Don't Miss Moments - Week 5 - St. Peter - Pastor Tim Glende
Don't Miss Moments
Week 5 - St Peter
Pastor Tim Glende
Mountaintop experiences, I've never had a literal mountaintop experience. I like working out. I like going to the gym, but I don't like hiking and I definitely don't climb mountains.
I've heard from people who do and who have why that phrase is something that sticks that we apply to other things in life. And when people climb a mountain, they get to the top, The View that they have. Have a 360-degree view of everything around them is breathtaking. It's a moment. It's one of those moments that a lot of people say, if they've ever climbed a really high mountain. Or is it experience that they will never forget something they want to hold on to the breathtaking nature of what they see? Is something amazing that they don't ever want to overlook.
Don't forget about. It's why not freeze has been taken and applied to life. Figuratively speaking and in life, all of us have mountaintop experiences. Like if you Google the phrase, you'll find people putting together a list of what those mountaintop experiences might be and maybe you had some from anniversary. Is that important in celebrating monumental? Bogus to retirement parties and that cool little plaque. Love your work, gave you mountaintop experiences. Maybe it's the birth of a child, your first one, or the fourth one. Maybe it's a grandchild arriving. Maybe it's a wedding and a day of celebration mountaintop experience or something all of us.
And probably having green in her mind when they were like for the Glende family. One of those mountaintop experiences was June 30th 2017 with the day, my daughter got married. An amazing day, a whole lot of celebrations and at the end of it by say that that's one of those days, my wife and I are for the after-party went up to the room at 2:30 or 3:00 a.m. In the morning, and she's like, I don't want it to end.
Can we do it again? That's a mountaintop experience. And you probably had those. And I want you to have that in your mind a day as we get into our, don't miss moment. Because for two years the disciples had experienced a lot of those moments in Jesus life. Like they had seen and had mountaintop experiences are, as Pastor Mike likes to use this kind of moment. Made see miracles where Jesus raised the dead. We talked about that, the fed 5,000, walked on water and they didn't miss the moment. They heard him deliver, many messages that were powerful and life-changing. And, and they walked amongst the crowd to who left, most of those messages, as the gospels record amazed at the kind of teacher that he was,
In the moment. They even had seen Jesus walk through a crowd of people, his hometown who wanted to stone him and he left unscathed. I think all those moments must of built inside of the disciples and idea a belief of thought about where they were going and what was in their future like I sign up for team Jesus and experienced all those moments and I'm guessing what they had in mind, what they'd experienced and see had left them to their own conclusion of where this would go.
And I would end up for them how it ended for him. And that's what before we get to the “Don't Miss Moment in Jesus life today. You need to see the moment that preceded it. Because we're two years into Jesus ministry and that idea in their mind of who they thought he was, who they were following, what they thought it was going to mean for them. And, and where would lead for him was about to do a 180. All those. And so a Miracles and messages. For the first time changed direction for Jesus. You see, in Luke chapter 9, we're going to take that turn with Jesus. Because for the first time as Luke records it of three times. He tells the disciples, something like this, and you don't want to miss it, because it matters to the moment. We're going to talk about today. Jesus said the son of man must suffer, many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law and he must be killed. And on the third day, be raised to life.
Then he said to them and take up their cross daily and follow me. Those who want to save their lives will lose them. For those who lose their lives for me. We'll save it. Like, in that moment, when Jesus says those words, One can only think was going through the heads of the disciples.
Up here. By the gospel of Mark tells us what was going through their minds in the moment. Well, Luke has a record. It. Mark's gospel does, it says Peter took him aside and objected to this? The Peter literally pulls Jesus aside and says, that's not the plan. That's not the way it's supposed to go. This is what we signed up for. That's not how it's supposed to end.
Until Jesus rebuked him.
I don't want you to have that moment in your mind before we get to the moment. Because I want you to think about and examine what was first going on in the hearts of the disciples, because of that moment.
But Jesus said, I'm going to suffer and die. At the hands of God's people.
Those disciples must have wondered this guy were following on team Jesus.
Is he really the Messiah? That's the way it's going to go down?
Or how about Jesus clear testimony to them about. They were going to experience because they were connected them. If you're going to follow me, if you want to be on my team, you got to carry a cross. Like it's going to be painful. It's going to be hard. They're going to be suffering. And one can only imagine that over the next eight days before, Luke shares with us. What's coming next in the moment, many of them may be wrestled with, “Should I remain on the team or should I run? Is he really the one?”
Like that's the question. I think that many people in Jesus day had of him. That the disciples tried to answer just a few verses earlier that right now in that moment with those words must have been in their hands and on their heart is Jesus. Really the one like we have an idea of what the Messiah should look like. We have an idea of where this should lead. We have an idea of what this would mean for us in our lives here on Earth. And most of them probably didn't have that in mind across suffering pain, dead Messiah.
Is Jesus the one?
And that's what I pray today is. Don't Miss Moment, allows you and me to answer. In fact, on the next few minutes. I'm want to accomplish two things. I have two purposes. The first one is this that you can learn something about Jesus who he is from this moment. But I also pray that Jesus In this moment. God records it for a reason for us, in our life of faith and allowed for it, for those disciples. Because as followers of Jesus, what does this moment mean? And why does it matter? So what do I learn about Jesus? And what do I learn about my life? As a Jesus follower?
In other words, when I come back to this question, being able to answer it well and face the doubts, when it happens is what I want you to leave with. Which is what the don't miss movement that we find in Luke chapter 9, that followed the words. I talked about before, gives us the answer to both of those questions. What certain? We just got inspired him to write about 8 days. After Jesus said this going to stop there and pause because God does not write his word inspired by the Holy Spirit without reason or thought. Like Luke intentionally goes from those words that he said about carrying crosses dying suffering. Losing your life, for the sake of Jesus. He is nothing else in between. There's like an eight-day gap. And Luke intentionally, tells you the next thing I'm about to share with you have an eight days later. Imagine eight days from that moment to what's coming next. The thoughts of the disciples heart, the wonder that they had the questions that they were asking the conversations. They were having the plans. They were considering should we stay, or should we go? And God has fire as Luke is to write. What happens next? And you don't want to miss the moment.
Peter, James, and John were taken with him and went on to a mountain to pray. But that was just shocked those disciples in the moment because Jesus often times did this. He would withdraw, he would pray, and if I sometimes he would take these three with him to the private moments. But as he was praying something different happened, the appearance of his face changed. His clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning two men Moses and Elijah. If you're unfamiliar with the Bible, the Old Testament greatest prophets. These two would have been in the top three or top four, probably top two. We want, to be honest of God's prophets, in the Old Testament, appeared in glorious splendor talking with Jesus.
We spoke about his departure, which is about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. Peter his companions are very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As the men who are leaving. Jesus, Peter said to him, “ Master, it is good for us to be here. Last one of three shelters, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah. He did not know what he was saying. While he was speaking. A cloud appeared above them and they were afraid as they entered the cloud of voice came from the cloud saying. This is my son whom I have chosen.”
Listen to him. When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and not tell anyone. At that time, what they had seen. Now, if there's ever something that fits the description of a mountaintop experience That's it. Like literally they were on a mountain and figuratively the experience was just that but Peter's own words record that even though he didn't know what he was saying, put in your mouth moment for Peter. Remember we talked about him in our teTeam Jesus series.
You can see from Peters words. I was on Peter's, heart, that he understood. That this was a model of experience to the point where he said, let's put up some tents and let's stay here. Let's hold on to this moment, because for the last 8 Days, Peter probably been thinking about what he said.
And on and for what he said.
Here's probably Peter in the moment thinking this like this is what I signed up for. This is who I believed. You are, this reinforces it. It proves it like this. Let's put up some tents. Let's hold on to this. Let's never let it go. Go and maybe just maybe it'll reveal to everyone who you are. Are and not just for a moment?
And it definitely was.
A spiritual mountaintop experience. And it definitely served a purpose.
For 33 years of his human life. Jesus walked around and he heard phrases like can anything good come from Nazareth? Like they looked at him like an ordinary human being, who is just like you and me.
For most of his ministry, even when he did great things. He he walked when he went from city to city almost all the time. He talked in the same language of the people He encountered they could understand. He ate meals regularly. He slept like his disciples, but he was an average person who did a few extraordinary things that a small crowd of people experienced.
But in this moment, he was different. Like true man. Born of Mary raised by Joseph, human like you and me with emotions. In this moment was in all God's glory. The other gospels when they record this moment, they don't sugarcoat it. His face Shone as bright as the sun. And I think about break the sun is some days when I drive down College Avenue and gets right above the overpass. And it is at a point where my windshield blinder cannot be put down far enough to see like I'm blinded in the moment.
But in that moment, they're not talking about that. Son at that far away like that, close to these Sun. So bright so glorious, they couldn't tell function and they couldn't fathom it. But God didn't want them to miss this moment because he wanted them to know the answer to that question. Is he the one? And they could see in that moment. He was different than anyone who had ever walked the face of planet Earth. Something no one else had seen. They saw, literally. Elijah and Moses, glorious as well. Elijah, God's prophet in the Old Testament who never faced death and Moses, the great prophet of the Old Testament, who God said about. There's never been a man or Prophet like Moses since And they're there with him. The once you would prophesied and predicted and pointing people to Jesus were on the mountain, encouraging him discussing with him. Reminding him talking about his mission while he came to do. And literally is Exodus is leaving his departure. We're just coming close. We could fulfill that mission. And you add to the moment, not just the glory. Not just those people, not just the conversation, but then God wraps it up. He seals the deal, he makes sure you don't miss the moment of what he wants to reinforce for those disciples. You must have been doubting and wrestling with the question. Is he the one God himself speaks and says, this is my son. I am chosen in the other gospels record. With whom I am. Well, pleased. He's followed my will. He's obeyed my law. He is fulfilling my plan. I am pleased with the work he has done. He is Holy, he is perfect. He is my son.
Listen to him. Peter James and John.
See the question. The disciples are wrestling with the question people in Jesus day were wrestling. With the question that people still did they wrestle with is Jesus, the one in God, in that moment, Jesus, in that moment gives us the answer. He is my son. He's the very Son of God.
And here's why that moment matter.
Where would I said from this point forward. Jesus is headed in one main Direction. For the ultimate moment. In fact, this story historically, the Christian church is found. Every year in something called a lectionary, and it's found in the Sunday, right before people enter into the season of Lent, the season of suffering, the season of pain, the season of blood, the season of death, Cesar sin the season of guilt. When an ugly and doesn't look all glorious, but actually looks like a criminal. And the Christian church has put it there for a reason because that Glory, that moment is something God wants us to remember and hold onto because he's not just a human being like you and me. He's true man. Put his true God In the Flesh.
And I want you to hold on to the moment. God said, I don't want you to listen to him. He's my son.
Peter, James and John would need that moment.
Because it wasn't permanent.
And it wasn't intended to be. God never intended to set up his kingdom on Earth that God never intended. This sinful world to be a place where We're all his glory was revealed each and every day.
Because he knew that there would be moments. Like, Holy Week.
When they would have highs and then loads like Good Friday.
When the young ran and hid.
On Saturday when they must have come back to the question, is he really the one? Or wasn't he?
Or after his Ascension when he was no longer there. And they would begin to be persecuted for their faith. See, the disciples were going to face those cross moments, those difficult moments, those suffering moments. The ones he had predicted right before that moment and they didn't want them to forget that what he wanted them to hold onto that in those moments. And then imagine Peter, James and John, the early Christian Church, read the book of Acts. It didn't take long for the Jewish leaders to come after them. Put them in jail. Put them on trial, persecute them. It didn't take long until chapter 12, when Herod arrested, go James and Peter.
He took James out of the cell and kill them with the sword and some 30 years later, history tells us. Peter met his death, just as he predicted, he knew it was coming on a cross, but he was upside down. Hey, Jesus knew what his disciples were going to face. Woman's just the opposite of mountaintop experiences, but more like the Valley of the shadow of death, like King David described.
Any one of them to hold on to that glimpse of his glory? Remember who he was because those moments are hard. Our faith will be challenged when ridiculed and questioned by others when, when attacked for what we believe when when spiritually, it's not a mountaintop experience, but for as low as it gets and we wonder where God is, we wonder if God cares, we wondered can God really be the one if this is what I have, remember that moment.
You need that moment. Because otherwise when Jesus predicted would happen. You might lose your soul.
And I don't know what kind of moment you're going through, like, I love mountaintop experiences. They have. Spiritually. They happen to us in our Earthly life. And we also have a lot of valley moments.
And maybe yours right now, are financial, you're struggling. Your job is disappearing. Maybe yours are relational. When your spouse who left you, and your relationship that the broken is, is a big valley in your life. And sadly, it's not just a moment but at the carried on for a long time. Maybe it's an emotional moment. I don't know what moment you're going through. But I guarantee you in life. We all go through moments. We lose loved ones. We Face physical suffering. We face spiritual challenges. We face emotional difficulties. And I need you to remember that moment. Jesus gave them that moment for a reason and he wants you to hold on to it too. So when you're having moments, remember the mountain top moment, remember these words of Luke chapter 9 to what the disciples saw? They saw his glory and the two men standing with him.
They heard God's voice. This is my son. Whom I have chosen. Listen to him.
Like, when you're in those moments. Remember who he is? Remember his promise that he is with you, remember his promise that he'll never leave you or forsake. You remember the one on the mountain is the very Son of God. And remember why that's so important to hold on to that moment. Because another mountain was in his future.
In a few weeks were going to journey to that mountain. No, Calvary, the name attached to it, the place the world would call Shameful we call good. So, when you're having one of those mount, those moments the valley, the difficulties, like Peter, James, and John. No, doubt would have experienced like Christians have for 2000 years when you're left with the question, “is Jesus the one when you're having one of those moments, remember?”
Remember the one who's on the mountain, Son of God, which means he is perfect. Remember the moment he is God himself. He is with you and he promises to bring you through it. Not leave you or forsake you in the moment. When you're having one of those moments spiritually, the devil is attacking your heart. Remember the mountain, the one, where he appeared in all his glory and the one where he breathes his last to redeem you and me for our sins.
The importance of the moment.
In fact, in 2nd Peter chapter 1, he said I'm going to keep telling you about these moments over and over and over and over because I don't want you to forget the moment. What it means about who he is and what it means for you. And your life of faith is as Peter’s a rock about Christians facing suffering? Facing difficulties facing opposition, facing challenges. Hold on. Remember the mountain.
And all those moments.
Peter said, we did not follow cleverly invented stories, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. He receive glory, and Honor from God, the Father, when the voice came from heaven, from the majestic glory saying, this is my son, whom I love with him. I am, well, pleased, we ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven. When we were with him on that sacred mountain, the Christians, Peter was, right? And you know about had some of the same questions he wrestled with is Jesus, the one and Peter said, there is no doubt. We heard the voice. He is God's son.
When you're having those moments, remember the mountain?
Peter got to see it with his own eyes.
And I'm sure he held onto that moment. My guess is Peter could close his eyes and visualize it.
If I wanted to hold on to it on that day, he was able to hold on to it in his mind because it was so important. To remember who God’s Son, really is.
The one who went to a mountain. So that you and I might spend eternity with him. Like Peter, got to see that moment and hold onto that moment. And God doesn't want you to miss that moment. It's why we? Things like this. In our lives like we have the amazing ability to take pictures and and print photographs so that we can hold on to the moments. Like this. It's in my office. If you ever come in you could see it pretty clearly on my off the side. I get to see it every day. And you know why it's there in that position in that place because I I don't want to forget the moment.
Like this picture reminds me of that day when I saw my daughter for the first time in her wedding dress, it reminds me of being under that arch and me freezing and not going when I was supposed to and her are going to whisper in my ear, “Dad. It's time to go.” It's seen the faces of all our family and friends who were there. It's the dancing. It's the laughter. It's the, after party “Zach brand”. I won't tell the stories about your friends.
Cuz those are good moments, too.
My friends as much as we have pictures like this. That help us remember, amazing mountaintop experiences. I need you to hold on to that moment. And while you didn't see it first hand, Peter wants you to hold on to it. Because that moment reminds you of who God is. Because he wants you to not miss out on another moment. Like when you walk through the Gates of Heaven and Jesus welcomes you into his arms. And you see him in All His glory like Peter did on that mountain in that moment. And here's the amazing thing that that moment will bring it won't be momentary. It will be forever.
Is Jesus the one?
God's answer. He is my son.
And the mountain moment. Guarantees it either said. Brothers sisters, hold on to that moment. So that one day you get to experience that mountain, top Mount Zion, eternity with Jesus in all his glory.
Let's pray. Heavenly Father. Life is filled with with so many, this moments. But it's also filled with many valleys. You told your disciples. They were going to face crosses deal with suffering. But you were going to die wasn't what they expected the moment to be but then you gave them this moment, all your glory revealed who you are. God the Father himself, declaring it giving you a stamp of approval.
Because I'm the one who died as the Savior and the one who died is the very Son of God who had accomplished what we needed in that moment so that we could experience glory for eternity. But we pray as we continue to the cross and see more dope. This moments you help us? Hold on to this one until that final moment. We take our final breath and we see you in all your glory, just like Peter, James, and John did that one day.
Amen
