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The Transfiguration of our Lord, 02/07/2016
Sermon on St. Luke 9:28-36, by David M. Wendel
28 Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. 30 And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure,[b] which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33 And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said. 34 As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One;[c] listen to him!” 36 And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.
"New!" "Improved!" "Better!"
I will admit, after serving 25 years in Colorado Springs, I am a die-hard Denver Broncos fan—and after our last Super Bowl, where we were embarrased by the Seattle Seahawks, I’m just as happy that we’ll be on a plane this evening throughout the game, so that when we land, I’ll know, for good or ill, without the possible pain of watching us lose, again. I’m hoping, of course, that it will be different this time! I’m hoping our defense this time is different, and the offensive line is different—and Peyton Manning is different--and well, the whole team is different, better, and improved—because last time, it was like we didn’t even show up. Well, you may not care about the Super Bowl, or the Broncos or the Carolina Panthers—but I trust you know what it’s like to hope for, wish for—things to be different.
New, Improved Christianity?
We all seem to be looking for something--different. In our world today, the old never seems quite good enough. The old doesn't seem to measure up, so, we're looking, searching--for something that looks better and is more promising. We look for that in our cleaning products, our foods and snacks, our tools and equipment, our computers and computer programs. And yes, in our world today, Christians are often looking for that in our Christianity, as well. The old way of being the Church isn’t good enough—so we go seeking; some seeking what’s called Progressive Christianity; some going after new ways of interpreting Scripture; some seeking new inspiration from the Holy Spirit that transcends old interpretations, even some interpretations contrary to the Word of Scripture. A theologically liberal, progressive Lutheran pastor in Pennsylvania described his new ways of understanding marriage and sexuality by telling his congregation that “Now, the Holy Spirit has led me beyond Scripture!” I guess he just can’t trust the Word of God any longer, so he claims the Spirit of God has led him to something radical and intriguing; more in tune with our 21st century culture and mindset. As we look for what's exciting and cutting-edge--for what will satisfy our constant craving for something different, it should be no surprise that this happens within Christianity, as well—as we’re always wanting to improve upon the trusted and true faith passed on to us through the generations.
A New, Different Jesus?
As we think about the Festival of the Transfiguration of our Lord, it would be easy to think of this revelation of Jesus, as something new, exciting, and different. Certainly, Peter, James and John, who went up the mountain with Jesus, had never seen him this way before. And while Jesus was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white! You can almost hear the marketing strategies, "Now, Jesus, new and improved--with increased whitening, to make him bright and shiny!" This was surely a shock to the disciples, leaving them, at first, with the feeling that something was really different about Jesus. And in a way, there was something different about Jesus.
But then, in the very next moment, this experience of the Transfiguration aims to tell us that Jesus is not so new and different, after all. Because in the very next moment, after Jesus is shining like the sun, St. Luke tells us, "Suddenly, they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to Jesus. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem." Now, it would've been easy, and indeed, tempting, for Jesus' followers to think of him as a "new and improved" Messiah--as a religious figure apart from his Jewish background--as a teacher who brought new ideas, and new teachings, and new ways of living as children of God. It would've been easy, because in many ways, what Jesus was saying and doing WAS different from what they'd experienced in Judaism in their own lives.
Judaism had become rigid and mechanical. Many of their religious leaders had lost a sense of God's love, grace and mercy--so that, when Jesus appeared on the scene, talking about mercy and love, showing mercy and love in his own life, it appeared quite new --so that there was some danger of folks thinking this Jesus was here to establish a whole new religion! But the Transfiguration makes it clear--that Jesus isn't working for some "new" God--that Jesus isn't creating a new religion--but rather, is renewing faith in the one, true God.
Yes, it is true that Jesus is creating a new relationship, formed by a new covenant, but with the same God that had been known since Abraham, Isaac and Jacob--indeed, the same God that was there with Moses and Elijah--the same God that both the Law and the Prophets, describe and testify to--in all their lives and in all their writings. Had the Transfiguration happened with just the glory and the dazzling white appearance, it would've been easy for the disciples to have concluded, “this is something new”. But the appearance of Moses and Elijah; the fact that they showed up, and discussed with Jesus his approaching departure, assured Peter, James and John--that this Jesus was not someone new and different; was not a Messiah who was going to present a new religion.
The Jesus of the Law and the Prophets
This Jesus, was the one foretold by the Law and the Prophets, throughout the ages. This Jesus was here to give witness to the same God and Father who had been at work from the very beginning, working through the Law and the Prophets to show His love and mercy, working to renew His relationship with His children time and time again, until finally, in the fullness of time, He sent His Son--the Son, who would be the Messiah, the one chosen, and anointed, to depart this world, not in a blaze of glory--not in some miraculous display of world-conquering pyro-technics--but to depart this world, first, on a cross--by his own death--his own sacrifice, on an instrument of execution. The presence of Moses and Elijah, was intended to assure all of Jesus' disciples, then and now, that once Jesus set his face toward Jerusalem, what would happen to him, would happen in accordance with the Law and the Prophets; in accord with all that God the Father willed and intended, right down to the death of His only begotten Son, on the cross, as foretold by the Holy Scriptures. God wanted Peter, James, and John, to know this, so that they would understand--that all this had to happen, as it had been foretold, in order for God, to renew His relationship with His people--which is what he'd been trying to do, since that first sin, in the Garden of Eden. Nothing new, nothing different--just God, trying over and over again, to bring His people back into a right relationship with Him. God trying through the Law and the Prophets, to bring His people back into a relationship of love and obedience and repentance and forgiveness.
And though the gift of God the Father's only Son, to be a sacrifice, a payment for the sins of the world, can certainly be thought of as something, new--something, different--it wasn't a change of strategy; it was simply God, doing what needed to be done, in order, once and for all, to bring His children back to Him.
And if Peter, James and John didn't yet, accept, or understand that this Jesus, was the Son of the Father in heaven; if they still weren't assured that Jesus was the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets--the Father gives them, and us, yet one more sign--His own voice from heaven that said, "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to Him!" And what does that voice from heaven, mean for us, today, as we stand at the threshold of the season of Lent; as we prepare to follow Jesus, through Lent, finally to end up at the cross, where we, too, will witness His departure from this life--on the cross?
What Does the Voice Mean for Us Today?
Just as the Transfiguration was meant to show Peter, James and John, that Jesus was not separated from, different from the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament, we are to realize, as well, that the Old Testament and the New, the Old Covenant and the New, are of one piece--that just as Jesus is foretold and described in the Law and the Prophets, so also the Law and the Prophets are fulfilled in Jesus, and Jesus is the continuation of everything that is proclaimed, in the Old Testament writings. Because of Jesus, the teachings of the Old Testament do not become, irrelevant, or out-dated; to the contrary--because of Jesus, and his death and resurrection, we are set free, to commit ourselves wholly, to the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets!
St. Paul writes, "Indeed, to this day, whenever Moses is read--in other words, whenever one reads about the Laws of the Old Testament, a veil lies over the mind--we don't understand the laws and commandments of God--but when one turns to the Lord, Jesus, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image, from one degree of glory to another."
Set Free to Live for God’s Law
Without Jesus, we don't understand the laws and commandments of God--we don't understand how we can grasp them or keep them. But now that we are freed from the burden of the law, we are set free, to live for the law! Now, the freedom won for us by the death and resurrection of Jesus, is a freedom, not to do whatever we want--but the freedom to live for God and to strive to grow into the fullness of God's image, being transformed into his image, from one degree of glory to another; being transformed into God's likeness, one step at a time.
Listen to Him!
And the way that we do that--the way that we come to understand what God's will and command is for us, is by listening to Jesus--the Father's only Son--by listening to Him, as he unfolds for us, the Law and the Prophets; indeed, as He reveals the scriptures to us, as he did for those disciples on the road to Emmaus, after his resurrection.
The message of the Transfiguration, for us, is that God's Word, proclaimed in the Law and the Prophets, enfleshed in God's Son, Jesus, is trustworthy and true--that it can not be improved upon, or different from what it has always been--a testimony to God's love and saving actions--a testimony to God's desire for us to live according to His will and law--a testimony to the sacrifice of His own Son, on the cross, and His resurrection, on the third day--to set us free, for--the Law and the Prophets--to set us free for, transformation, into, God's image and likeness--so that we will be, new, and improved!
So that you and I, will be different, because, we will become, more and more, the image and likeness, of God, made real, in Jesus, His Son. Throughout the season of Lent, may you and I, may we, hear and heed, both the Law and the Prophets; may we listen to God's Son, His Chosen--to be set free, for, transformation, into the glory of the Lord, from one degree to another!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Bemerkung:
Dr. Wendel is Assistant to the Bishop, NALC