The Transfiguration of our Lord A February 3, 2008 In Nomine Iesu THE GLORY OF THE LORD Matthew 17:1-9 Grace mercy and peace be to you from God our heavenly Father and from our Lord and Savior, the glorified Son of God, Jesus Christ. And Jesus was transfigured before them, and His face shown like the sun, and His clothes became white as light. These are the words of our text. Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we have God on a mountain. Shining like the sun. Clothes whiter than the whitest lightning bolt. A bright cloud overshadowing everything. Peter, James and John terrified. Sound familiar? It should. Sounds just like the Old Testament, doesn’t it? Sounds just like the Israelites gathered at the base of Mount Sinai. There too, God was on the mountain. Recall this from our Old Testament lesson for today: “Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel.” And the Israelites were terrified. They could see the great cloud of the glory of the Lord as it overshadowed everything on the mountain. They could hear the thunderings and see the white-hot lightning. God on the mountain was absolutely horrifying to the Israelite. And to make this mountain even more terrifying, the Lord had given a strict command. Whoever so much as even sets foot on the base of the mountain - he shall surely be put to death. Sinners cannot come into the presence of the full glory of the Lord and live to tell about it. Except. Except when it is the Lord who has first issued the invitation. And so we also see some men in our Old Testament lesson that are actually invited to step foot on the Lord’s holy mountain. And not only are they allowed to venture up the mountain - they are actually permitted to see the Lord! Moses tries to describe the scene. Under the Lord’s feet is pavement of sapphire stone. It’s like the very heaven for its clearness. Sounds just like what St. John sees in the book of Revelation! Just like St. John in Revelation, these men have been brought into heaven itself. And what do they do there? Beholding the Lord - they eat and drink. “And the Lord did not lay His hand on them,” Moses tells you. Incredible. These men should be toast. They should be reduced to a smoldering heap of ashes. No sinner can come into the presence of the full glory of the Lord and live to tell about it. Except. Except when it is the Lord who has first issued the invitation. And so, today, the Lord Jesus Christ has issued the invitation to Peter, James and John to go up onto a high mountain. Immediately Jesus is transfigured before them - showing them who He truly is. And there He is once again. God. On the mountain. Face shining like the sun. Clothes whiter than the whitest lightning bolt. A bright cloud overshadowing everything. His appearance just like it was on the top of Mount Sinai in the Old Testament. The thundering of the voice from heaven. Peter, James and John terrified. The truth finally sinks in. The three disciples remember well hearing all about this in catechism class. No sinner survives being in the presence of God. But here they are - on the top of God’s mountain. Sinners in the presence of the full glory of the Lord. Are they now going to die? No. Instead the most incredible thing happens. Jesus reaches out and TOUCHES them. “Rise and have no fear,” Jesus tells them. And lifting up their eyes - all that remained before them was Jesus. Peter wants to stay. “It is good, Lord, to be here.” But even while Peter is speaking, the Voice comes from heaven, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.” Peter’s more in the habit of talking to the Lord than listening to Him. Maybe you can relate. And what does Jesus have to say? “We can’t stay here, Peter. I have another mountain to climb. And it will be on THAT mountain that you will truly see Me in all My glory.”
Peter won’t get it. Neither will James and John. The world never does. The world will always look for a bright, shiny Jesus. But that is not Jesus in all of His true glory. The true glory of Jesus is found on the dark, gruesome mountain of Calvary. On Calvary - God is once again on the mountain. His face - not shining like the sun - but contorted in agony. His clothes - not white like lightning - but covered in dirt - stained with sweat - dripping with Blood. Flanked by two men - not Moses and Elijah - but notorious criminals. Overshadowed not by the great bright cloud - but by great darkness in the middle of the day. And in His hour of greatest suffering - when all of hell is crashing down upon Him - nothing but silence from heaven. Behold - your Savior, Jesus. God on the mountain. In all of His glory. There is yet another mountain upon which the Lord is to be found. Like Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu and the seventy in our Old Testament lesson - like Peter, James and John in our Gospel lesson - Jesus has an invitation for you. God is on the mountain - and you - poor miserable sinner though you are - are invited to come to this mountain to eat and to drink. This mountain is truly the place where the Lord brings heaven to earth. Just like Moses in Exodus. Just like St. John in Revelation. On this mountain you find your Savior in His crucified and risen glory. Not clothed in bright white garments - but rather His Body and Blood clothed in bread and wine. No terrifying voice thundering out of a bright cloud - but rather human words spoken through frail, human lips. And yet - it is the true voice from heaven nonetheless. And this is the way the Lord would have it be for you, so you can truly say with St. Peter, “It is good, Lord, to be here.” On this mountain you need not fear. The only thing that will be put to death is your sin. Peter, James and John had to leave the Mount of Transfiguration, and they were never invited back. But on this mountain - where Jesus speaks to you and where you eat and drink His Body and Blood in the presence of God - you may stay as long as you wish - you may return as often as you wish - and each time - as you lift up your eyes - you will see Jesus - and Jesus only. In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. +++++++++++++++ Rev. Daniel J. Feusse Concordia Lutheran Church Clearwater, NE 402-485-2596 **************Biggest Grammy Award surprises of all time on AOL Music. (http://music.aol.com/grammys/pictures/never-won-a-grammy?NCID=aolcmp003000000025 48) ___________________________________________________________________________ 'CAT 41 Sermons & Devotions' consists of works that are, unless otherwise noted, the copyrighted property of the various authors; posting of such gives members of this list implied consent for redistribution _with_ _attribution_ unless otherwise specified by the author, as well as for quoting or use in a congregational setting _with_or_without_attribution_. Note: This list's default reply is to the *poster*, NOT the list. Do *not* reply to the list with your comments, but to the poster. Subscribe? Send ANY note to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe? Send ANY note to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archive? <http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/> For more information on this or other lists offered by Confess And Teach For Unity, you can contact the CAT 41 list administrator at: Rev. Fr. Eric J. Stefanski <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
