No One But Jesus :: Matthew 17:1-9

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The world is filled with all kinds of false religions. Most of these systems all follow the same pattern: Someone allegedly sees or hears something that he calls “god.” Then, upon this chance encounter, he immediately sets up an altar and declares it to be holy. Since he “saw” or “heard” god there, some people think, maybe this god will speak to them. In the years to follow, people bring all sorts of sacrifices to this altar in hopes they will find blessing by presenting their “wonderful gift.” All the while, others set out to write down holy words they say “they saw or heard.”

More than one religious system in the world today has been set up this way. Today, the Mormons are the fastest growing religion in the United States. Islam is the fastest growing in the world. And the spiritual but not religious, although technically not a religion, are growing even faster. All of these systems were built the same way. Someone saw or heard something. And presto, a new experience was born.


If you really think about it, this doesn’t actually sound so outlandish to us Christians. For the true God ... the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit ... has appeared to his people, we have set up altars to him, we have heard him declare that we should listen to him. And we have written his Word. And we have brought sacrifices. 

You have been tithing, haven’t you?

But there is a big difference between their “god” and our God. Despite what the Mormons and Muslims and spiritualists will tell you, their god and our God are not the same. As Peter writes in his letter to those who have obtained a faith of equal standing by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: 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.

Eyewitnesses! Yes, we have seen our Lord and Savior ... unlike Joseph Smith and Muhammed. We have heard his voice, unlike all the spiritualists of the world. We have his Word. Not written on tablets of gold, and hidden away so that you can’t see the truth. 

Unlike Muslims and Mormons, we have NO ONE BUT JESUS, the Word made flesh who has dwelt among us. We have seen his glory, glory as of the only Father, full of grace and truth. We have witnessed his miracles, his crucifixion, his resurrection and ascension. He has touched us. Yes, brothers and sisters in Christ, 

JESUS REVEALS WHERE THE TRUE GOD IS

I. God has a history of revealing himself in many and mysterious ways. 

But he hasn’t kept it secret. In the beginning, he hovered over the waters, bringing order out of chaos. His glory appeared like a pillar of cloud and fire. Later we saw his glory fill the temple.

Most prominently, God has revealed himself on mountains ... on high mountains.

Mountains are special places in the scriptures. Mountains are the place where heaven and earth meet. Ezekiel describes the Garden of Eden as being on a mountain. So does John in the Revelation. And today, we have ascended a high mountain to exalt the Lord and worship Him.

Have you been left breathless, yet?


On mountains, God reveals his word and acts decisively, nourishing his people, teaching his people, communing with his people. His Epiphanic Light shining forth from the mountains can’t be contained. Here, we learn to pray, to worship, to see the true God.

So it certainly doesn’t surprise me to find ourselves receiving a mountaintop experience today on this high feast day call the Transfiguration of our Lord. Matthew writes, After the sixth day Jesus took with him Peter and James and John his brother, and he carried them up onto a high mountain privately. 

We don’t know the name of this mountain. Seeing that they were just in Galilee, perhaps Matthew is describing Mount Hermon, in the northern reaches of Israel. Whatever. The exact place isn’t important. More than one idol has been erected in the places where we think God appeared. Our world doesn’t need another one. We need no one but Jesus.

More important is what Peter and James and John saw and heard after following Jesus up the high mountain. There, Jesus went through a metamorphosis before them ... he was transfigured ... his appearance was transformed ... his face began shining like the sun, and his clothes became as bright white as light. 


As if the disciples didn’t know already that there was something special about Jesus, this transfiguration confirmed for the disciples what Peter confessed just days earlier, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Today, the disciples encounter something that leaves them in awe. We have seen his glory. 

You know, a lot of theologians will tell you that the appearance of Moses and Elijah in this scene is Jesus conferring with the Law and the Prophets. 

Perhaps. But, I think it is quite fitting that we have been waiting for these two men. God told the Israelites to look for a prophet like Moses. And God told Malachi that Elijah would return before that great and awesome Day. And here they are ... 

II. Jesus reveals where the true God is through scripture. 

All of these men ... Moses and Elijah, Peter, James and John ... all of them proclaim the Gospel of Christ, that Jesus is the Son of the living God. And we are to listen to no one but Jesus. From the very beginning, the Law told us about him. Listen to it. The Law tells you what God really looks like. He is pure righteousness. Obeying every letter of the Law. Because that is his nature. Later, the Prophets tell us about Christ, too. As do the Psalms, and the history books of the Old Testament, which feature Elijah so prominently. They all tell us who Christ is. 

All of this scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. All of scripture shows us who this man, Jesus, really is. And what we see is just absolutely brilliant light. 

Peter immediately recognizes this truth. So he begins singing ... 


Tis good Lord to be here, thy beauty to behold. 


But suddenly ... while singing these words, behold a bright cloud overshadowed the mountain, and behold, a voice out of the cloud began to say, This is my son, the beloved one, in whom I am pleased. Listen to him. 

I don’t know about you but the voice says it all, does it not?

This is my Son, the beloved one. Do you see him? Listen to him. Do you hear him? Have your eyes been opened to the Word? Have your ears been tuned to his word? Peter’s eyes and ears clearly are.  

When the disciples heard this, they hit the deck. They fell on their faces and were terrified.


Brothers and sisters in Christ, if your sin isn’t terrifying you too, I implore you to take another look into the mirror that is the Law and the Prophets. This prophetic word ... you will do well to pay attention to as to a lamp shining in a dark place until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 

When we are truthful with ourselves, like Peter, James and John, we recognize our sin and tremble. As John will later write, This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that  God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 

What darkness are you hiding in? Is there heartlessness? Conceit? Self pleasure? Arrogance? Ungratefulness? Have you been disobedient, unfaithful, or lazy? Hurt someone by your words or actions? 

Well, then, today is your day ... you who have confessed your sin. God is faithful and just. Rise and have no fear, Jesus declares. Lift up your eyes, see no one but Jesus alone.


No one but Jesus alone. Brothers and sisters in Christ, there is only one true religion. There is only one way, one truth, and one life. There is only one God. And we have seen his glory. There is no one but Jesus. 

To lift up the eyes and see no one but Jesus is the fitting response of the faithful to the promises of God almighty. 

III. Jesus reveals where the true God is most clearly on his cross. 

As Peter, James, and John were descending the mountain, Jesus told them that is what the transfiguration illuminated. God has manifested his glory in Christ by taking your sin from you, taking it upon himself, carrying it to his cross and ensuring it died with Jesus. Lift up your eyes and see that who who knew no sin has become sin for you, nailed it to his cross, and destroyed sin, death and the devil for you.

Lift up your eyes and see no one but your savior who has transferred you from the dominion of darkness into his kingdom of light and salvation. Lift up your eyes, and recognize that he has given you his righteousness.


By His own blood, shed on the cross, Jesus makes and seals the new covenant with us. Hence, the appearance of the glory of the Lord is no longer like a devouring fire (Ex. 24:17) that appeared to Moses on the mountain of law, but it is graciously revealed in His own body, the mountain of grace. Yes ...


Tis good for us to be here, yet we may not remain;

But since thou bidst us leave the mount, come with us to the plain.


Brothers and sisters in Christ, lift up your eyes and see your salvation. 

The forgiveness of sins is yours in no one but Jesus. 

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