Please turn with me to 2 Peter - chapter 1 - starting at verse 16.  Today is our fourth look at Peter’s second letter.  As you’re turning - take out your mental pencils so you can keep score.  We’re going to begin with a quiz.

True or False?   Number One:  At Disneyland - there’s a basketball court in the Matterhorn Mountain.  How many think its true?   How many think its false?  True .

Number Two:   Several guests have died on rides at Disneyland.  True?  False?  True  -  9 to date.  Most of whom did not keep their safety bars down and in a locked position until the ride came to a complete stop.

Number Three:   Thinking about how Coca Cola can eat away at our insides - true or false - a tooth left in a glass of Coca Cola will dissolve overnight.  How many say true?  How many say its false?  False

Number Four:  Only 2 executives know Coca Cola’s secret formula - and each only knows ½ of the formula.   False.  Actually several people know the formula.   By the way - here’s the formula.  You all got that?

True or false - The exclamation “Holy Smoke” derives from the burning of ballots used to elect a Pope.  True?  False?  False.

Number Six - how are you doing?  Chewing gum takes 7 years to pass through the human digestive system.  How many say that’s true?  False?   Its false.

Last one - true or false?  Number Seven:   Cellular phones have touched off explosions at gas stations.  Have you seen those warnings on the pumps - turn off cell phones.  True?  False?   False.

How’d you do?  Anyone get them all right?  That means something.  I don’t know what.  But it does.

How many of you have gotten an urgent email from someone with some shocking information that you must send on to everyone you know?  Most of the time its just spam.  Inaccurate but almost believable.  Point being that there are urban myths - common knowledge that floats around - things we all know are true because “They say they’re true” - whoever they are.  Often people base their decisions on these bits of common knowledge.  Some of that knowledge is good.  Some of it isn’t so good.

What we’re coming to today - here in 2 Peter - is a very clear statement by Peter of why He’s so certain about his faith in Jesus Christ.   Why Peter is so passionate that we also trust Jesus with our lives.

Look with me at 2 Peter - chapter 1 - starting at verse 16.  For  Pause there.

“For” is Peter’s way of reminding us of everything he’s written so far.  What we’ve seen together over the last 3 Sundays - as we’ve been looking at chapter one.  What our faith is based on and how that faith is to be lived out.

The almighty God of creation desires to have an intimate personal relationship with each one of us - in which He - God - supplies all that we need to live in that relationship - the very ability and divine power necessary to live life as God has designed life to be lived - including the very basis of that life - the salvation offered to us in Jesus Christ. 

Because of all that God has given to us we need to be diligent to pursue that relationship - learning to trust Jesus - to know Him - at the core of who we are - the basis of how we live our lives. 

We need to live with a passion for making certain that those around us know Jesus - not just intellectually - in a religious or philosophical sort of way - but know Him at the core of who they are so that when we’re gone they’ll remain solid in their faith - sharing their faith with others.

That’s all contained in this little word “for.”  But, how can we trust Peter that what he’s writing about - so passionate about - is what we should base our lives on.   Why should we trust Peter?

Verse 16:  For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.

Why should we trust Peter?   In verses 16 to 21 Peter gives three reasons.  The first is here in verse 16:  “We were eyewitnesses of His majesty.”   They were eyewitnesses.  Say that with me, “They were eyewitnesses.”

I googled “How to create your own religion” and there were about 10 million hits.  Having read through each one of them - I found some common steps to creating a religion.  See if these make sense to you...

First:  We need to create a god or some leader to follow.  Someone charismatic or with a cool sounding name.

Second:  There has to be a message - like how to live a better life or the promise of living better off in what comes next - if anything.  Some kind of answer or pretense of an answer for the stuff of life.

Third.  We need some kind of ritual or expectations that we have to live up to.  How to appease our god.  How to live the right way.

Fourth:  Some holy writings are helpful.  Some divine manifestation in physical form.  Religious symbols are a good idea.

Fifth:  There needs to be an opposing power - the dark side.   Someone to blame things on or to cause confusion.

The word “tales” is the Greek word “muthos” which is where we get the word what?  “myth” - think Aesop’s fables - legends - stories trying to explain the stuff of life.

Peter’s saying, “What we experienced with Jesus wasn’t the usual religious stuff of this world.  And, we didn’t sit around late one night drinking and we dreamed up all this stuff.”

What Peter is describing here is an event which we’ve come to call “The Transfiguration” - and event that really happened - an historical moment in time.

Jesus has been teaching about His going to Jerusalem and His coming death.  A teaching which greatly worried the disciples.  “What does He mean He’s going to die?  That’ll ruin everything.”  They needed confirmation as to who Jesus really is.  Certainty to base their faith on.

Jesus takes Peter, James, and John with Him up a high mountain.  While they’re on that mountain Jesus is completely changed - transfigured - His face is shining like the sun and His clothes become white as light.  The three disciples are given a privileged glimpse of Jesus’ Godly glory - the majesty - the divine reality of the King of kings and Lord of lords - the Supreme Potentate of all Creation - transcendent of His creation - the author of life and all that exists.  (Matthew 17:1ff.; Mark 9:2ff; Luke 9:28ff.)

Notice two things here in verse 16.  First, Peter writes, “We were eyewitnesses.”

That “we” is important.  According to Old Testament Hebrew law the testimony of a single person was insufficient to confirm something - somebody moves a property line or somebody kills someone.  Who did it?  2 or 3 witnesses were needed to prove that what had happened had really happened. (Deuteronomy 19:15)

Peter wasn’t alone having some kind of mountain top experience - a rocky mountain high - off in his own personal spiritual trance.  James and John also witnessed the same transfiguration - the same revelation of Jesus - God incarnate.  They confirm the reality of what Peter says he saw.

Then - second - notice the word “eyewitnesses.”  The Greek word “epoptes”  In Greek the word has the idea of a spectator - someone who was there.  First hand experience.  Able to witness because he saw what happened with his own eyes.

 An “epoptes” - a witness - was also required to be someone of good character.  A credible witness.  Not a known liar or criminal.  Someone who you can never really believe what they say.  Peter, James, and John have credibility. 

James was the first of three to die.  He was arrested by Herod Agrippa I and sentenced to death.  When James was brought out to be executed - rather than looking pale and frightened - James was joyous - looking like a conqueror who’d won a great battle.  The man who had falsely accused James - when he saw James’ faith - he came to believe in Jesus as his Savior.  Both James’ accuser and James were beheaded on the same day with the same sword.

When Herod Agrippa saw that beheading James pleased the Jews, he had Peter arrested - thrown in prison - intending to behead Peter. (Acts 12:1ff.)  Think about that.  James lost his head over this faith.  Maybe it’s a good time to tell everyone it was a bad joke.  Let’s not all lose our heads over this Jesus thing.

Peter never recants.  God miraculously sets him free.  Peter later makes it to Rome - where he’s crucified - upside down.  Still never denying his faith in Jesus.

John died last.  The Emperor Domitian had him bound and brought to Rome where he was cast into a caldron of boiling oil.  Miraculously he survived and was exiled to the island of Patmos - just west of Turkey.  After Domitian died John returned to Ephesus where - according to tradition - John lived to be 100.  Still never denying his faith in Jesus.

There’s a story of 4 high school students who showed up late for class.  They claimed they’d had a flat tire on the way to school.  The teacher said, “No problem.  To make up for the work you missed you just need to take a short test.”  The teacher put one boy in each corner of the room.  Gave them a piece of paper and a pencil.  And asked them one question.  “Which tire was flat?”  Have you heard that?

These three witnesses died under different circumstances - at different times - in different parts of the Roman world.  They died testifying to the same thing.  Not one recanted their testimony.  “We cooked all this up that one night in Jerusalem.”  Credibility.

Why trust Peter?   Because, Peter is a credible eyewitness of the divine majesty of Jesus.

Going on - look with me at verses 17, and 18.  For when He - Jesus -  received honor and glory from God the Father, such an utterance as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased” - and we ourselves heard this utterance made from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. 

As Peter, James, and John are standing there - up on the mountain - in the presence of the transfigured Jesus - Moses and Elijah appear with Jesus.  Moses, Elijah and Jesus are having a conversation together.  A bright shinning cloud passes over them and the audible voice of God speaks from the cloud.  “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him!”

Reason number two - why should we believe Peter?  Because they heard the voice.  Say that with me, “They heard the voice.”

The word “utterance” is the Greek word “pho-ne” - voice - as in tele-phone - a far off voice.  It has to do with human speech.  Real words spoken by a real person.  The three of us heard this voice - audible - speaking words.  It wasn’t some wind blowing through the trees that we thought sounded vaguely like someone saying something.

The voice was of that of God - majestic glory.

Moses - on Mount Sinai - with God’s people below.  As God descends to the mountain - violent earthquakes rock the mountain.  Fire and smoke scorch the summit.  God speaks with Moses as one speaks man to man.  Is it any wonder that Moses’ face glowed when he came down off the mountain?  (Deuteronomy 19:18ff.)

How does one describe the voice of God?  What would that be like to be in His presence?

Majestic has the idea of that which grows - which becomes great.  The sound of God’s voice growing in depth and volume and intensity - filling the height and breadth and volume of space - permeating to the depths of the soul - the very cells of our body - so that when He speaks - all of creation is effected and His words do not diminish with time.

On the mount of transfiguration - hearing the voice of God - in terror - the disciples fall face down on the ground.

Peter writes, “We heard the voice of God.  We were in His presence.”

With His words God honors Jesus - publicly declares Jesus to be the Son of God - divine - loved by God - sinless - holy.  God glorifies Jesus - testifies that the work Jesus is doing - His ministry - His death for each of us - His resurrection giving us hope - God is pleased.  It is in accordance with God’s purposes.

Why believe Peter?   Because Peter himself has heard the voice of God declaring the reality of Who Jesus is.

Going on - verse 19:  So we have the prophetic word - what God said through the Old Testament prophets about the coming Messiah - we have the prophetic word made more sure - more certain - validated - to which you do well to pay attention - don’t treat this lightly - this reality can’t be ignored - the prophetic word is like - a lamp shining in a dark place - light on our path as we travel through life - until the day dawns and the morning start arises in your hearts - until Jesus returns and God brings history to a close.

Verse 20:  But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

Reason number three to believe Peter - The prophetic word.  Say that with me,  “The prophetic word.”

Notice two things with me.  First, Prophecy is God’s to interpret.

Long ago in a church far far away I received an email from a pastor who had read our church’s statement of faith - which was posted on our web site.  The point of this pastor’s email was that how we stated our belief in the Trinity was unfounded and in his words, “blasphemous and idolatrous.”  Then he signed his letter with the same benediction we sometimes conclude our Service of Worship with - “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you.”

It sounded so right.  This pastor sounded like a real brother in Christ who perhaps had a difference in belief and was trying to help us understand something about God.

But, as I carefully read his email it became evident that what this pastor was saying was heresy.  Here was a man - claiming to be a Christian pastor - who in reality was denying the deity of Jesus Christ - saying that Jesus is not God.

There are a tremendous number of voices that demand our attention - many beliefs and teachings - all claiming to have truth or at least a perspective of a truth.  In our culture we’re told that we need to be tolerant - open minded.  Belief is a matter of perspective.  We’re all on some kind of “faith journey.”  Don’t be so narrow minded that you think you’ve got the exclusive lock on absolute truth.

Grab this.  It really doesn’t matter what we think is truth.  What matters is what God declares is His truth.  And, that we’re on the same page as God.

On the day of Pentecost - the disciples are together - and there’s a noise from heaven like a violent rushing wind - that fills the house where they’re at.  There are these tongues - like little fires - that come and rest on each disciple.  The Holy Spirit fills each one.  As the Spirit enables them they begin to speak in various languages - even the dialects - the unique languages of the Jews that had gathered in Jerusalem from all around the Roman Empire.

The people are amazed by this.  Speculations - perspectives are put forward - interpretations of what was going on.  Some thought they were drunk.  The question is asked, “What does this mean?”

Peter stands and gives the interpretation.  The explanation of the Spirit’s work.  “This is what the prophet Joel prophesied would happen.  God pouring out His Spirit on all mankind.”

Peter declaring what God said and what God is doing.  Not what Peter thinks.  But the reality of seeing God at work fulfilling God’s word given through Joel.  God giving the explanation through Peter - even having it recorded in Scripture so we understand - with clarity - what the meaning is - even for us today.  Prophecy is God’s to interpret.

Second, notice that prophecy comes from God.  “Men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.”

Have you ever thought about how important your name and address are?  The details of your name and address set you apart from the other 6 billion plus people living on planet earth.  With even greater detail, God wrote an address in the Bible to single out His Son, the Messiah, the Savior of mankind, from anyone who has ever lived in history - past, present, or future.

There is about a 400 year gap between the Old Testament prophetic voice - the words of the prophets concerning who the Messiah would be - how He could be identified - and the coming of Jesus.

Imagine one of your ancestors - 400 years ago - living someplace - not in greater Merced metroplex - trying to predict your name and address today.

In the Old Testament there are 60 major messianic prophecies and approximately 270 ramifications that were fulfilled in Jesus Christ.  The chance that any one man might have lived down to the present time and fulfilled all just 8 of these prophecies is 1 in 10¹⁷ - a one with a lot of zeros after it.

This boggles the mind.  Maybe you’ve heard this.  To put this into perspective - suppose we take 10¹⁷ silver dollars and lay them on the face of Texas.  They’ll cover the entire state two feet deep.  Mark one of these silver dollars and stir the whole mass thoroughly, all over the state.  Blindfold a man and tell him that he can travel as far as he wishes, but he must pick up the one marked silver dollar and say that this is the right one.  What chance would he have of getting the right one on his first try?

He’d have the same chance that the prophets would have had of writing these eight prophecies and having them all come true in any one man - providing they wrote them in their own wisdom.  Over 300 prophecies were fulfilled in the coming of Jesus Christ - only God could have accomplished that. 

To declare the meaning of the transfiguration is not about Peter making up some wild explanation about what they saw up there.  What matters - what we need to pay attention to and to base our faith on -  what matters is not who Peter declares is the Messiah.  What matters is Who God declares is His Messiah. 

The Christian apologist and author Ravi Zacharias shares about a time he was speaking to a wall-to-wall crowd of students at an Ivy League university presenting in his powerfully persuasive manner the intellectual case for Christianity.  For an hour afterward, one of Ravi’s associates was engaged in a vigorous conversation with four young men who were contesting argument after argument that Ravi had presented.

The associate answered every protest skillfully and convincingly from the Christian perspective.  Finally, one of the students, who seemed to be speaking for all of his fellow debaters, made this surprising admission:  “To be honest with you, I think most of what that man [Ravi] had said is true.  And I don’t care.” (1)

There are number of different ways we could respond to what Peter writes.  Some people treat being a follower of Jesus Christ like a trip to HomeTown Buffet - where we can pick and choose the parts of life with God that we want - creating our own religion.  Some people see Jesus as adding some truth to a collection of religious truth.  One path of many.  Some people would rather not even go there.

What does Peter write?  “Pay attention.  We have the prophetic word made more sure.”    The question is really much more than, Why should we trust Peter?   The question is, Why shouldn’t we trust Jesus?

What the prophets spoke of - Peter witnessed first hand.  Everything that Peter had heard from Jesus was absolutely true - everything about life and death - about faith in Him - forgiveness of our sins and being right with God - and eternal life - is true.  Jesus is who He says He is.  The God and the Savior.  The - singular - means of forgiveness for our sins - and the means of life with God.

Peter points us to Jesus.   How will you will respond?

As Tim and the boys come up here we’re going to sing one last song.  “I’ll Fly Away.”  Which - coincidentally is the theme of our look at 2 Peter.  Imagine that. 

“I’ll Fly Away” is about what comes next for the follower of Jesus - eternity with God.  Some day we’re going up there to be with Jesus.  If God had meant man to fly He’d of created him with what? wings.  Well, one day we’re going flying and we won’t need no wings.

What Peter writes about is how to live today knowing what’s coming.

Question:  Do you have that hope?  Do you know your sins are forgiven and what it means to be made right with God?  Do you know what it means for God to set you free from guilt?  Are you living life by the power of God?  Do you know what its like to live life with purpose and meaning?  Have you trusted in Jesus as your Savior and given Him your life as your Lord?

_________________________
1. Hutchcraft, Ron, Called To Greatness, Moody Press, Chicago, 2001

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New American Standard Bible®, © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.  Used by permission.