Sunday 25th November 2007

Morning Service

Jesus the Early Years

Luke 9:28-36

Face to Face with Glory

7 You ancient gates, lift up your heads;

you doors, be opened wide—

So may the King of glory come

for ever to abide.

Psalm 24:7-10* (p. 28) 

8 But who is this exalted King? What glorious King is he?

It is the LORD of strength and might,

the LORD of victory.

Psalm 24:7-10* (2/4) 

9 You ancient gates, lift up your heads;

you doors, be opened wide—

So may the King of glory come

for ever to abide.

Psalm 24:7-10* (3/4) 

10 But who is this exalted King?

Who can this sovereign be?

The LORD Almighty, he is King

of glory, none but he.

Psalm 24:7-10* (4/4) 

Prayer & Children’s Talk

Meet the natives…

Herring girls

at Wick

Psalm 80a:1-7* (p. 106)

1 Hear, O Israel’s Shepherd, hear us;

Joseph like a flock you lead.

You who are enthroned in glory,

shine upon us in our need.

Psalm 80a:1-7* (2/5)

2 Shine on Benjamin, Manasseh,

and for Ephraim rouse your might!

3 Turn us once again towards you;

come and save us, give us light!

Psalm 80a:1-7* (3/5)

4 O LORD God, the Lord Almighty,

how long will your anger smoke,

Making void your people’s prayers,

so that all your enemies mock?

Psalm 80a:1-7* (4/5)

5 You have fed us bread of sorrow;

tears in plenty we must shed.

6 We are now before our neighbours

humbled and discredited.

Psalm 80a:1-7* (5/5)

7 Look on us, O God Almighty;

let us see your glory bright.

Turn us once again towards you;

come and save us, give us light!

Scripture Reading: Luke 9:26-36 (p. 1040)

26 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

27 I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God."

Scripture Reading: Luke 9:26-36 (p. 1040)

28 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.

29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.

30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, 31 appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus.

Scripture Reading: Luke 9:26-36 (p. 1040)

They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.

32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.

Scripture Reading: Luke 9:26-36 (p. 1040)

33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters--one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (He did not know what he was saying.)

34 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.

Scripture Reading: Luke 9:26-36 (p. 1040)

35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him."

36 When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen.

UNISON PRAYER - GIVING THANKS FOR FORGIVENESS

Father in Heaven! Hold not our sins up against us; but hold us up against our sins:

UNISON PRAYER - GIVING THANKS FOR FORGIVENESS

So that the thought of You, when that thought wakens in our

soul, Should not remind us of the faults

we have committed

UNISON PRAYER - GIVING THANKS FOR FORGIVENESS

but of what You did freely forgive; Not of how we went astray, but of

how You did save us!

(After a prayer of Soren Kierkegaard)

PSALM 63:1-6* (p. 80)

1 O God, you are my God alone; I seek your face with eagerness. My soul and body thirst for you In this dry, weary wilderness.

PSALM 63:1-6* (2/4)

2 I’ve seen you in your holy place; Your power and glory held my gaze.

3 Far better is your love than life, And so my lips will sing your praise.

PSALM 63:1-6* (3/4)

4 I’ll bless you, Lord, throughout my life

And raise my hands to you in prayer.

5 My joyful lips will sing your praise;

My soul is fed with richest fare.

PSALM 63:1-6* (4/4)

6 Upon my bed I lie awakeAnd in my thoughts

remember you;I meditate throughout the

nightAnd keep your constant love

in view.

Luke 9:28-36 - JESUS: FACE TO FACE WITH GLORY

Like Peter, we feel we need to say something about Jesus’ GLORY (33a)

But will our words be helpful and true, or daft (Luke’s comment: 33b)?

His mature reflection on these events is given in 2 Peter 1:16-18

They saw his glory

2 Peter 1:16-18

16 We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

17 For he received honour and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.

They saw his glory

A more recent ‘witness’ with some news: Murdo Ewen MacDonald

Camp News on June 6th

1944:“Thainig

iad.”

“They have come...” Padre MacDonald

(right) at the Stalag Luft III

20-year Reunion in 1965.

1 - GLORY TO ASSURE JESUS

God spoke: words to assure Jesus that the CROSS was necessary.

28 –clear link between the event at Caesarea Philippi and the ‘transfiguration’ on the Mountain (Hermon?) Two historical events.

For he received

honour and glory from God

the Father

1 - GLORY TO ASSURE JESUS

From the cross (22) to the glory (29). An unbreakable link.

God’s commendation comes as at his baptism (29, 35; see Luke 3:22).

Moses and Elijah – all Messianic hopes are bound up in Jesus Christ.

For he received

honour and glory from God

the Father

2 - GLORY TO ASSURE PETER

The theme of their talk (31): Jesus’ departure, literally his ‘Exodus’.

The way to his glory is to be through suffering and death, not an un-ending glory on a mountain-top.

‘…we were eyewitnesses

of his majesty.’

2 - GLORY TO ASSURE PETER

The cross is his departure: not by accident, but by plan.

The CLOUD (34; 31 – glorious splendour, 32 – glory) should clear things up for Peter.

Jesus Shares the nature of the Father.

‘…we were eyewitnesses

of his majesty.’

2 - GLORY TO ASSURE PETER

33 – Peter is overwhelmed by the glory, lost for words.

But mistakenly wanting to hold on to this moment.

Peter enveloped by the deity of Jesus (34). The voice assures (35). Listen!

‘…we were eyewitnesses

of his majesty.’

3 - GLORY TO ASSURE YOU This event says:

Worship Jesus! Hope for life beyond

death! There is mutual

recognition beyond death!

There is great Glory to come.

‘…you will do well to pay attention to

it, as to a light shining in a dark

place.’

2 Peter 1:19

3 - GLORY TO ASSURE YOU Jesus sets the pattern for

our future destiny. Philippians 3:20-21: “we

eagerly await a Saviour from [heaven who] will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”

‘…you will do well to pay attention to

it, as to a light shining in a dark

place.’

2 Peter 1:19

ARE YOU ASSURED? This great incident is in

scripture to make you SURE about Christ.

He IS the Lord of Glory. Thainig Iosa: Jesus has come. Listen to him. ‘…you will do well

to pay attention to it, as to a light

shining in a dark place.’

2 Peter 1:19

Psalm 145:17-21* (p. 190)

17 The LORD is just and good in all his ways;

He shows his love to all that he has made.

18 The LORD is near to all who call on him,

To all who call in truth to him for aid.

Psalm 145:17-21* (2/3)

19 The hopes of those who fear him he fulfils;

He hears their cry and saves them from distress.

20 The LORD protects all those who love his name,

But slays all those who practise wickedness.

Psalm 145:17-21* (3/3)

21 My lips will frame a psalm of thanks to God;

My mouth will speak for ever in his praise.

Let every creature magnify the LORD,

And praise his holy name now and always.

God Calls Us to delight in

Christ and to Share His

Hope.

Join us for Tea, Coffee

and Juice in the

Church Hall