"For The Glory” Transfiguration Sunday

In Jesus Holy Name February 11,2024 Text: Mark 9:2-4 Transfiguration Redeemer

“For the Glory”

‘For the Glory’ is the biography of Eric Liddell written by Duncan Hamiliton. The 1981 movie, Chariots of Fire was a great movie based on Eric Liddell’s life. (pronounce Luddel), He was known as “The Flying Scotsman”. In 1982, Chariots of Fire won the Academy Award for Best Film, Best original score, best musical score, best custom design. The "Flying Scotsman," was born in China, where his parents were missionaries. He loved running and rugby. He gained his education at the University of Edinburgh where he ran the 100 and 220 for the track team.

At the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, Liddell refused to run in the heats for his favored 100 meter, because they were held on a Sunday. He gave up his best races and instead trained hard for the 400. He won the gold medal in 1924 Olympics in the 400 meter race, setting an Olympic record, to the glorious cheers of thousands. For Liddell, running was always second to his true calling, his faith and work as a missionary. (from the biography For the Glory)

Listen to the words of the theme song:

“We are destined for glory, far brighter than gold

In the race of a lifetime, swift and eager and bold

Eyes fixed on Jesus, strong feet run to follow, like chariots of fire.

To hear God’s well done and praise His name, Our soul’s highest goal

His pleasure is worth more than wealth or fame.”

After the Olympics, Eric returned to China teaching science and overseeing the sports program while sharing his faith in Jesus. When he saw war with Japan on the horizon, Liddell put his children and pregnant wife on a boat to Canada, while he stayed behind.

The opening lines in the biography “For the Glory” finds Eric Liddell in a Japanese prison camp in 1944. “Today, he is crouching on the starting line scratched in the dirt by a stick. His body is slightly forward, arms bent and his left leg planted ahead of his right. He is ready for the launch.

In Paris he ran on a crimson cinder track in the prisoner of war camp he runs on a dusty pathway laid out but the prisoners. It was a “sports day” in the camp, a way of forgetting the incarceration. For the last four years of his life, separated from his family as a prisoner of war, Eric served his fellow prisoners, many of whom were children. He served them as a teacher, as a pastor, as a fellow worker, and friend. He died of a brain tumor in the prison camp just before the war ended. He was 43 years old.”

It is a great biography. Biographies are often great reads. That’s why the first followers of Jesus quickly recorded His biography. Four of them, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John wrote inspired biographies. They wrote about the miracles and His teachings. But each writer had a deeper message. John summarizes it like this: (Read John 20:30-31)

His miracles and His words remind us that He is fully God and fully Man, that He sacrificed Himself on the cross, that He saves us from the power of sin and death and the devil. Without His resurrection after death on the cross His biography in the gospels would have long been lost to the dust bin of history.

Then Jesus strictly commanded them to tell no one about this, saying, "It is necessary for the Son of Man to suffer many things and to be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and to be killed. And on the third day to be raised to life."

On the mountain, Jesus is glorified. For just a moment, He is transfigured; a blinding radiance pours from Him. He becomes what He was before He came. For one brief, shining moment, the burden of His humanity is lifted. He is elevated above earth’s horizon and escorted into the eternal. He is home again. Familiar sounds surround Him. (In the Eye of The Storm p. 174 Max Lucado)

Moses and Elijah appear. They too are aflame with eternal robes, standing beside their King. Moses the Lawgiver, whose grave no man knew; Elijah, the prophet who heard the voice of God, not in the thunder storm, but a still small whisper.

Peter said, Lord this is such a great moment….can we stay? Let us build three

tents...” He wanted to stay in the glory of the light, the presence of God. For thousands of years Christian pilgrims and Christian tours have made their own pilgrimages to holy places, seeking to hear the voice of Jesus. Peter knew it was a special moment. Lord, can we stay. It was a moment of intimacy with God. They could not stay. Ministry to people was calling at the foot of the mountain.