Sunday School Lesson

1. Matthew 17:1-13
Is Jesus Fully God?
March 12, 2017
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA

2. http://quotesthoughtsrandom.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/first-things-first.jpg
What’s the number one thing?

3. https://forgodalmighty.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/cropped-sunset1.jpg
The Glory of God!

4. http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6tzRiT-BrDs/TIGM_Ih3dAI/AAAAAAAAAX0/0AJWPvlAfqw/s640/Gods+Glory.jpg
1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV
31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you
do, do all to the glory of God.

5. http://tse2.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIP.M824600c9534029193ceef79dc4fff8fcH0&pid=15.1
First Baptist Church Jackson Mission:
Multiply Disciples to Live Like Jesus.

6. March MemoryVerse:
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.

8. Sunday, March 26th
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm

9. Community Dinners
Thursday, March 30th
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

10. Friday, March 31rd
Saturday, April 01st

11. Forgiven: A Celebration of the Cross
Sunday, April 09th
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm

12. Colin S. Smith
Unlocking the Bible
The Moody Bible Institute
TheTransfiguration
1) The Glory
2) TheWitnesses
3) The Cloud

13. http://unlockingthebible.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Colin-Smith-Large.jpg
Colin S. Smith

14. 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.

15. Matthew 17:1-13
IS JESUS FULLY GOD?

16. 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.

17. Matthew 16:24-28 ESV
Take UpYour Cross and Follow Me
24Then 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.

18. 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.

19. 28Truly, 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 16:24-28 ESV

20. Matthew 17:1-13 ESV
TheTransfiguration
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).

21. 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. IfYou wish, I
will make three tents here, one forYou and one
for Moses and one for Elijah.” (Jesus is greater
than the Law and the Prophets – not equal.)

22. 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.” 6When
the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces
and were terrified.

23. 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.

24. 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)

25. 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.” 13Then the
disciples understood that He was speaking to
them of John the Baptist.
Matthew 17:1-13 ESV

26. http://looklex.com/e.o/slides/mt_hermon02.jpg
Mount Hermon

27. Its summit straddles the border between Syria
and Lebanon and, at 9,232 ft. above sea level, is
the highest point in Syria.

28. 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.

29. Mount Hermon is called "the eyes of the nation"
in Israel because its elevation makes it Israel's
primary strategic early warning system.

30. http://www.keyway.ca/gif/hermon.gif

31. http://www.seektheoldpaths.com/Maps/009.jpg

32. http://www.snow-forecast.com/resortlocationmaps/mounthermon.8.gif

33. http://bibleatlas.org/area/mount_hermon.jpg

34. http://angelicencounters.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/moses10commandments.jpg
Moses had a mountaintop experience on Mt.
Moriah – receiving theTen Commandments
(twice).

35. http://static1.squarespace.com/static/5270270be4b029f7b8646768/t/53d083dbe4b0e9800a553a74/1406177111763/AltarofElijah6.jpg
Elijah’s mountaintop experience was on Mt.
Carmel as he defeated the 400 prophets of
Baal.

36. http://truthbook.com/images/site_images/William_Hole_The_Transfiguration_400.jpg
Now we see all three: Jesus, Moses and Elijah
on Mt Hermon and Peter makes the false
assumption that they are equal.

37. 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.

38. http://spiritualdirection.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/TransfigurationCorbertGauthierCopyright2006REQUIRES-HOT-LINK2crop.jpg
TheTransfiguration account is also recorded in
Luke 9 and Mark 9.

39. 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)

40. 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)

41. Luke 9:51 ESV
51When the days drew near for Him to be taken
up, He set His face to go to Jerusalem.

42. Luke 18:31-34 ESV
Jesus Foretells His Death aThirdTime
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.

43. 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.
Luke 18:31-34 ESV

44. http://s3.hubimg.com/u/337414_f520.jpg
Matthew 17:1-13
1) The Glory
2) TheWitnesses
3) The Cloud

45. 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?”

46. 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.

47. http://www.wrightpublications.org/storage/Lampstand%20Picture.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1254150146921
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.

48. Revelation 1:12-18 ESV
12Then 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.

49. 14The 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.

50. 17When 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.
Revelation 1:12-18 ESV

51. 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.

52. https://solascriptura15.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/crucifixion.jpg
As Isaiah says that His was so disfigured that is
was beyond being recognized.

53. 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—

54. 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.”

55. 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!

56. 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!

57. 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.

58. http://www.alighthouse.com/files1/transT_Tp.jpg
Before you face the cross – see the glory!

59. John referred to this experience when he wrote:
John 1:14 ESV
14 And theWord 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.

60. 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.

61. 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,
withWhom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves
heard this very voice borne from Heaven, for we
were with Him on the holy mountain.
2 Peter 1:16-18 ESV

62. http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VWf0y7Qava0/UDQC3IWFyQI/AAAAAAAAErM/NwoHKtSz-rc/s1600/2_jesus-transfiguration.jpg
Matthew 17:1-13
1) The Glory
2) The Witnesses
3) The Cloud

63. 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.

64. 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.

65. Matthew 17:3 ESV
3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses
and Elijah (two witnesses), talking with Him.

66. 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!

67. 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.

68. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4r_2xU4jHqE/UCsK0KqL7MI/AAAAAAAAAiY/Vg_6gCcPSUQ/s1600/Elijah.jpg
After his mountaintop experience, Elijah ran for
his life, got depressed and prayed to die.

69. http://img08.deviantart.net/ed5c/i/2011/310/0/c/moses_striking_the_rock_by_joshthecartoonguy-d4fdc6j.jpg
Moses continued to struggle with the people
and with his own disobedience after his
mountaintop experience.

70. http://www.nowtheendbegins.com/images/bible-images/the-two-witnesses-of-revelation.jpg
Yet Moses and Elijah were both glorified and
sharing in His glory!

71. http://www.lostseed.com/extras/free-graphics/images/jesus-pictures/transfiguration-on-the-mountain.jpg
Peter, James and John sinned and failed (but got up
again) after theTransfiguration.
One mountaintop experience can’t carry you
forever.

72. http://walkwithjesusonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Christ-Our-Peace-200x200.jpg
Nothing can ever replace your daily walk with
Christ!

73. 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.

74. 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.

75. • 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)

76. 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.

77. • 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!

78. • 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.

79. Mark 9:2 ESV
TheTransfiguration
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,

80. It is very probable that Moses and Elijah are the two
witnesses that are foretold in Revelation 11:3-13 –
6They 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... 12Then they heard a loud voice from
Heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” And they
went up to Heaven in a cloud…

81. http://gorepent.com/wp-content/uploads/posts40/transfiguration.jpg
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.

82. 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.

83. 1Thessalonians 2:14 ESV
14To this He called you through our gospel, so
that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus
Christ.

84. 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.

85. https://tse2.mm.bing.net/th?id=OIF.ySriSiEPF%2fkO6kRfqG%2frkQ&w=283&h=189&c=7&qlt=90&o=4&dpr=1.5&pid=1.7
Matthew 17:1-13
1) The Glory
2) TheWitnesses
3) The Cloud

86. 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,
withWhom I am well pleased; listen to Him.”

87. http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WmjgjJyAp4g/Uk_evPKebMI/AAAAAAAAAdk/y5sROEzvx1Y/s1600/Cloud+by+Day+and+Fire+by+Night.jpg
The cloud represents the presence of God in the
OT - pillar of cloud by day and fire by night.

88. https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QvoKZbFJlfs/TnIDjBjjIdI/AAAAAAAAAY8/7WUocUQF1X4/s1600/High_Priest.jpg
The cloud (God’s glorious presence) filled the
Holy of Holies in both theTabernacle and the
Temple.

89. http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/b2/f6/63/b2f6639307a050ebac32cd5726378581.jpg
Ezekiel 1:4 “A GREAT CLOUD”

90. 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.

91. http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GERkyLArxpU/UbfpjuJ6F2I/AAAAAAAAGY0/8LdHRT_7Qdo/s1600/presence-of-holy-spirit.jpg
In the NT, the indwelling of the Spirit of the
Lord – the presence of God is referred to as the
Holy Spirit.

92. Revelation 14:14 ESV
14Then 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.

93. http://beforethebeginning.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/SunsRays.jpg
Cloud = inscrutable, hidden from view, no one
has ever seen God, He dwells in
unapproachable light…

94. 1Timothy 6:15b-16 ESV
15b HeWho is the blessed and only Sovereign,
the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16Who
alone has immortality,Who dwells in
unapproachable light,Whom no one has ever
seen or can see.

95. 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.

96. That is the heart of the NewTestament.
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.”

97. 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’?
John 14:6-9 ESV

98. 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!

99. 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.

100. 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.

101. Matthew 17:6-7 ESV
6When 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.”

102. 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!

103. 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!

104. 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!

105. Matthew 17:8 ESV
8 And when they lifted up their eyes,
they saw no one but Jesus only.

106. 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’sTime to Break the
Huddle by Dr. Pollard.)

107. http://www.bpnews.net/images/IMG2008122502HI.jpg?width=800
God does not want you to stay on the mountain
top but He also does not want you in theValley
of Service if you don’t have the mountaintop
experience in your heart.

108. 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.

109. http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/4c/69/09/4c6909c949e1473e57b3523882bb2aa9.jpg
Jesus had given them a glimpse of where they
were headed and that same glimpse of the
future is also given to us today.

110. 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!

111. 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!

112. 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 theValley of Service.
10) The mountain top prepares us for theValley
of Service.

113. http://bongodogblog.files.wordpress.com/2013/07/jesus-heal-boy-1.jpg

114. http://victoryoutreachwhittier.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/abiding-in-christ.jpg
Since that is our future, how should we prepare
for it?

115. 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.

116. http://slideteam.net/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/1/_/1_john_2_28_unashamed_before_himat_his_coming_powerpoint_church_sermon_Slide01.jpg

117. http://tse2.mm.bing.net/th?id=JN.YeZK4m9R0ZovA7PRca4vag&pid=15.1
Sunday

118. Matthew 19:16-26
What is Required?
March 19, 2017
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA

119. 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.”

120. 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 only 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.

121. 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.

122. 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.

123. 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.
Romans 10:13 ESV
13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be
saved.”

124. 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/