Title: Faith and Miracles (Matthew 17:1-8)
Contents 1) Christianity is a religion of miracles. The Bible is full of mysterious miracles.
2) Some people are more interested in the gift of healing or a mystical experience than in the essence of faith, as the saying goes that it is steamed rice rather than chanting.
3) Today's text records the events of Mt.
I. God works miracles (1-3).
A. The disciples experienced miracles.
1. Jesus went up the mountain with only three disciples.
2. When they reached the top of the mountain, a change took place in which the figure of Jesus shined like the sun.
3. Moses and Elijah also talked with Jesus.
4. It was an event that surprised even the three most trusted disciples.
B. We sometimes experience miracles.
1. Some people have been treated for incurable diseases that cannot be cured by modern medicine.
2. Some people experience various gifts.
3. There are times when things that cannot be accomplished by common sense can happen.
4. A person with a hard heart may change into a new person.
5. Many other miracles exist around us.
Transcendence: Just as Peter, James, and John experienced the miracle on the Mount of Transfiguration, we experience miracles around us. This is because God works miracles for us. Then, what is our attitude toward miracles? Now, let's look at the human reaction to miracles second.
II. People get excited when they experience miracles (4).
A. Peter was intoxicated with ecstasy.
1. The scene that was happening right before my eyes was strange.
2. Moreover, Moses and Elijah, who appeared before our eyes, were representative prophets whom the Jews respected most.
3. Peter knew that the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles would be fulfilled, so he proposed to build three tents.
B. We, too, tend to get excited when we experience miracles.
1. When I hear that someone else has experienced a gift, I feel jealous and want to experience the same gift myself.
2. If you experience a mysterious gift while longing for it, you may fall into the illusion that God only loves you.
3. Let's compare Peter's appearance with the first time I experienced the gift.
Kyeong-guk: God performs miracles for humans on special occasions. Some of us have experienced these miracles. However, in most cases, people do not try to find out why God performed miracles, but rather, see that there are cases where people are excited like Peter. Why did God perform miracles? Now, let's look at God's providence for miracles for the third time.
III. Miracles are special revelations from God (5-8).
A. Peter heard the voice of God.
1. In special cases, God spoke to humans specifically to teach the truth, and it was for the purpose of writing the Bible.
2. But now that the Bible is complete, he does not speak directly to us.
3. The content of the words told to Peter was to obey Jesus' words. It was a confirmation that Jesus was the Son of God.
4. At that time, all of the disciples, including Peter, knew Jesus only as the Savior who would establish the Jewish nation. They did not know the concept of the spiritual kingdom of God.
5. Jesus' transfiguration was a revelation of spiritual glory.6. The voice from the clouds frightened the disciples and made them fall down.
B. We must know that miracles are God's special providence to enlighten us.
1. If the disciples had immediately understood the words of Jesus, the Lord would not have performed the miracle of the Mount of Transfiguration to them.
2. Faith longing for miracles will never be a desirable faith. However, there is no doubt that miracles are the grace of God.
3. Our faith must be believing without seeing.
4. And even if we have experienced miracles, we must avoid the mistake of thinking that we are the only ones who have received God's love because of it.
5. The important thing is to realize God's special providence behind miracles.
About transitional phrases: Since the transitional phrase is the link between the earth and the earth, it is necessary to use the transitional phrase effectively to deliver it to the listeners (called transitional sentences). (Faith/Mountain of Transfiguration/Miracle)