later, he was opposed by the Pharisees, Sadducees, Romans, and many others. Some lied about him and others called him a mad man. He was spit on, beaten, whipped, pierced with a spear, and nailed to a cross. He faced more opposition than any human being in history.

Just as Jesus’ divine destiny was to face opposition, so his followers share in that same destiny. Every true Christian will face opposition for what they believe. Maybe a family member or friend will give you a hard time for going to church on Sunday. They might say things like, “Why do you want to waste your time going to church?” You may face opposition from classmates at school when you stand up for Christ. This opposition is part of the Christian’s divine destiny!
This little baby who laid in Simeon’s arms would someday grow into a man and go to the cross to die for the sins of the world. This baby is still causing many to rise and fall. This baby is still facing much opposition. Which side are you on? What will you do with this baby? As you consider the destiny of Christ, I hope that you will consider your own destiny! I tell you this morning: Embrace the Christ Child! I promise that you will never be the same, and you will never regret it! Amen!