In All His Glory!

SCRIPTURE

Transfiguration of Our Lord

Luke 9:28-43a (NRSV)

Jesus is transfigured on the mountain

Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah" -- not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!" When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.

On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. Just then a man from the crowd shouted, "Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It convulses him until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not." Jesus answered, "You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here." While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astounded at the greatness of God.

SERMON

Today, we have the opportunity to celebrate Transfiguration Sunday. As you heard in the lectionary reading it is the Sunday in which the Christian church remembers Jesus’ supernatural and glorious change of appearance in front of his disciples Peter, James, and John.

Today is also the last Sunday in the Epiphany Season. As we know, Epiphany is the time of year when we celebrate walking in the light of God and we become increasing cognizant of God’s divine revelation of self in the person of Jesus Christ.

During Epiphany it is fun to “discover” Christ anew as we follow the star again and again—journeying with the Wise Folks in their search for Jesus, standing by the river as Jesus is baptized, observing as Jesus calls his first “disciples,” celebrating as Jesus begins to teach, preach, and heal throughout towns and cities, and worshiping with Jesus’ inner circle as we hear the voice of God upon the mountain declaring today, “"This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!"

Scripture teaches us that there were countless men, women, and children who followed Jesus everywhere he went and that must have been special.

Then there were the called out ones—the twelve. They heard the parables and got the interpretations. That had to be pretty neat.

But, then, amongst the twelve there were three—Peter, James, and John. Several different times in scripture Jesus calls these three men to his side. They were his inner circle, best earthly friends, and the ones who got to hear, see, and bare witness to all sorts of secrets…And once again, we find them alone with Jesus, experiencing the most amazing thing.

Can you imagine how they must have felt on that day? Jesus says, “Come on up the mountain.” I would think that they would assume that they were going up the mountain to pray, as was their practice.

But, then something different happens! Jesus says, “I’ve got something to show you.”

And then suddenly, he becomes radiant, his face begins to shine as bright as the sun, his clothes become completely dazzling, and before the disciples can absorb the shock of all of this glory—he begins to have a conversation with Moses (the revered Jewish leader who lead the Israelites to the border of the promised land) and Elijah (the esteemed prophet of God who was remembered for raising the dead, bringing fire down from the sky, and ascending into heaven on a whirlwind.)

Hallelujah!

Let me tell you. I don’t imagine anything could have been more shocking for these three disciples. Peter said the only thing that he could think of in that awkward situation, “Wow! It’s really great that we’re here. Would you like for us to build you some altars?” (giggle)

Now, we may like to think that we would have said something a bit more impressive, but I believe that Peter was doing that the best he could under the circumstances. I’m sure, as a good Jewish man, he was absolutely astounded to see Jesus in the company of Moses and Elijah—two of the holiest and most respected men of his faith.

See, I’ve been trying to imagine standing in Peter’s shoes and I’ve been wondering who Jesus would have to show up with in 2010 for us to come to an understanding of just how powerful Jesus really is.

Would Jesus take us up on the mountaintop and show us Drew Brees and Peyton Manning, Oprah Winfrey and Bill Gates, or Martin Luther King and Mahatma Ghandi?

Or, in the 21^st Century, would Jesus take us up on the mountain not to show us people, but rather things?

See, I don’t know about you, but I’m human enough to admit that there have been some days that I wished that Jesus would prove his lordship to me by providing things like money, a fully funded 401(k), miraculously paid bills and mortgages, jobs, vacations, cars, boats, cabins and college funds!

But, in response to our human awe of people and things, I can hear God speaking to us from heaven, just as God spoke to Peter, James, and John, saying, “No! No! You’ve got this wrong. Jesus, is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him…”

Isn’t this a fantastic reminder for all of us today? The Super Bowl was great, but not as great as Jesus. Madri Gras is going to be wonderful, but not as wonderful as Jesus! Money, riches, and power may ease the path of life, but as the old folks say in my tradition, “cain’t nobody do me like Jesus…”

See, after GOD spoke, Peter, James, and John seem to have gotten it (for a second). Matthew records that they fell on their faces. They were deathly afraid. They understood, as never before that Jesus was not just a prophet like Moses and Elijah, rather he is the holy and only begotton Son of God!

As they lay there on their faces trembling in fear, awe, and reverence, Jesus says to them, “Do not be afraid.”

It is my hunch that Jesus may have been trying to say to them, “Do not be afraid of me…I didn’t reveal myself to you to scare you. I didn’t transfigure myself to make you fearful…No, I showed you my “true colors” so that when we go down off of this mountain and the going gets tough you’ll have something to sustain you.”

See, this week we will commemorate Ash Wednesday and the start of the 40 days of the Lenten Season. On Ash Wednesday, Christians around the world will take the time to remember and understand that our sin is “ever before us.” As we go into churches on this Wednesday, the pastor will place ashes upon our heads as a sign of the confession and repentance of our sin.

And then, she will speak words of truth over us, “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. From ash you came, to the dust you will return. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Blessed be the name of the Lord…See, during the Lenten Season, we practice the spiritual disciplines of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. We make the long and painful journey with Jesus to the cross. We meditate constantly on the “why” of Jesus’ sacrifice and sing with all those before us, “It’s me, it’s me, its me oh lord, standing in the need of prayer.”

But, before we enter this time of critical self-reflection, honest self-assessment, and confession and repentance for sin, Jesus shows us himself, in all his glory, up on the mountaintop!

I love how Jesus’ transfiguration ends. The Bible says, “And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus, himself, alone.”

As they went down the mountain, Jesus’ countenance returned to normal, but his power and greatness remained the same! When he encountered the man and his son in need of a healing miracle, Jesus acknowledged our sinfulness as humans, but then he healed the boy through the Power of His Love.

This miracle is a reminder that Jesus’ transfiguration was not just for Peter, James, and John, but for all of us who are here today! On this side of the cross we get to “catch a glimpse” of Jesus as he really is and together we come to the realization that God’s Amazing Grace and Unconditional Love will always be enough to heal the sin-sickness of our souls and to open the door to our eternal lives!

As we enter the Lenten Season, as we meditate upon the cross, as we acknowledge our frailty and sin over the next 40-days plus Sundays, my friends, we have nothing to fear.

For when we look up, we will see no one but Jesus, himself, alone.

Jesus who loves us. Jesus who treasures us. Jesus who died on the cross to save us. Jesus who was resurrected on the third day in victory. Jesus who continues to intercede for us. Jesus who will one day welcome all of God’s Children into the Kingdom of Light and Love, establishing a new heaven and a new earth where all will dwell in peace, and safety and goodwill.

And when they looked up, they saw no one, but JESUS alone.

This is good news, my friends, as we end the Epiphany Season and begin the 40-days march to the cross with Jesus…Just as Peter, James, and John saw Jesus transfigured and revealed in all of his glory, may we too see Jesus revealed today in that same glory. And may that memory be emblazoned upon our hearts and minds as we prepare to see him in all our shame upon the cross. For we will need that glorious memory so that we can endure the Lenten Season, faithfully journey to the cross with Jesus, and be given strength to await the celebration of the Resurrection on Easter Sunday--when Jesus emerges from the tomb victorious over sin, death, and the grave, and appears again ever more glorious than ever before!

Together. Together. Let us begin that Lenten Journey today.

In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen…

Won't you pray with me?

Holy God, thank you that you once again reveal yourself to us in all your glory as we celebrate this Transfiguration Sunday. Thank you for loving us so much that you gave Jesus to die on the cross to save us from our sin and gift us with eternal life. Thank you also that He did not stay dead, but was resurrected just as He promised! On this Valentine's Day I accept your love, pledge my love, and place all of my hope in Jesus. Please forgive me of my sin and fill me with your Holy Spirit so that I can read, share, and BE good news now and forever. I will take the Lenten Journey with you this year and always. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


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