Transfiguration Sunday

Transfiguration Sunday – February 23, 2020 – Luke 9:28-36

[1]

1 O wondrous type! O vision fair
Of glory that the Church may share,
Which Christ upon the mountain shows,
Where brighter than the sun He glows!

2 With Moses and Elijah nigh
The incarnate Lord holds converse high;
And from the cloud the Holy One
Bears record to the only Son. [2]

Today is the last Sunday in the season of Epiphany. Moses and Elijah appear with Jesus as He appears in heavenly splendor before Peter James and John. These witnesses glimpse the majesty of the glorified Jesus. The transfiguration was a unique display of Jesus’ divine glory, which Jesus had before He came to earth in human form. The voice, which comes from the Father, is confirmation that the work Jesus will perform on the cross will bring about your salvation. As Jesus comes down from the mountain, He forbids these disciples to tell no one what they had seen until after His resurrection.  Still, Jesus promises to walk with them.

Why Moses and Elijah? They represent two periods in the history of God’s people. At the time of Moses, the people followed as they were led from the house of bondage to the land of freedom. During the time of Elijah, the Lord had to remind Elijah He reserved for Himself seven thousand who had not bowed to Baal. In times of triumph and challenge the Lord was constant in the lives of His people. The Lord prevailed.  

In Lent, we walk with Jesus through the valley of suffering, sacrifice and surrender. In this Lenten journey Jesus has promised to accompany us. As we begin this pilgrimage, may the Lord Jesus order your days and direct each step.

O God, in the glorious transfiguration of Your beloved Son You confirmed the mysteries of the faith by the testimony of Moses and Elijah. In the voice that came from the bright cloud You wonderfully foreshowed our adoption by grace. Mercifully make us co-heirs with the King in His glory and bring us to the fullness of our inheritance in heaven; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. [3]

 1. The Transfiguration of our Lord. Schnorr Von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use

  2.O Wondrous Type! O Vision Fair Lutheran Service Book © 2206 Concordia Publishing House, St, Louis 

  3.Collect for Transfiguration, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St, Louis