Church Sermon - February 22, 2004

Rev. Bernt P. Tweit

Epistle Lesson; 2 Corinthians 4:3-6
Old Testament Lesson; Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Sermon Text; Luke 9:28-36

Today we end one season of the church year, and Wednesday we begin another. For about the last two months, we have been in the Epiphany Season, but today that season of the church year ends. It is during that season, we focus on Jesus being True God. The word epiphany means, ‘to reveal, to make known, to make manifest’.

For the last eight weeks, especially in the Gospels, we have been looking at how Jesus has revealed Himself to us, as true God. Therefore, many of the Gospel lessons for the past two months have focused on the many miracles, which Jesus performed. Here in the Gospel the man, Jesus, revealed who He really was – true God.

Not only is Jesus’ transfiguration a fitting end to the Epiphany Season, but it is also a fitting beginning for the Season of Lent, which begins on Ash Wednesday. It is here, at His transfiguration, that Jesus most clearly shows that He is true God. Personally to the three disciples that He had with Him on the mountain of transfiguration, Peter James and John, and also us, as we look in scripture, to see how Jesus changed, to reveal that not only is He true man, but that He is also true God.

It was eight days before our text took place that Jesus went up on a mountain to pray. After He was done praying, He looked at His disciples and simply asked them, "Who do people say I am?"

They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life."

Then Jesus asked, "But what about you, who do you say I am?"

And Peter answered, "the Christ of God."

Well, it was then that Jesus told them that He would have to suffer. He went on to explain to them that He would have to go to Jerusalem, be rejected by the people, suffer, die, and then three days later be raised to life.

The disciples still needed to learn much, of what it really meant, that Jesus was the Christ of God. They also needed to learn what was involved in following Christ, as disciples. Jesus kept on teaching them and preparing them. His transfiguration served this purpose for three of his disciples. And, through His transfiguration, Jesus teaches us and prepares us to be strengthened in our faith and also to see the glory that He has won for us. It has since served to strengthen the faith of countless believers in the Christ of God and the glory He gained for them.

And so today, as we close out one season of the church year, as we put Epiphany behind us, and as we get ready to celebrate Lent and look at the passion of our Lord, let us look at our text for today and see how Jesus’ transfiguration prepares us for His passion. Let us look at our text and see how Jesus’ Transfiguration Prepares Us for His Passion.

In our text for today, we see how Jesus’ transfiguration reminds us that He is God’s Son, and He is true God. Jesus is the true Son of God, but He also was a true man. Our text begins by saying that Jesus went, with His three closest disciples, Peter, John and James, up onto a mountain to pray. Jesus was praying to God for Himself, and He was also praying for His disciples.

Here was a man, who was also true God. During His lifetime, Jesus chose to hide His divine power and His divine majesty. While He was on earth, Jesus was just like any other, He was a man. It was during this time Jesus chose not to fully use His power as true God. Instead, He ‘humbled Himself’ that is, He refrained from using His divine power, so that He could become ‘obedient to death’. Philippians 2:8

We call that Jesus’ State of Humiliation. And so, from the time of His being conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, up until His suffering, death, and burial, Jesus chose to hide His divine power and majesty. Rather, Jesus humbled Himself and became obedient to death. But, He was also God.

Too bad Jesus’ transfiguration didn’t make sense to the disciples, at the time. They simply misunderstood that Jesus was true God, that He was the Son of God.

After Jesus ascended into Heaven, Peter and the disciples understood what Jesus’ transfiguration meant, for Peter said, "We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty."

There, with the word majesty, Peter was recognizing the divine power and majesty of God and how Jesus chose to hide that, during His lifetime here on earth. Peter understood who Jesus is. He is true God. In our text for today we even hear God the Father, saying of Jesus, "This is my Son." Jesus’ transfiguration reminds us that Jesus is God’s Son and that He is true God.

In our text for today, the Gospel writer, Luke tells us that the appearance of Jesus’ face and clothing changed.

"As He was praying, the appearance of His face changed, and His clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning."

Now, it has probably happened to most of us. We have been driving in our car, during a thunderstorm and a bolt of lightening has hit fairly close by to us. That flash of lightening is so bright that the streetlights turn off, because for that moment it is as bright as day. That is the picture the Gospel writer Luke uses to describe how bright Jesus’ clothes were!

Two other Gospel writers mention what Jesus’ clothes looked like. It was the Gospel writer, Matthew, who says that Jesus’ clothes became as white as the light. Then it is Mark who said that Jesus’ clothes were dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. (Oh, how Tide, with bleach, would love to be able to say that your socks and tee shirts can become whiter than anyone in the world could ever bleach them, to promote their product!) That is how striking Jesus’ appearance was!

Jesus’ transfiguration reminds us of the glory that will be ours, in Heaven. Many people would like to have heaven on earth. However, that glory is something that we cannot have, here on this earth. That shall be ours, through Jesus’ passion.

I wonder if that is what Peter was thinking about in our text, when he said, "Let us put up three shelters – one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah."

That’s impossible. Scripture says that ‘we must go through many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.’ Acts 14:22

And yet, we are also assured in scripture that ‘our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.’ Romans 8:18

Jesus’ transfiguration gives us a glimpse of that heavenly glory that Jesus has won for us, through His passion. It is heavenly glory that is ours, through Christ!

Our text for today shows the relationship between Jesus and the Old Testament scriptures. God had prophesied the path that Jesus must take for our salvation. Jesus came to fulfill what had been prophesied. How directly Jesus’ conversation with the Old Testament prophets, brings this to our attention.

Today we might ask, "Why did God choose Moses and Elijah, on that mountain of transfiguration?"

At the beginning of Israel’s history, Moses was the leader, lawgiver, and the mediator God appointed for God’s people. As we heard in our Old Testament Lesson for today, it was God, Himself, who personally buried Moses, so that the Israelites could not find him.

It was Elijah, who God raised up, in a critical and crucial time in Israel’s history. Elijah was God’s mighty prophet, who waged against the Baal worship that threatened to take over completely, in Israel. Elijah was the one who God had taken to heaven, while he was still alive, in that fiery chariot.

Jesus’ connection with Moses and Elijah also helps us to understand better the entire passion of our Lord. Jesus came to carry out God’s plan of salvation already revealed through the Old Testament prophets.

Jesus’ transfiguration directs us to His revealed Word. It was at the mountain of transfiguration when God the Father spoke from the cloud and said, "Listen to Him."

Yet, it is sad to say that, often times we don’t listen to Jesus.

Jesus says,

"Love the Lord your God

with all your heart,

with all your soul,

and with all your mind."

And yet, often we don’t.

Jesus says,

"Love your neighbor

as yourself."

And yet, often we don’t.

Jesus says,

"Give unto Caesar

that which is Caesar’s,

and to God

what is God’s."

And yet, often we don’t.

And, with everything that has taken place, in the course of these past few weeks, in Massachusetts, San Francisco and also in New Mexico, many people, even Christians, have thought, "Can same sex marriage be that bad? Shouldn’t they have the same rights as heterosexual marriage?"

It is here that we need to heed the words of God, on the Mountain of Transfiguration, when He said,

"Listen to Him."

Listen to Jesus.

Listen to the Bible.

Listen to God’s Word.

When we listen to God’s revealed Word, it is very clear what Jesus says about marriage. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus said,

"For this reason

a man will leave his father and mother

and be united to his wife,

and the two will become one flesh."

Matthew 19:6

Jesus’ transfiguration directs us into God’s revealed Word, it directs us to follow His Word, and we are to listen to Him.

After Jesus’ transfiguration, scripture tells us that Jesus and His disciples left that mountain. Jesus continued on His path of humiliation, toward Jerusalem, where Jesus would go up onto another mountain, a mountain of shame, to Mount Calvary. There on Mount Calvary, Jesus’ love for sinners is most clearly shown, when He purchased and bought, for us, the forgiveness of our sin and brought us to atonement with God. So great was His love for sinners, that He willingly followed the road that led to the hill of shame, Mount Calvary. And in perfect love, He brought a perfect sacrifice there and so His resurrection followed as proof of the completed atonement for sin. Jesus has made us at one with God again. There on Mount Calvary, Jesus won forgiveness and gives to us the glory of everlasting life in Heaven.

Yes, Jesus transfiguration is a very fitting close to the Epiphany Season. It is here that Jesus reveals to us that He is God’s Son.

It is here, that Jesus gives us a glimpse of the Heavenly glory that He has won for us through His passion.

It is here, at His transfiguration that Jesus directs us into His revealed Word, so that as troubles and trials come into our life, we can simply heed the words of God the Father when He says, "Listen to Him." May we always listen to Jesus!

Amen.

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