{"id":20800,"date":"2025-02-25T12:47:57","date_gmt":"2025-02-25T11:47:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theologie.uzh.ch\/apps\/gpi\/?p=20800"},"modified":"2025-02-25T12:47:57","modified_gmt":"2025-02-25T11:47:57","slug":"luke-928-43a","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theologie.uzh.ch\/apps\/gpi\/luke-928-43a\/","title":{"rendered":"Luke 9:28-43a"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Transfiguration of our Lord | 2 March 2025 | A Sermon on Luke 9:28-43a | by the Rev. Beth A. Schlegel, STS |<\/h3>\n

text\u00a0 English Standard Version <\/strong>Copyright \u00a9\u00a02001 by Crossway Bibles<\/a> \u00a0(or other version)<\/p>\n

Luke 9:28-43a<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him\u00a0Peter and John and James and\u00a0went up on the mountain to pray.\u00a029\u00a0And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was\u00a0altered, and\u00a0his clothing became dazzling white.\u00a030\u00a0And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah,\u00a031\u00a0who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.\u00a032\u00a0Now Peter and those who were with him\u00a0were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake\u00a0they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him.\u00a033\u00a0And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, \u201cMaster, it is good that we are here. Let us make three\u00a0tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah\u201d\u2014not knowing what he said.\u00a034\u00a0As he was saying these things,\u00a0a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.\u00a035\u00a0And\u00a0a voice came out of the cloud, saying, \u201cThis is my Son,\u00a0my Chosen One;\u00a0listen to him!\u201d\u00a036\u00a0And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.\u00a0And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

37\u00a0On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him.\u00a038\u00a0And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, \u201cTeacher, I beg you to look at my son, for\u00a0he is my only child.\u00a039\u00a0And behold, a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly cries out. It convulses him so that he foams at the mouth, and shatters him, and will hardly leave him.\u00a040\u00a0And I begged your disciples to cast it out, but\u00a0they could not.\u201d\u00a041\u00a0Jesus answered,\u00a0\u201cO\u00a0faithless and twisted generation,\u00a0how long am I to be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.\u201d\u00a042\u00a0While he was coming, the demon threw him to the ground and convulsed him. But Jesus\u00a0rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and\u00a0gave him back to his father.\u00a043\u00a0And all were astonished at\u00a0the majesty of God.<\/sup><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI told you so!\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.<\/p>\n

\u201cI told you so!\u201d<\/p>\n

My older brother would sometimes say this to me when we were having one of our spats. He would say something like, \u201cYou\u2019re gonna get it when Mom finds out.\u201dTo which I, being bratty at 6 years old, would say, \u201cNo I\u2019m not. I\u2019m the favorite.\u201d And of course, when our mother found out whatever it was, I did in fact \u201cget it\u201d on the behind. And my brother smiled victoriously and said, \u201cI told you so!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2026<\/p>\n

Not all instances of \u201cI told you so\u201d are childish. Some are hopeful.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll get a date to the dance.\u201d No, I won\u2019t. And, when they do, they hear, \u201cI told you so.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2026<\/p>\n

Today, most Lutherans celebrate the Transfiguration of our Lord. Some other Christians celebrate it in August, and still others at some other time. Whenever it is observed, it is an important event in the life of the Lord Jesus and his Church.<\/p>\n

And it is an occasion that could be described as a hopeful \u201cI told you so\u201d moment for God.<\/p>\n

The last words of the last Old Testament prophet, Malachi, speak of the day of God\u2019s judgment.
\nThe\u00a0Lord\u00a0Almighty says, \u201cThe day is coming when all proud and evil people will burn like straw. On that day they will burn up, and there will be nothing left of them.\u00a02\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>But for you who obey me, my saving power will rise on you like the sun and bring healing like the sun’s rays. You will be as free and happy as calves let out of a stall.\u00a03\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>On the day when I act, you will overcome the wicked, and they will be like dust under your feet.4\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>\u201cRemember the teachings of my servant Moses, the laws and commands which I gave him at Mount Sinai for all the people of Israel to obey.5\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>\u201cBut before the great and terrible day of the\u00a0Lord\u00a0comes, I will send you the prophet Elijah.\u00a06\u00a0<\/sup><\/strong>He will bring fathers and children together again [in repentance]; otherwise I would have to come and destroy your country.\u201d Malachi 4<\/em><\/p>\n

This prophetic word of God comes to life on the Mount of Transfiguration.<\/p>\n

On the mountain, Moses the Lawgiver and Elijah the prophet of God\u2019s day of judgment both flank the radiant Sun of Righteousness, Jesus. And God says, \u201cSee? I told you so.\u201d I told you to remember the Law of Moses and that I would send Elijah to remind you to repent of your disobedience before my judgment destroys all evil.<\/p>\n

On the Mount of Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah speak to Jesus about his departure or exodus from this earth, to be accomplished in Jerusalem.<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 This exodus would be accomplished<\/p>\n