Transfiguration Sunday 2011

Sermon Transfiguration Sunday

Text: Matthew 17:1-9

I really like this gospel reading. It is full of dramatic, foreshadowing and recasting of previous events. Jesus has invited three of his disciples, Peter, James, and his brother John, to journey with him up to the top of a mountain. Now if you remember from the beginning of the sermon on the Mount, anytime someone journeys to a mountain it signifies two things, one it recalls Moses on Sinai, and something really important is going to happen. Both most definitely occur here. The 4 of them reach the top, and suddenly Jesus is transfigured, changed for glorification or exultation. He shines like the sun, and his face glows. And then with him are Moses and Elijah, and they appear to be talking. Peter, being Peter and never really quite sure what to do, decides he should probably build houses for them. This is not completely odd, it is a sign of respect to great leaders, but Peter has understood this appearing to be the great moment. And as he is talking, thinking the experience is done, a voice booms from Heaven. “THIS IS MY SON, THE BELOVED, WITH HIM I AM WELL PLEASED; LISTEN TO HIM” And Peter, James and John understandably throw themselves to the ground. Moses and Elijah vanish, and Jesus touches the three and tells them Get Up, Do not be afraid. And the travel down the mountain, told to not tell anyone until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.

We hear “This is my Son, the beloved, with him I am well pleased.” twice during the season of Epiphany. At Jesus's Baptism, when the voice from heaven rolled as the dove descended. It marked the beginning of Epiphany, the period of Jesus' revelation. Epiphany, meaning revelation or manifestation, vision of God, is the time we celebrate Jesus' light coming into this world and the world seeing it. And again here, with the added phrase of “Listen to him.”

And so “This is my Son, the beloved, with him I am well pleased” wraps this time and encircles Jesus' teaching. And it marks the beginning of his journey to Jerusalem. He has concluded his teaching in Galilee and has begun the next step of his journey, which he has foretold will end in his death.

In the baptismal story there is a question as to whether the voice from heaven was heard by all gathered there, or whether it was heard by Jesus alone. In that story no one else reacts to the voice except Jesus, the voice drives him into the wilderness. But while there is question in that story. There is no question here.

Peter, James, and John throw themselves to the ground, fear completely overwhelming them. If they didn't know completely who Jesus was before, they do now. They see Jesus revealed as the Son of God, the one whom God is well pleased. That is what the transfiguration reveals.

It reveals Jesus as the powerful Son of God. He has the power to heal, and to forgive, to raise people from the dead.

But, it also reveals Jesus as the suffering servant, the one with whom God is well pleased. It connects with Isaiah 42, “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights;” The suffering servent there is the one to take the sins of the Jewish people upon itself and to save them from exile. Jesus is the powerful Son of God, but as such he is also the weak servant. He is the one who takes the sufferings of the entire world upon himself, not just a single people.

It reveals Jesus as the continuation of Moses and Elijah, the Law and the Prophets. Who were called to bring the people out of slavery, and to come again to welcome the messiah.

It is no wonder that Peter, James, and John throw themselves down. Their entire history has just been revealed as being fulfilled in this one man. I know I would just as them. The shear power of this scene and all it encompasses is nearly overwhelming. As a Child of God it asks me, how is it possible for me to be able to follow this person. This one shining with glory, how am I worthy of worshiping this one. How can I meet even one percent of a percent of what Jesus asks of me. Every command is one of unimaginable depth. Listen to him. How can I do that? I can hear, but listening implies following and obeying. How am I able to do that? It feels sometimes as if I have no choice but to cower on the ground. It is indeed the model of being Awestruck, of seeing the fear of the Lord. God is so utterly great, how can we matter.

But, Jesus' revelation is not done. Jesus is not done. Listen to him.

And Jesus reaches down to his disciples, reaches down to us.

Do not be afraid.

It sends us back to the angels appearing to the shepherds watching their flock by night, terrified at the sight before them, to the angels appearing to Mary and Joseph telling them of how their lives will change with this baby that will come to them, This prince of peace, Lord of Lords, King of Kings. It sends us back to the moment our God came to us not a powerful ruler, but a weak, helpless baby. To the moment that God entered into our broken lives, to show the unimaginable love given to us.

Do not be afraid.

And it sends us forward. It sends us to the women in the tomb, looking for their Lord, and the angel again telling them Do not be afraid, he is not here, for he has been raised. It reveals to us the disciples huddled in the upper room

The transfiguration reveals all to us. It reveals the baby born to us, the rabbi who teaches and heals, and the savior who dies and rises for us. It reveals the reason for why we matter. For it reveals the God who reaches out, touches us and tells us to not be afraid.

In our terror, in our fear, when we cannot stand on our own, Jesus comes to us. When we cannot go on, Jesus appears. When we cannot even cry any longer, God comforts. When we cannot see, the glory of our transfigured God lights up our path.

And we know the story of the resurrected Lord, so go. Share the story of this Beautiful Savior.