"They Saw No Man, Save Jesus Only" -- Matthew 17:8
Introduction:
This narrative is found in Mark 9 and Luke 9. Luke tells what Jesus, Moses and Elijah were talking about: Luke 9:81.
A. Moses was the lawgiver of the Old Testament, and
in this respect, a type of Christ: Deut. 18:15-22.
B. Elijah was the chief and representative of the Old Testament prophets.
C. Jesus had declared that nothing would pass from the writings of Moses and the prophets UNTIL ALL WAS FULFILLED: Matt. 5:17, 18.
I. PETER'S SUGGESTION ABOUT BUILDING THREE TABERNACLES (buildings erected to the worship of each) WOULD HAVE JESUS SHARE HIS PLACE AND AUTHORITY WITH "THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS." BUT THIS CONTRADICTS,. THE CLAIMS OF CHRIST AND THE CLEAR TEACHINGS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT: John 14:6; Matt. 28:18-20; Col. 1:18; Eph. 1:19-23; John 6:66-69; Acts 4:12, etc.
II. GOD HAD SPOKEN FROM HEAVEN PART OF THESE WORDS BEFORE: Matt. 3:13-17. BUT THIS TIME GOD ADDS THESE WORDS: "HEAR YE HIM."
A. The first time God spoke these words was at Christ's baptism, at the very beginning of his ministry; the second time was about a week before he died on the cross. Just before Jesus made the claim in Matthew 28:18. See also Ephesians 1:1923 and Hebrews 1:1-3.
B. So far as we know, there was one theme of Moses' and Elijah's talk with Christ: "His decease." (Luke 9:3.)
1. The gospel was not preached with the Holy Spirit until after his death, burial and resurrection: 1 Peter 1:3-12; Acts 2.
2. He was not a High Priest until after his death: Heb. 2:14-18; 4:14-16 and 5:1-10.
III. "AND WHEN THEY HAD LIFTED UP THEIR EYES, THEY 'SAW NO MAN SAVE JESUS ONLY";
A. No person will ever understand the Bible (Old or New Testament) until he sees "Jesus only" as the theme. The promise to Abraham, the Passover, the work of Moses, the predictions of the prophets (to mention only a few things in the Old Testament) all point to Christ. The teachings, promises and facts of the New Testament all are in him and depend solely upon him, so that if one were to keep them and disregard him they would ever be damned: 1 Cor. 11:23-30, etc.
B. Acts 16:31, for example, rightly appreciated, simply says: "See no man save Jesus only" — don't trust in things (no matter how good), but do everything you do because you believe in him and love him.
C. Repentance is not merely turning from sin; it is being "crucified with Christ" (Gal. 2:20); it is being reconciled unto God by the death of his Son: Rom. 5:1-11.
D. What does baptism mean to you? A mere LAW? A church doctrine? It ought to cause you to see Christ crucified, buried, and risen: Rom. 6:1-14.
E. As an example, you and I must "See Jesus only": 1 Peter 1:21.