Sermon Feb. 22, 1998 In His Glory based on Luke 9:28-36

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

I am sure you have all had something turn out different than you expected. You build up to some event anticipating it will come out one way, and then it turns out to happen a different way.

This was certainly the case in the Olympics last week when 15 year old Tara Lipinski won the gold medal in figure skating. She became the youngest champion of the event. She was aiming to win the gold medal in the 2002 Olympics, but things turned out different than she expected.

There was an unexpected turn of events in the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus also. Indeed, His whole ministry ended up being different than many people expected or wanted it to be. Many approached the Christ with their own notions of what He should be like. They had spectacular expectations of economic, political, and religious grandeur. He was to be in His full glory on the earth. He was to rule and prosper here and outdo every other human being.

These expectations of grandeur were not to be met by Jesus. Not in His earthly ministry. In His ascension, however, He would take His full position of glory and honor. He would be put in the place of king and coming judge of the universe. We will see and experience His full glory when He returns a second time.

It is in the Transfiguration that Jesus gives a glimpse of His future glory. In the Transfiguration, Jesus' "figure" was transformed. His appearance was changed. The way Jesus looked was changed dramatically and by that He demonstrated who He really is. Once again Jesus Christ shows that He is God.

The Transfiguration was only for a limited audience of Peter, James, and John. They get taken up the mountain with Jesus and no others get to go along. Even though only the three go along, the Transfiguration is reported for us in Luke's Gospel. We get to go along through the reporting of the events, even if we didn't get to go along in person. Jesus took the three disciples along and we get to read what they saw.

We may wonder why Jesus did not transfigure Himself for a large crowd to see. Why didn't He let lots of people see His glory and thereby prove to them that He is God? Perhaps the other people would not be ready to see this. They may have had these expectations of grandeur. With Jesus showing off His glory, it would only encourage these false expectations of Him. It would not lead these people then to see what Jesus' real mission was all about. So, Jesus only took the three disciples along.

Jesus went up the mountain to pray, and while He was praying, His figure was transformed. The appearance of His face was altered in some way. We are not told exactly in what manner it was altered. His clothing also became white and flashing like lightening.

These sort of visible signs would probably draw anyone's attention. The three disciples were sleepy however. It took Peter a while to wake-up fully. When he did, he saw Jesus in His glory. He saw His transfigured appearance which showed His glory. His looks brought honor, praise and distinction.

Along with Jesus there appeared Moses and Elijah. Moses was the great prophet and leader of the Israelites in their exodus from slavery in Egypt. Elijah was instrumental in the Israelites exiting their idolatrous worship of the Baal gods. Moses was active possibly 1500 years prior. Elijah was around some 900 years before the Transfiguration. Here Jesus causes them to appear. What was the connection? Possibly Moses and Elijah can be seen to represent the Old Testament writings. Moses is the writer of the first five books, and considered the law-giver. Elijah brings an association to mind of the writings of the various prophets, for he was one of the most important Old Testament prophets. The "Law and Prophets" is the label that Matthew and other New Testament writers use repeatedly for the writings of God's Word at that time.

The Law and Prophets proclaimed the Law and Promises of God to the people, but they also pointed to the grace and deliverance still to come. This grace and deliverance was now here, in the person of Jesus Christ. The focus in the future which Moses and Elijah had directed the people was now in the present.

Upon waking up, Peter offers to set up three tents for Jesus, Moses and Elijah. He didn't really know what he was saying, says the text. Perhaps Peter wanted this situation, with Jesus in His Glory, to continue. Maybe it was so enjoyable to see Jesus this way, that Peter just didn't want it to end.

It wasn't, however, what he expected. It wasn't something that would last. Rather it was a quick demonstration that Jesus was God. The main part of Jesus' mission was something else. This main part is identified for us as the subject of the discussion between Jesus and Moses and Elijah.

Jesus, Moses and Elijah are talking about Jesus' exodus, departure, and death. They are really the same word. He would die and depart from this life.

The main part of Jesus' mission was His death. He did not come primarily to show off His glory. Instead He came to die. The glory that shone at the Transfiguration was short-lived. Just a brief glimpse of who He really was and then He would be back on the road to Jerusalem where He would make His exodus on the cross.

We have the Last Sunday after Epiphany assigned as Transfiguration Sunday. Then, on Wednesday we start Lent with Ash Wednesday. In Lent we remember the suffering and death of Jesus for our sins. It is useful then to make the transition to Lent via the Transfiguration. We start with the glimpse of God's glory, but then we are on to the main part of Jesus' mission, to die for us.

Christ's death was required because of our sin. Peter's human frailties in the Transfiguration remind us of our own sins. First, Peter and the other disciples were falling asleep, rather than praying with Jesus. This makes us think of our own failures to stay awake, figuratively. We fail to devote ourselves to our Lord in prayer, worship, and study. All too often we are off sleeping, or pursuing other self-centered objectives. We have a hard time keeping a clear head and locking our focus on the Lord Jesus. Peter reminds us of our sins of falling asleep.

Peter was also missing the important part of the Transfiguration when he made the silly offer to put up three tents for Jesus, Moses and Elijah. Peter missed the point that Jesus was here demonstrating that He is true God as well as true man. Peter missed the main part of Jesus' work in His conversation about His departure. He tries to sidetrack or stall Jesus. Stay a while Lord, and let us enjoy your glory, thought Peter. Yet, Peter was keeping the Lord from His main work.

We also tend to turn away from the work the Lord has given us to do. We forget our commission to go and make disciples. We forget those around us who have no hope in Christ. We forget those among our own congregation members who are not coming to receive the Lord's blessing of Word and Sacrament and are open to the dangerous temptation to turn away from their Savior. Peter reminds us of our turning away from the Lord's work.

These sins of the disciples and these sins of ours required Christ's death. The death about which He spoke to Moses and Elijah. The death on the cross in Jerusalem. Death on a mountain called Calvary. There on that hill would be the victory for Christ. He would achieve His target. Rather than being the type of political or economic ruler the people expected, Jesus would surprise them. He would be the one sacrifice for all sins. He would obtain His victory and power over the devil, the world, and our sinful nature by resigning in death. On the cross, our Lord won the battle, and then rose again to prove it. By Christ's death, we see the highest glory of God-a glory which expresses itself in mercy to forgive our sins. Glory in mercy to save us from everlasting death. Glory in mercy to take us resurrected into everlasting life.

Now, in the Transfiguration the Lord Jesus' glory comes out in another way. He is marked by His appearance as true God. The person of the Father also makes an appearance here as a cloud. Yes, you might remember that the Father was known in the Old Testament times as appearing in a cloud. He guided the Israelites out of Egypt and for 40 years in the desert by a cloud. Here He appears in a cloud once again. Then the voice of the Father repeats what was expressed also at Jesus' baptism. "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him." The Father speaks words approving of Jesus. He thereby affirms Jesus' mission. He is on the right track. His primary mission is to die for the sins of the world. Here the Father confirms that Jesus is true God and He is doing God's will.

The disciples would certainly have been quite excited following this Transfiguration, but they don't talk to anyone about it. Jesus instructed them to tell no one. The other people would not be ready to hear of it yet, perhaps. Only the disciples could understand. Others would be distracted by the signs of Jesus, and miss His main mission.

We were not privilege to witness the Transfiguration first-hand. We did not get to see the change in Christ's appearance or the cloud. We did not hear His conversation with Moses and Elijah about His coming death or the voice of the Father. Yet, we do have many of the same benefits. We have the testimony of Moses and Elijah in the Old Testament Scriptures which point us to the Christ. We have the testimony of the Gospels and the rest of the New Testament which remind us of the promises fulfilled by Christ. Jesus is still the Father's Son and worth our efforts to listen to Him. We did not see the glory of the Transfigured Jesus, but we know of His glory in the salvation which He moved toward on the cross and has now accomplished. We can take stock again of who He is and what He has done and does do for us. We know the glory of the one who brings us forgiveness and life, Jesus Christ. Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.