Transfiguration

Transfiguration

February 10, 2002

“Hide & seek”

Matthew 17:1-9

INTRODUCTION At times it would be nice to be able to hide from everyone and everything, to crawl up in a corner and go unnoticed.  Life is a struggle. Life as a Christian is a struggle. Life as a Christian is a constant battle over the forces of sin, death and the devil.  Peter found life to be that way.  One time he was patted on the back for confessing Jesus to be the Christ (Matthew 16:16) and a short time later he was scolded for offering to defend Jesus from those who would try to put Him to death (Matthew 16:23) As disciples of Jesus we sometimes feel it would be best in dealing with life’s struggles and confusions, to say: “Let’s Hide and maybe It Will All Go Away!”

I.        The Desire To Hide

A.     Who would want to hide?

1.      In the Old Testament David prayed for escape from his struggles (Psalm 55:6)  “And I said, "Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.”

2.      Peter on the Mount of Transfiguration wanted to remain there.

3.      All of us at one time or another, feeling the pressures of life, think that it would be easier if we could be insulated in some way from all of it.

B.     Why would anyone want to hide?

1.      Peter had reasons for wanting to hide.

a.      Peter was possibly tired of traveling, of being hassled by crowds, of being challenged by Jewish leaders.

b.      Peter was confused as to what all the Lord’s teachings meant for him and the other disciples.

c.      Peter was afraid as to what might become of him and Jesus if they journeyed to Jerusalem.

2.      We have reasons for wanting to hide.

a.      We too are often weary of standing against the sinful flow of the world around us.

b.      We are frequently confused when life is difficult. How do divorce, unemployment, drugs, and forms of blatant sin creep into Christian’s lives?

c.      We are afraid that God will change His mind about us, afraid that our faith is not enough, afraid of life.

TRANSITION:  Peter thought he had found a safe haven there on the mountain. But hiding does not work. Hiding does not change or remove fears, frustrations, or struggles; it only heightens them. Even when we use religion as our hiding place; it does not work. God in His grace wants to equip us so that we will not need to hide but rather we can cope with and ultimately overcome our fears, frustrations, and struggles.

II.     The Power To Live Through Christ

A.     Because the power to live comes through Christ, hiding does not work; God intervenes with His grace.

1.      He intervened in Peter’s life.

a.      God intervened in Peter’s life when Jesus called him to be a disciple.

b.      The moment on the mountain was designed to strengthen and reaffirm the faith given to Peter.

c.      Peter himself identifies the event as a revelation of God’s majesty and glory. “we were eyewitnesses of His glory” (2 Peter 2:10)

2.      He intervenes in our life.

a.      God has intervened in our lives by working faith in us in order that we can know Jesus as our Lord and our Savior.

b.      We are given moments in our lives that allow us to see that God is there active in our lives, forgiving us, loving and strengthening us.

(i)         Absolution – the pastor’s words are as certain as if God spoke them Himself

(ii)       The Word- the Scriptures are still able to give comfort and strength

(iii)      The Lord’s Supper-the mean nourishes the struggling spirit

B.     Coming out of hiding is not easy but we are not without help

1.      Peter was being equipped to go to Jerusalem.

2.      We are being equipped to face the challenges of our daily lives.

CONCLUSION:  God in His grace gives us a glimpse of His glory. He transports us to the mountaintop so that we by grace may overcome in the everyday struggles on the plains below.