Sermon Notes, January 20, 2019 AM
What Do You Hear?
Steve W. Reeves
INTRODUCTION:
A. In the 1890’s a British artist, Francis Barraud, inherited the estate of his late brother,
Mark. Included in the inheritance was a cylinder phonograph along with several
recordings of Mark’s voice. Also included was a terrier mix dog named, “Nipper.”
Barraud noticed how “Nipper” would stop and listen intently whenever a recording of
his late master’s voice was played. Inspired by the scene, the artist painted a picture
which would become an iconic business trademark around the world. In 1899 Emile
Berliner, founder of a new phonograph company, “The Grammophone Company”
bought the rights to the painting after commissioning Barraud to paint over the
cylinder phonograph and replace it with one of Berliner’s newly invented “record”
models. In 1901 Berliner sold his business to an associated named Eldridge Johnson
who formed a new company, the Victor Talking Machine Company, utilizing “His
Master’s Voice,” as their logo. Victor went on to become the leading manufacturer of
phonographs in the United States. Even after the company was acquired by RCA in
1929 “His Master’s Voice” remained as the company’s trademark.
B. May I ask you, “What do you hear?”
1. I am no talking about the type of music that suits your taste whether it is The
Beatles, the Bangles, The Beach Boys, Beethoven, Bach, or Brooks.
2. I am not talking about the endless noise that surrounds our society and clutters our
culture.
3. I am asking, “Whose voice are you following?”: “Whose words set the pattern for
your life?”
a. It can be very confusing because we live in a world of competing voices that
clamor for our attention.
b. If you are going to have any spiritual success there is a voice that must cut
through the noise of the world and speak clearly to your heart. It is the voice of
the Lord Jesus Christ.
C. How do we know that we should listen to the words of Jesus?
1. In today’s multi-cultural, pluralistic society why can’t we listen to the words of
Mohammad, Buda, Joseph Smith or some New Age movement?
2. In Luke 9:28-36 there is a real life account of God’s personal instruction to listen to
Jesus.
I. THE EVENT
A. As Jesus was wrapping up His ministry in Galilee (northern Israel) and preparing
to travel to Jerusalem He took three of His disciples up to a mountain to pray.
1. Luke gives us more instances of Jesus’ prayer life than any other Gospel writer.
2. On this occasion we do not know which mountain is described.
a. Some claim it is Mount Tabor, located eleven miles west of the Sea of Galilee.
In the early 20th century Franciscan monks built a church building on this site
and named it “The Church of The Transfiguration.”
b. Another possible site is Mount Herman located in the extreme northern part of
Palestine. This is more probable since Jesus and His disciples had been in
Caesarea Philippi which is located at the base of this mountain.
c. A third possibility is Mount Meron, located about halfway between Caesarea
and the Sea of Galilee.
2. Peter, James and John comprise an inner circle who accompanied Jesus on
several occasions when other disciples were not present.
a. Luke 8:51 – “When He came to the house, He did not allow anyone to enter
with Him, except Peter and John and James, and the girl’s father and
mother.”
b. Luke 9:28 – “Some eight days after these sayings, He took along Peter and
John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray.”
c. Mark 14:33 – “And He *took with Him Peter and James and John, and began
to be very distressed and troubled.”
3. I am thankful Jesus took these three men to the mountaintop. Life is full of
mountains and valleys. We all need spiritual mountaintops where our faith is
strengthened and our hope is anchored.
B. On this mountain a tremendous event occurred. The text says Jesus was
“transfigured.” The word here is the same word from which we get
“metamorphosis.” This word is found four times in the New Testament. This is the
only time it is used to describe a change in physical appearance. The physical
characteristics of Jesus changed.
1. His clothes became brilliant white – whiter than they could possibly be bleached
2. Matthew adds that his face shone as the sun.
3. Luke says his clothes were as bright as a flash of lightning.
a. The theological term for this scene is a “Theophany” which means a visible
display of the glory of God.
b. When Moses went up on the mountain of God in the OT he came down and
his face was radiant. 2 Cor. 3 says that Moses would cover his face with a veil
so people would not see the fading glory.
C. The appearance of Moses and Elijah.
1. What an amazing scene this was as these two Old Testament figures appear
with Jesus in glorious splendor. It is interesting the Peter, James and John
recognized them.
2. Why was it Moses and Elijah who appeared? There were many illustrious
characters from Old Testament history. Why not David and Daniel or Joseph
and Jeremiah?
3. Moses was the great law-giver and in this scene he represented the Old
Testament law.
4. Elijah was Israel’s greatest prophet and represented all of the prophets.
5. Together they represented the law and the prophets – all of Israel’s history that
had pointed to the coming of the Messiah was summed up with this term – the
law and the prophets.
6. Luke adds a couple of glimpses into this scene not found in Matthew or Mark.
a. Luke is the only Gospel writer who tells us the topic of conversation. In verse
31 he says, “They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to
fulfillment at Jerusalem.” They were encouraging Jesus as He began the
journey to Jerusalem. If God’s son needed encouragement we certainly do.
b. In verse 32 he said, “Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when
they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with
him.
D. Have you ever been to Mount Rushmore in South Dakota? Can you imagine
looking at the faces of Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt when all of a
sudden there was a bright light of glory and George and Abe started talking to one
another? What if Teddy started saying “Bully,” of if Tom began quoting the
Declaration of Independence? Can you imagine how Peter, James and John
must have felt on this occasion?
II. THE EXCITEMENT
A. Have you ever been so excited you couldn’t help but say something? This was
particularly characteristic of Peter.
1. Earlier in Luke 9:20 when Jesus asked, “Who do you say I am,” Peter
responded, “The Christ of God.”
2. In verse 33 he said, ““Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three
tabernacles: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not realizing
what he was saying.”
3. Have you ever said something and immediately asked yourself why you said it?
Two friends hadn’t met in quite a while. “How is you wife,” asked one.” “She’s
gone to heaven.” “I’m sorry to hear that. – Er… No, I’m glad to hear that. Well, I
certainly am surprised to hear that.”
B. Peter recognized the importance of Moses and Elijah. It is understandable that
He wanted to do something to memorialize the occasion. It seemed like the right
thing to do and the right thing to say.
III. THE EXCLAMATION
A. Suddenly a cloud began to descend upon the mountain where these six men were
standing. Then, through the mist and fog of the cloud came the unmistakable voice
of Almighty God saying, “This is my beloved Son, hear Him.”
1. Was Moses important? Was Elijah important?
2. Jesus was the fulfillment of the law and the prophets.
a. In Hebrews 1:1-3 the writer said, “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers
in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has
spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom
also He made the world. 3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact
representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His
power.”
B. The statement heard by Peter, James and John is one that you and I need to hear
today, “This is My Son, hear Him.”
1. Through the roar of the crowd we need to hear Jesus.
2. Through the noise of our culture we need to hear Jesus.
3. Through the heated rhetoric of politics we need to hear Jesus.
4. Through the shouting of violence and hatred we need to hear Jesus.
CONCLUSION:
A. There’s a room in south Minneapolis, Minnesota, that is called the “quietest” room in
the United States. The longest anyone has survived in the ‘anechoic chamber’ at
Orfield Laboratories is just 45 minutes. The room absorbs 99.9% of sound.
According to the Guinness Book of Records it is the world’s quietest place. A person
sitting by himself in the room hears nothing at all at first. Then as the auditory
senses become more alert they can actually hear their heart beat, the lungs expand
and contracts and the sounds of your stomach and digestive tract. These sounds are
always present but in the normal noise of daily life we do not hear them.
B. Our Master’s Voice is always speaking to us. Whether life is good or bad, whether
we are healthy or sick, prosperous or in need, He speaks to us. Sometimes in the
midst of the competing noise we do not hear Him.
1. What is God saying to you today?
2. Can you hear Him calling?
C. As we sing, “Softly and Tenderly,” we welcome you to come to Jesus, accept Him as
Lord of your life through obedient faith, repentance and baptism. If you have strayed
away from Him listen to His loving call and return to your first love as we sing.
