Transfiguration

 

Matthew 17:1-9
Hide and Seek

Today. Is the last Sunday in the season of Epiphany. Today.  Is Transfiguration Sunday. Through this season of Epiphany.  We have witnessed the glory of God manifested in Jesus.  But today. God’s full glory. Majesty. And power.  Is reflected in Jesus.

Jesus’ glory is shown by the brightness of His physical appearance. The appearance of Moses and Elijah. And the presence of the Father.  Evidenced. By a cloud. - And a voice.

Since Jesus has come to the full possession of God’s glory.  He is prepared to fulfill His mission as the Messiah. By going to Jerusalem. And to the cross. 

In Lent. We make a pilgrimage with Jesus. To suffer and die with Him. A journey. Which began in Baptism. Your baptism indicates. As the catechism teaches, “that the Old Adam in us should be daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires, and that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.” [1] 

Our journey. Begins today.  Beginning with the mountain of Transfiguration. Through the valley of Lent.  To the cross at Mount Calvary.  And to an open tomb on Easter Sunday. May the pilgrimage begin.  

O God, who on the holy mountain revealed the chosen witnesses Your well-beloved Son, wonderfully transfigured, in raiment white and glistening; Mercifully grant that we, being delivered from 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 ever and ever. [2]

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. One moment he was praised for confessing Jesus to be the Christ. (Matthew 16:16) Yet. On another, he was scolded. For offering to defend Jesus from those who would try to put Him to death. (Matthew 16:23) 

As Christ followers.  There is the temptation.  Of feeling. It might be best.  When dealing with life’s struggles and confusions.  To simply say, Let’s Hide.  And maybe it will all go away!

 

1.    The Desire to Hide

A.  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!’”

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

3.    At one time or another.  Feeling the pressures of life. Some are convinced to 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.

2.    Peter was possibly tired of traveling.  Of being hassled by the crowd.  Of being challenged by instigators. Ringleaders. And troublemakers.

3.    Peter was confused as to what all Jesus’ teachings meant for him. Along with the other disciples.

4.    Peter was afraid as to what might become of him.  And of Jesus. If they journeyed to Jerusalem.

C.  We have reasons for wanting to hide.

1.    We too are often weary of stranding against the sinful flow of the world around us.

2.    We are frequently confused when life is difficult. How do things like divorce.  Unemployment. Addictions. And all forms of blatant sin creep into Christian’s lives?

3.    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 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. The LORD 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.

2 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.

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. During the coming season of Lent.  Spend time with your Savior as He speaks to you directly through His word.

iii. 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.

[1] Luther’s Small Catechism; Baptism, What does such baptizing with water indicate?
[2] For All the Saints; Collect for Transfiguration, © The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY 

 Words –1,035
Passive sentences – 7.8%
Flesch Reading Ease – 78.5%
Flesch – Kincaid Grade Level –3.8