Suggested Teaching Objectives:

To teach the importance of witnessing by those who have seen and become followers of the crucified, risen  and ascended Saviour.

To teach how we as Christians can have power to effectively do His work.

To teach the terribleness of Hell.

To teach the importance of self-denial for Him and His Cause.

INTRODUCTION: Many wise men have lived throughout the history of the world but none have compared to Jesus Christ who created the world in all of its complexities and who knoweth all things. In our lesson today we have Him giving some wise advice to His followers. Let us learn what it was.

Vs. 1 -- This statement referred to the fact that some of the disciples, (Peter, James, and John) would see Jesus in His Glory on the Mount of transfiguration.

Vs. 2 -- The Mountain is believed to be Mount Hermon which is N.W. of Capernaum. His face shone as the brightness of the noonday sun (Matthew 17:2) and they saw His inner glory revealed.

CF. Philippians 2:5-10. If He is to endure an ignominious death for sinners, the disciples must be shown with unforgettable clarity who He actually is.

Vs. 3 -- Even the Saviour's garments share the reflected radiance. "Fuller" means the clothes washer.

Vs. 4 -- Elijah and Moses talked to Jesus about His coming death. Luke 9:31

Vs. 5&6 -- Note their fear, frustration and stammering bewilderment. The fleeting glimpse of Jesus' true nature could never be captured and incarcerated in architecture.

Vs. 7 -- Here again we see the approval of the Father upon the Son just as we did at His baptism.

Vs. 8 -- Peter had become absorbed with vision and visitors. But all these were to disappear and only Jesus was left. The value of a vision depends on the deposit that remains. This is true of all experiences of ecstasy or emotion. Do they leave us different? Do we find the presence of the Lord more real and precious because we have seen Him in a new light? Unless a religious experience, at least in a measure, transforms and transfigures us, it is not a genuine spiritual experience. We can live the transfigured life by letting the Divine presence of Christ fill our hearts and flood our personalities, so as to shine out through our lives. Thus shall we represent Christ to the world.

Vs. 9 -- They had received a great revelation and it would benefit the Saviour's cause if they would wait until after the resurrection before they told others about it. Then they could affirm His deity more boldly as a result of this experience. We should use wisdom in witnessing and say and do those things that would benefit His cause and thereby help others.

This was the Saviour's advice: "Witness for my benefit." How can we do this?

Vs. 10-13 -- The disciples, still in the flesh and ready for debate, ask concerning the Jewish prophecy that Elijah must appear before the kingdom can be ushered in. Our Lord intimates that John the Baptist, His spiritual predecessor, already has come and met his doom; and that He too must suffer rejection.

What a contrast! Glory in the mountain with the Lord, and now a wretched, demon-controlled sufferer, and disciples inadequate and powerless.

Vs. 14-16 -- The crowds were perplexed because of the inability of the disciples to emulate Christ's miracle working power. People today are perplexed at the powerlessness of the Church.

Vs. 17-19 -- This son is a picture of the condition of sinners who are captives of Satan.

(II Timothy 2:24-26).

The disciples were powerless because of lack of faith and they failed to pray. They had not learned the secret of His Omnipresence nor His Omnipotence and they were trying to do His work in their own power. They were out of touch with Him and so did not bring their work to Him.

Vs. 20-22 -- The son was a pitiful condition and the father had no faith. Note, "If thou canst do anything.."

Vs. 23&24 -- God is pleased by faith. Hebrews 11:6. All things refers to all our difficulties and problems. CF. Mark 11:22-24. The father acknowledged that he did believe but that it was little faith and he greatly desired more. That was enough for Jesus.

Vs. 25-27 -- At the Saviour's command, the devil, vicious until the end, obeyed and the afflicted lad was free. No power, Satanic or otherwise, can withstand the voice of God.

Vs. 28&29 -- Only divine power could perform such a miracle. To avail themselves of this power, the disciples must:

Be in touch with God by walking in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16) and by living a life of righteousness (Isaiah 59:1 & 2)

By praying for power and Divine help (John 16:7-9)

Vs. 30-32 -- Soon Jesus would direct His steps toward Jerusalem (10:1). But certain lessons still needed to be indelibly impressed upon His disciples. They might not fully understand, but some day the full meaning of His Word would burst upon their memory. They had to learn that Jesus' suffering, death and empty tomb were to be no accident of history. They were part of the divine program of redemption. Between Peter's confession (8:29) and Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem, He seems to have told them 5 different times. Mark 8:31, 9:9, 12; Luke 9:44; Mark 9:31, 10:32-34.

Vs. 33-35 -- Jesus reversed human standards of greatness. The arguing disciples needed to be impressed with the truth that the divine norm of success is not self-exaltation, but self-denial.

Vs. 36&37 -- There is a great truth embodied here. "That whatsoever we do for other Christians (Children of God (Galatians 3:26); Those who have the indwelling Christ) we in actuality do for the Saviour and for God." As we become servants of others we can be assured that we will be amply rewarded in heaven.

Loyalty to Christ is not necessarily measured by adherence to one particular visible group but these verses do not teach that "it makes no difference about which church you attend". It does make a difference and we should only regularly attend scriptural churches.

Vs. 42 -- "Offend" means to harm either mentally or physically a Child of God's, a Christian. In these verses, Jesus tells us how terrible and dangerous it is to do so.

Vs. 43-47 -- In these verses, Jesus (God) who knew the terrors of hell speaks on that subject. He says that in hell the fire never goes out (Luke 16:24) and that the conscience (the worm) never dies. These things being so, we should do what's necessary to avoid hell. John 5:24; 3:14-18, 36; Romans 8:1.

Vs. 49&50 -- Christians are the Salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13). But if Christians lose their power or their witness then how can they preserve the gospel and benefit the world and the people therein? Hell is a terrible place and we as Christians must maintain our witness in order to pluck as many brands from the burning as possible. So we must serve one another, be at peace with one another and give forth a good witness of Christianity to the world.

CONCLUSION: Jesus, the great and wonderful Servant, has much good advice for us in this lesson. Summarize. What can we do to show Him that we are taking His advice?