Listening to the Beloved Son: Embracing Glory and Suffering

Today’s gathering began with the celebration of baptism, a visible sign of new life in Christ and a reminder of the gospel’s power to save and transform. We confessed together the truths of justification and sanctification: that we are declared righteous before God through Christ’s death and resurrection, and that the Spirit is at work in us, gradually shaping us into Christ’s likeness. Our focus then turned to Mark 9:1-13, the account of Jesus’ transfiguration, where God the Father affirms Jesus as His beloved Son and commands us to listen to Him.

On the mountain, Peter, James, and John witnessed Jesus’ divine glory—a radiant, unmistakable revelation that He is more than a teacher or prophet. The presence of Moses and Elijah, representing the law and the prophets, pointed to Jesus as the fulfillment of all God’s promises. Yet, the heart of the event was not just the display of glory, but the Father’s voice: “This is my beloved Son. Listen to Him.” This command is not a suggestion, but a call to orient our lives around Jesus’ words and work.

The transfiguration also raises profound questions about life, death, and what awaits us. The appearance of Moses and Elijah, alive centuries after their earthly lives, affirms that our hope is not in this world alone. For those who trust in Christ, death is not the end; our souls go to be with Him, awaiting the resurrection and the renewal of all things.

Yet, the path to glory is through the cross. Jesus’ suffering and death are not an afterthought, but the very heart of His mission. The disciples struggled to understand why the Son of God must suffer, but Jesus made clear that His glory is inseparable from His sacrifice. To truly listen to Jesus is to embrace both His identity as the beloved Son and His work as the suffering Savior.

The world may rank Jesus among other great teachers, but God gives us a definitive answer: Jesus alone is the Son of God. The call is to move beyond admiration or curiosity, to active trust and obedience. Listening to Jesus means letting His words shape our beliefs, our character, and our actions—day by day, as we become more like Him.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Jesus is the unique and beloved Son of God, not merely one among many great teachers. The transfiguration reveals His divine glory and sets Him apart from all others, as God Himself commands us to listen to Him. This challenges us to reject the world’s tendency to reduce Jesus to a moral guide and instead to honor Him as the one true Son. [37:59]
• 2. The path to glory is through suffering and the cross. Jesus’ radiant glory on the mountain is inseparable from His journey to the cross. Any attempt to embrace Jesus’ glory without accepting His suffering is a denial of who He truly is; His victory comes through sacrifice, and so does ours as we follow Him. [55:02]
• 3. God’s command to “listen to Him” is a call to active, transformative discipleship. Listening is not passive; it means allowing Jesus’ words to shape our understanding, our faith, and our daily choices. We are invited to move from mere knowledge to application, letting Christ’s teaching transform our character and actions. [59:21]
• 4. Our hope in life and death is anchored in belonging to Christ. The appearance of Moses and Elijah affirms that death is not the end for those who trust in God. Our souls go to be with Christ, and we await the resurrection and the renewal of all things—a hope secured by Jesus’ own resurrection. [41:01]
• 5. True understanding of Jesus requires embracing both His identity and His mission. The disciples’ confusion about suffering and glory mirrors our own tendency to seek triumph without the cross. Jesus insists that His suffering is essential to His mission, and only by accepting this can we experience the kingdom He promises. [52:59]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:45] - Baptisms: Salitha and Justin
• [03:30] - Confession: Justification and Sanctification
• [06:10] - Prayer of Thanksgiving
• [08:00] - Worship in Song
• [10:20] - Announcements and Church Picnic
• [12:00] - Introduction to Mark 9 and the Transfiguration
• [14:30] - Jesus’ Identity Affirmed by the Father
• [18:00] - The Meaning of the Transfiguration
• [21:00] - Moses, Elijah, and the Hope Beyond Death
• [24:00] - God Reveals Himself Through Jesus
• [27:00] - The Command: Listen to Him
• [31:00] - The Cross: Suffering and Glory
• [35:00] - The Disciples’ Questions and the Role of Elijah
• [39:00] - Application: Listening and Living as Followers
• [42:00] - Invitation to Faith and Closing Prayer

Bible Reading

Mark 9:1-13 (ESV) —
> And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”
> And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.
>
> And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”

Observation Questions

1. What did Peter, James, and John see and hear on the mountain during the transfiguration? (Mark 9:2-8)
2. Who appeared with Jesus on the mountain, and what might their presence have meant? (Mark 9:4)
3. What command did God the Father give from the cloud, and how did the disciples respond? (Mark 9:7)
4. According to the sermon, what question did the disciples have as they came down the mountain, and how did Jesus answer them? [[51:15]]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does God the Father’s command to “listen to Him” matter so much for how we view Jesus, especially compared to other religious teachers or prophets? [[47:20]]
2. What is the significance of Moses and Elijah appearing with Jesus, and how does this connect to the idea that Jesus fulfills the law and the prophets? [[43:05]]
3. The disciples struggled to understand why Jesus, the Son of God, had to suffer and die. Why do you think this was so hard for them to accept? [[51:15]]
4. The sermon says that the path to glory is through suffering and the cross. How does this challenge common ideas about what it means to follow Jesus? [[55:02]]

Application Questions

1. The world often sees Jesus as just another great teacher. In your daily life, are there ways you treat Jesus’ words as just “good advice” rather than the words of God’s beloved Son? What would it look like to honor Him as the one true Son? [[47:20]]
2. God’s command is to “listen to Him.” What are some practical ways you can actively listen to Jesus this week, not just hear but let His words shape your choices? [[59:21]]
3. The sermon said that listening to Jesus means letting His words shape our beliefs, character, and actions. Is there a specific area of your life where you need to let Jesus’ teaching change you? What is one step you can take? [[59:21]]
4. The transfiguration shows that our hope in life and death is anchored in belonging to Christ. How does this truth affect the way you face fears about death or the future? [[41:01]]
5. The disciples wanted glory without the cross. Are there ways you want the benefits of following Jesus without the cost or sacrifice? What might it look like to embrace both His glory and His suffering in your own walk? [[55:02]]
6. The sermon encouraged us to move from knowledge to application. When you read or hear God’s Word, what helps you actually put it into practice? Is there a habit or tool you could use to help with this? [[58:37]]
7. Baptism was celebrated as a sign of new life and transformation. If you have been baptized, how does remembering your baptism encourage you to live out your faith? If you haven’t, what questions or hesitations do you have? [[18:29]]