An
Experience with God
The Transfiguration was Jesus’ experience with God. Not the
first. Not the last. But it was an experience so intense that the glory of God
transfigured Him into the brightness of the sun. In the Epistle lesson, Peter
gives the testimony of the disciples concerning the reality of that experience.
Moses had a similar experience with God on Mt. Sinai. But it was related to the
Law, not the gospel of the Son. In the Psalm for the day, there is reference to
God’s voice; “This is my beloved son.”
The Transfiguration marks the apex of the Epiphany season.
Through the season, we have witnessed the glory of God manifested in Jesus. At
the Transfiguration God’s full glory 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 cloud and 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 to the cross. Because of this, the
Transfiguration is a preparation for our Lenten pilgrimage to suffer and died
with Jesus.
The importance of this Transfiguration experience led the
church the make the Transfiguration a festival of the church. The liturgical
color changes to white to express the joy and celebration of the event.
Monday,
13 February 2023—Psalm99:1-5;
antiphon, Psalm99:5— The Psalm for
the Introit is a hymn celebrating the Lord as the great and holy King in Zion.
Seven times the psalmist will speak of the Lord. We are called to worship our
Lord as the antiphon suggests, “Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at his
footstool; he is holy.” At the mountain of the Transfiguration, the
disciples see the Lord Jesus in all of His holiness, glory and splendor.
Tuesday,
14 February 2023—Psalm
2:6-12; antiphon v.6— In Christ you are the Lord’s. To rebel against the
Lord’s Anointed is also to revel against the One who anointed him. The psalm
refers to the Davidic king, and is ultimately fulfilled in Christ. The English
word ‘Messiah” comes from the Hebrew
word for “anointed one” and the English word, “Christ” from the Greek word for “anointed one.” On the mountain of
Transfiguration Moses and Elijah will speak to the Lord’s anointed one and His
glory at the cross and empty tomb.
Wednesday, 15 February 2023—Exodus 24:8-18—God
appears to Moses on Mt. Sinai. It was an experience with God revealing His
glory. What is the significance of the mountain? A mountain is generally the
site of a religious experience. It was, at least, for Moses, Elijah, Abraham
and Jesus. There is symbolism to a mountain. It is high. Above the valley of
the mundane. It is s solitary place away from people. It is a silent site where
God’s voice can be heard without the distractions and confusion of human
voices. A mountain also speaks of stability, permanence and strength.
Thursday, 16 February 2023—2 Peter
1:16-21—The
disciples witnessed Jesus’ transfiguration. Peter will testify to the reality
of Jesus’ experience with God. People may ask, is the Transfiguration a legend
of the early church or an historical reality? The account in 2 Peter assures us
that it can be accepted as fact. The witness of eyewitnesses. The problem lies
in this, do we believe this testimony? Do we trust in Peter’s words? The
authority of the church today is the authority of the Apostles. Do we trust the
witness of the Apostles? Were you there at the Transfiguration as you were at
the cross?
Peter
reminds us that the Transfiguration needs to be an historical event but also an
experience of faith today for the believer.
Friday, 17
February 2023—Matthew 17:1-9—
Jesus on the mountain is transfigured before three of His disciples. This
experience with God is transforming. Before the cross, Resurrection and
Ascension, we get a glimpse of the inner, true nature of the Son of God, Until
this time, we saw God’s glory manifested in Jesus as the wise Men saw in Him a
king, In John the Baptist’s confession of Jesus as the Messiah, and in the
miracles of Jesus. Now we see directly the divine nature of Jesus. This brings
us to the uniqueness of Jesus _they saw no one but Jesus only.” In the light of
Jesus’ being the only Son of God, then, we must confront the pluralism of our
day. In many circles Jesus, Mohammed, Buddha, Confucius are all “sons of God.”
The voice from heaven makes Jesus unique. He is God’s one and only Son.
In the Transfiguration, many
questions go unanswered. How could the holy presence of God come into a human
frame? How do you explain the exceeding brightness of the physical Jesus? How
could Moses and Elijah appear in bodily form? Does God come in a cloud and does
God have a real voice? Perhaps our only
reaction and answer is worship. Like Peter, we do not know what to say. Like
the disciples, we are overcome with awe and adoration. Jesus and His three
disciples go up to pray and worship. The experience results in the worship of
Christ.
Saturday,
18 February 2023—Luke
9:28-36; John 1:14– Tomorrow’s hymn of the week is LSB #413 “O Wondrous Type! O Vision Fair” Through this
season of Epiphany, we have witnessed the glory of God manifested in Jesus, but
today God’s full glory 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.
Father, You revealed Your Son to the nations by the guidance
of a star. Lead us to Your glory in heaven by the light of faith. We ask this
through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the
Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever.
Collects for Transfiguration: 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 heave; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives, and
reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Sources:
Prayers from Lutheran Service Book
© 2006 Concordia Publishing House
Lectionary Preaching Workbook Series A
by John Brokhoff © 1980 CSS Publishing Lima OH
For All the Saints A Prayer Book for
and By the Church Vol. II © 1995 by the American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi , NY
Schnorr
von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS
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