Peter, James, and John experience the incredible transfiguration of Jesus, seeing him in a way they had not seen before. This presentation of Christ terrifies them and moves them deeply. What is our response? Without Jesus, God's glory would destroy us because of our sin. But Jesus stands in the gap for us. So this should lead us to worship him.

Jesus has now been recognized as the long-awaited Messiah, the Savior, by his disciples. From this point forward Jesus begins pronouncing the suffering he must endure on the cross. He also teaches that any who would call themselves his disciple will also suffer for the sake of the Gospel.

Jesus defines Jesus. The Pharisees tried to manipulate Jesus and we still do today. We attempt to shape who he was, what he came to do, why it mattered, etc. But we must be careful, because adding to or changing the Gospel will ruin our faith.

The Gospel of Jesus is for all men everywhere to hear and to respond. Works of the Law will merit us nothing; salvation is through the grace of God alone. This means that everyone is welcome at the King's table, regardless of their past and in spite of their efforts to earn God's favor.

The stain of our depravity cannot be removed by anything other than the blood of Jesus. When we come to Jesus he takes our sin-stained rags and gives us his righteous robes. This happens at the Cross. The Gospel cleanses.

Jesus Christ is not like other kings. He doesn't simply pursue the creation of monuments to himself, built on the backs of his people. Rather, he shepherds them and gives them rest that cannot be experienced outside of him. He is a servant king.

Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sins and died our death so that we could be acceptable to God.

Following Jesus will require much of you. But you also get to live out a life of purpose, on mission for the King! We too often look at Christianity as a miserable path that must be taken to avoid hell. On the contrary, we have been called to an urgent, God-glorifying existence.

Not even death could conquer Jesus, and he ensures that death will not have victory over his children either. While the timing of God will often not make sense to us, we can trust him, knowing that he has all the facts. He will always be faithful, even in the midst of tragedy.