Transfiguration Sunday
2 Mach 2014
Matthew 17:1-9
Hide and Seek
O God, who on the holy mount revealed to chosen witnesses Your well-beloved Son, wonderfully transfigured, in raiment white and glistening. Mercifully grant that we, being deliveredfrom the disquietude of this world, may by faith behold the King in His beauty; who with You, O Father and You, O holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for every and ever. Amen
There are those days. 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 at times. We must battle with temptation, with fear, with doubt. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.”
Peter found life to be that way. Once, he was praised for confessing Jesus to be the Christ. (Matthew 16:16) Yet another,he was scolded for offering to defend Jesus from those who would try to put Him to death. (Matthew 16:23) As followers ofJesus, we may sometime 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!
1.
1. The Desire to Hide
.
Who would want to hide?
1.
In the Old Testament David prayed for escape from his struggles. “And I said, ‘Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest!’”
Peter on the Mount of Transfiguration wanted to remain there..
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.
.
Why would anyone want to hide?
Peter had reasons for wanting to hide.
.
Peter was possibly tired of traveling, of being hassled by the crowds, of being challenged by instigators, ringleaders and troublemakers.
Peter was confused as to what all Jesus’ teachings meant for him, and the other disciples.
Peter was afraid as to what might become of him and of Jesus if they journeyed to Jerusalem.
We have reasons for wanting to hide.
We too are often weary of stranding against the sinful flow of the world around us.
We are frequently confused when life is difficult. How do things like divorce, unemployment, drugs, and forms of blatant sin creep into Christian’s lives?
We might be 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.
1.
The
Power to Live through Christ
A.
Because the power to live comes through Christ,
hiding does not work. The Father 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 even as a
revelation of God majesty and glory. “We
were eyewitnesses of His glory.” [1]
2.
He intervenes in your life.
a.
God has intervened in your life by working faith
in order that we can know Jesus as lord and Savior.
b.
You are given moments in your life that allow
you to see that God is there active in your life. Forgiving you. Loving you.
Strengthening you.
1.
Absolution – the pastor’s words are as certain
as if God spoke them Himself.
2.
The Word – the Scriptures are still able to give
comfort and strength. During the coming season of Lent, spend time with your
Savior as He speaks to you directly through His word.
3.
The Supper – the means to nourish 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.
You are being equipped to face the challenges of
your daily life.
God in His grave gives us a glimpse of His
glory. He transports you to the
mountaintop so that by grace you overcome in the everyday struggles on the
plains below.
Words –819
Flesch Reading Ease –
76.6%
Flesch –
Kincaid Grade Level – 5.5
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