This sermon was delivered to St Oswald’s in Maybole,
and Holy Trinity in Ayr, Scotland on the 2nd March 2014
(Scottish Episcopal Churches in the Dioceses of Glasgow and Dumfries).
Summary: Why did Jesus really take Peter, James and John the Mount of Transfiguration? Because there was something that He could only teach in that place and they remember it the rest of their lives.
Exodus 24:12-18 2 Peter 1:16-21 Matthew 17:1-9 Psalm 2 or Psalm 99
“Please join me in my prayer.” Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of our hearts, be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength, and our redeemer. Amen. (Psalms. 19:14)
Introduction:
In our text today, we hear about Jesus taking three of his disciples up a mountain. Notice he only took three, meaning he had something extra special to teach them; obviously something pretty advanced as he chose the three of his most dedicated disciples; which means we must pay particular attention or we are going to miss something very important.
Jesus at this stage was nearing the final chapter on his ministry and on the last road to the cross; … so his time therefore was short … and the pace and intensity of his lessons increased, as he was preparing the disciples for their own ministries … ministries without him in the flesh to guide them.
However the disciples did not know this, and were totally unaware that Jesus needed to die, in order to set humanity free through his resurrection.
Jesus therefore was preparing them for the time after his death and this trip up the mountain was the only place he could really teach Peter, James and John … something that He could not teach them anywhere else.
And being a teacher myself, I can fully understand the necessity of getting their full attention, you know to, “create the correct environment for learning” … and Jesus did so by this dramatic experience … which was absolutely terrifying for them, so much so, they would never doubt the power of God again.
In fact, it was so dramatic that Peter wrote his 2nd letter, (Chapter 1, Verse 16), many years later that “We … were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father, (both) honour and glory, … when there came such a voice to him from (God) the excellent glory, ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased’”.
But as I said, this was a special trip for Jesus and His disciples … and notice what happened to Jesus as he reached the pinnacle or the top, “Jesus turned around and his entire countenance changed. His face began to shine like the sun, and His garments became as white as the light”.
And that must have been bright … and if that wasn’t enough, two men suddenly appear beside Jesus; and although we are not told how, … the disciples knew who they were … they were Moses & Elijah; two of the greatest men from the Old Testament. Moses (who represented the law by receiving the 10 commandments), was the great leader of the Israelites out of Egypt; and Elijah, (who was possibly the greatest of the Old Testament prophets) … had the power to command fire down from heaven, to strike at the enemies of God.
The disciples were not only in the presence of Jesus, they were also in the presence of these great men of the Old Testament, and thinking about it, we could forgive the disciples for thinking that these men were greater than Jesus himself … because everyone in Israel had heard of Moses and Elijah … and everyone held them in great esteem. After all, Jesus was still alive at this stage, and as you know, nobody is truly wonderful until they have gone.
The disciples therefore were understandably bewildered … and terrified … and so Peter, (who had to say something), and blurted out, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters - one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah". Which if you think about it, is saying something for the sake of saying something; and three Gospels agree, Peter didn’t have a clue what was going on.
Then suddenly … a massive cloud envelops all of them, and the voice of God declares: "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"
The focus is now all on Jesus … as God was making sure that the disciples knew that Jesus far excelled the reputations of both Moses and Elijah. … God was saying, although these men are held in great esteem, Jesus is greater than them by far … Jesus is my son. Did you notice that Moses and Elijah’s faces didn’t shine like the Sun, and their clothes didn’t become as white as light; … it was only Jesus that shone with light and glory … not them.
Can you see the power behind this now, God was not comparing or aligning Jesus with the great Moses and Elijah, God was contrasting Jesus with Moses and Elijah … to show the disciples how great Jesus really was. … and I am sure after three years in his presence, the disciples were familiar with Jesus, maybe even over familiar, as they had ate, slept, talked, and travelled with Jesus continually … without knowing who he really was … but now God was making sure they did.
And they knew alright, because at this point, the disciples could not handle it any longer, and they fell on their faces in abject fear, terrified for their lives … but then it all goes calm, and they look up, and all they see is Jesus; … who then touches them, either to show he is human, or to calm and reassure them, … and tells them to stand up as have no need to be afraid.
… And when they do … everything has disappeared … there is no Moses, there is no Elijah … there is no cloud … and all they can see is Jesus. … And that is all that happened in this story … really, but God certainly made his point.
There was no special prayer time; there was no extended sermon nor Bible lesson; there is no further explanation from Jesus as the event in itself was enough; because the only thing Jesus had to say, was … “Do not tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
And I am sure they didn’t … because I am also sure they did not understand the full meaning of this experience until well after his death and resurrection; when they knew in their hearts of hearts … that Jesus was the Son of God … and that we should listen to him. Everything else faded away in the presence of Jesus … even Moses and Elijah disappeared … when God made his claim.
And we as Christians must believe this, as this is the foundation of our faith … without which, we will miss out on the promises of God.
Peter confessed this very point six days earlier; … remember when Jesus asked Peter in Matthew 16:16 “who do you say that I am?”… and Peter responded “You are the Christ the Son of the Living God.” Jesus praised Peter and then said: "I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it." The rock being this fundamental truth on which the church was built, that Jesus was the son of God.
We cannot get by simply by believing Jesus was a great teacher, or the founder of a new world religion like Buddha or Mohammed … no ... Jesus is the Christ, the son of God as we all know, and I am aware that I am preaching to the converted, but this is the today’s Gospel reading.
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 3:11 “… no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ”. In other words, there is no other foundation for the church other than Jesus … not Peter, James or John … no religious leaders, councils or synods … no board of elders, famous preachers or great evangelists from America … only Jesus can be the foundation of our faith, and the church. Peter himself said in Acts 4:12: "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
As Christians we are to worship nobody but Jesus … as there is no other faith or religion that even compares, and there should be no other allegiance that should ever compete … or come close for our attention … and that includes our friends and families: as Jesus said in Matthew 10:37 … "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me … is not worthy of me; … anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me”.
These are extremely strong words, but Jesus said them for a reason … and that is because, we do not know to whom our friends and family’s are worshipping … and to what extent. Exactly who is their Lord?
And understanding this, Paul wrote in Philippians 3:8: “… I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ”. … I always remember this scripture because the word rubbish here is actually translated from the word “Dung” in Greek. Everything falls into insignificance in the presence of Jesus.
And Paul’s letter to the Ephesians goes even further, it demonstrates the supremacy of Christ and it says early on in chapter 1 (verse 20) that “when he (God) raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places. Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come”.
You just do not get much stronger that … and if you do … please pass it on and let me hear it … Jesus is above every name that is named ... if you can name something, then Jesus is above it. Sin … sickness … disease … poverty … shame … rejection … failure and … condemnation … all these all have names … even death itself. Jesus is above and excels ever all of them.
This started of a simple story, it is now getting rather heavy, because there are warnings here also … as it is possible to go to church all of your life … and still not know the Lord? I’ve seen people who’ve done it, and I am sure you have as well.
They’ll have perfect attendance; they have been involved in various committees and activities in the church, and they have probably taught in the Sunday school and became Elders … but it is their Church that is important to them … and it is called Churchianity” … as opposed to Christianity. These people love their church … but never seem to be listening to Jesus.
Are we willing to let Jesus lead us where ever He wants? Are we willing to let Him lead us to a higher level of living and service?
The big question today is this: is Jesus the Lord of your life … does everything fade into insignificance in His presence, just as in this story?
To close … there is one part of this story I have not mentioned … and that is the power behind this great event itself, because during their ministries … Peter, James and John were all thrown to the wolves; … and we all would certainly forgive them for giving up … but they continued on unto death.
We could say it was the Holy Spirit in them, that kept them going, and he did, … but also when things got tough. Do you think they would remember this experience?
They must have had doubts like all of us … (and I spoke at length about this last week). Those disciples experienced hell on their ministries, but they all continued to travel the second mile, and achieved more than most. Why … because they knew that Jesus was the son the God; it had been revealed to them, and there was nothing higher than him.
And if we do not have that experience, that Jesus is the son of God, take hope from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 13:16, where Jesus says, talking to his disciples: “Blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. … For verily I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which you see, and have not seen them; … and to hear those things which you hear, and have not heard them”.
We do not need this mountain top experience to believe that Jesus is our Lord … because Jesus says here, that we are more blessed if we believe … and have not seen, nor heard … although I am sure you like me, would not mind a wee glimpse into his majesty.
I said last week, it takes faith to come to church, it takes faith to believe that Jesus is our Lord, and it takes faith to keep going. That then is the time that we need to remind ourselves … who exactly is the Lord of our lives.
Amen, Let us pray.
Father we thank you for Jesus, we thank you that he is your son and not another so called great man.
Father we thank you that we have somebody to turn to when things get tough, we thank you that he is alive and listens to us, and we thank you that he travelled along the same roads that we do, and understands our needs.
Father imprint into our hearts today, the power and majesty of Jesus least we forget, show us Jesus in his glory that we may be assured of his power and his protection over us.
Father, you know we are here to worship you. You know we want to please you, and you know we love your son Christ Jesus, so Father bless each and every one of us here today that we maybe ambassadors for you. We ask humbly, in Jesus almighty name. Amen.
