This sermon was delivered to Holy Trinity in Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland on the 11th February 2018 (a Scottish Episcopal Church in the Dioceses of Glasgow and Dumfries).
2 Kings 2:1-12 Psalm 50:1-6 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 Mark 9:2-9
Psalm 19:14: 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.
1. Introduction
This our last Sunday after Epiphany, we are still in the gospel of Mark, and remember from last time, Mark is very particular in recording his accounts, meaning he only records the accounts that have a special meaning to him. … And so today we find ourselves the with very familiar passage which is simply referred to as the “transfiguration on the mount”.
What has surprised me about this passage is that I did this exact same topic in a sermon to you three years ago; … how time flies, and this has thrown me a bit … because I cannot give you the same sermon again, so we will look at this passage afresh, in a different form, possibly in its simplest form; as an event that is set on a mountain top, (possibly Mount Tabor), where Jesus literally transformed himself to meet with both Moses and Elijah. … It is a short passage, a very strange passage, but a passage but full of meaning.
2. Now mountain top scenes
Now mountain top scenes are rare in the Bible; but all have a strong and powerful message. The first mountain top scene we read is the one where Abraham takes his only “beloved son”, Isaac; the one who was promised by God, to be sacrificed, so that God could fulfil His covenant with Abraham. … Fortunately God intervened and Isaac’s life was spared.
The second mountain top scene is where Moses is on Mount Sinai directly after the crossing of the Red Sea to escape the Egyptian army. … He then left the newly freed Israelites at the bottom of the mountain, a mountain covered in a thick cloud, and it is here the Lord spoke to Moses, and six days later he descended the mountain and delivered the Ten Commandments to the children of Israel.
It is also worth noting that years later when Moses died, God said in Deuteronomy 18:15 that “He would raise up for the people another prophet who would, like Moses … hear the voice of God and teach it to the people. … And when that prophet comes, listen to him”. We will come to that later.
Anyway.the third mountain top scene is the one in 1Kings 19:16 where the great prophet Elijah was desperately seeking God. If you remember Elijah looked for God in a strong wind but could not find him, he then looked in an earthquake; then in a fire to no available; … but he eventually found God in a still small voice; who gave him instructions to anoint Hazael to be king over Syria.
I am saying this in the hope you can hear the similarities into today’s Gospel reading: you know, the six days; the cloud; the voice; the beloved son; the command to listen to him. … What a coincidence, that they all come together with presence of both Moses and Elijah? I love coincidences because that link things together.
3 Verse 2, Jesus is transfigured.
Now verse 2 starts by telling us that “Jesus took with him, Peter and James and John” … that means he left the others behind at the base … and it is thought that these three were chosen because they were regarded as “inner circle”, as Jesus on occasion allowed these three disciples certain privileges; like in raising the daughter of Jairus from the dead, and these three would be called to go a little further with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Anyway, verse 2 and 3 continues, ”And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them”. … And Mathew in his gospel tells us that “his face shone like the sun” … and is this too is a coincidence, because Moses too when he delivered the Ten Commandments, his face was transformed also, which means that something very strange is happening here.
… And if that is not unusual in itself, then take into account verse 4 where the presence of two of the world most faith's honoured heroes: Moses, (the great law-giver); and Elijah, (the great prophet); give us both the Law and the Prophets, are in now communion with Jesus.
4 Peter, James, and John are terrified
Here we have both literally, and figuratively a powerful "mountain-top experience"; and this was too much for Peter, James, and John as verse 6 tells us that “were terrified in that glory and presence of God”. …
Mind you, terror never stopped Peter from opening his mouth, and so he suggests in verse 5, “Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah”. … But Jesus dissuades him, and in verse 6 … and then “a cloud overshadowed them” and from the cloud “there came a voice … this is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!" …
5 Listen to Jesus
Now listening to Jesus is not a suggestion; it is a direct command from God himself so we better listen. … We were baptized because Jesus said (in Matt 28:18-20), “Go into all the world and make disciples … baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” … and later on we (or some of us), will celebrate Holy Communion because Jesus said (in Luke 22:19), “Do this, in remembrance of me.”
These two examples, baptism and Holy Communion are religious duties that our Lord told us to do; but that is not all that he commanded us to do.
Jesus also tells us in Matthew 28, (the most familiar version of the Great Commission), that, “all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you”.
6. The connotations for us
And this then has serious connotations for us, as we are identified as a disciple of Christ which means that we must trust God for everything and for the way as he is watching over everything us all the time; watching over us in protection and not condemnation as we are told in Matthew 7 that “he clothes the birds of the air and the grass of the field”, and that we are not to worry as … we “are far more valuable to him than they are”?
This does not mean we are to wear rose-coloured glasses, or to try to convince ourselves that “everything is OK” … no, it means that even when things go wrong, which they do, we are to turn to and trust in God; because he will see us through.
It also means, (among many other things), that we as disciples of Christ … we do not measure the meaning of our lives in net worth as the world does … you know in financial terms or in worldly success, no, we are to measure our success in terms of inward growth, in our similarity or in comparison to Jesus himself.
… And we do worship him, he is our idol, (if that is the correct word), and as such we are drawn to him, and by being drawn to him we do the things he likes us to do, and in doing so, we become more like him. … It may not feel like it, but that is the way it works … we cannot help but be like him … if we worship him.
And yes we also focus on our mistakes, which we shouldn’t as this demeans or debases us … instead we are to build ourselves up, after all, the King James tells us in Romans 8:1 that, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” ... the Contemporary English Version simply says, “If you belong to Christ Jesus, then you won't be punished”. That is quite a promise, that is quite a truth, and I find it difficult to believe sometimes.
7. Verse 8 Moses and Elijah disappear.
Anyway returning to our story, we read in verse 8, “And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves”. … Moses and Elijah had suddenly disappeared, and Jesus stood alone with His disciples. … They began this journey with Jesus, and they would return from this mountain alone with him. … And I suppose this was done to emphasize the fact that Jesus himself was enough … that he didn’t need Moses and Elijah to hold his hand.
And while it was exciting to see Moses and Elijah, they were not really there for the benefit of the disciples … because they spent all their time in communion with Jesus, and not with them … The disciples appear only to be there as witnesses of this extraordinary occasion.
8. Conclusion
And so we end our story here, and we can confidently conclude that Jesus was all the disciples needed, he is all we need. He alone bore our sin and he alone provides our redemption. He is therefore worthy of our worship and devotion, and this truth needs to be told.
This has been a very familiar passage for most of us, where Jesus allowed three of his disciples to see who he really was. … This they would need, as confirmation as they would soon face great difficulties in their lives after the crucifixion, and they needed to know for sure that Christ alone was enough … and that is our message for us today, that he is enough for us regardless of what we are going through.
And we need these reminders from time to time as we walk with the Lord because we know that life can beat us down, and when it does, we need to focus on the one who will carry us through. He alone is our salvation, strength, and hope … God working in our hearts through the power of the Holy Ghost and he has never made a mess of anything yet.
So we must put ourselves within range of his voice, so that we can listen to him and not the worldly news or the media or the opinions of others … and we are not here to make religious tents for old men on mountains; we are here to listen to the voice of God, the voice of Jesus … and to be his disciple.
Amen; let us pray.
Let us pray,
Father, we thank you for Jesus, we thank you that he is your beloved son and that he walked this earth, and knows the trials and tribulations we face.
Father we thank you that Jesus is above every situation, above every problem, and above every name that could ever be named.
Father we need your hope for the future, to see us through, strength to carry out you will, and confidence to do what is right.
Give us also Father, a revelation of your love for us, a revelation of how you are in charge of us, and a revelation that you will be with us, and supporting us unto the end.
Father, in Jesus name, show us that you look after your own.
Amen
