Today Is Super Sunday (No, Not That One!)

You might not have noticed it, but there was a football game last weekend.

• Although how it could escape your notice I don’t really know.

• I am a big football fan.

• Most Sunday afternoons during football season I find myself watching the games alone in the den, while those two are watching something else on the ‘main TV’ in the living room.

• They don’t share the passion I have for the sport.

But last Sunday (at least) we were all in the same room – or should I say the same church basement in Louisa at the Big Game’s party at 1st Methodist Church.

• There was lots of food, conversation, a dominoes game, and (of course) football.

• Some paid attention to the game – some not so much.

I do think there’s a little too much hype about that game.

• The pregame show starts at 1 p.m., and the game doesn’t start until after 6:30. Is that really necessary?

• Who’s doing the halftime show ~ who’s singing the National Anthem ~ what are the commercials going to be (and they will be critiqued for days afterward – commercials for goodness' sake!)

• There hasn’t been a day when there wasn’t some mention of the game.

That’s when even sports fans like me have to sit up and say, wait a minute; We’re blowing things out of proportion.

• We’ve gone a little bit crazy here, haven’t we?

This is all pretty excessive, to say the least.

I). Wouldn’t it be great to have that kind of enthusiasm in our churches? In our Christian lives?

A). “But preacher, we Christians are a quieter sort. Those big, over-the-top kind of display makes us uncomfortable.”

• You know what the Bible says:

• Don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing -go into the closet to pray - don’t parade your Christianity around - these are the kinds of guidelines we live by.

• All this hype, all this attention, all this wide-screen, high-resolution display makes us squirm.

B). I believe in a softer – quieter faith – you know, like Jesus had.

• If you think that you’d better check your Bible again!

II). Well, today is Super Sunday in the Church. It’s Transfiguration Sunday.

A). And I want to assure you that the production values on that mountain top were pretty spectacular.

• Three of the four gospels record this scene, though there are subtle differences in the telling.

• But the clear implication is that there is something important going on here.

• There is some message, some hint, some understanding that we need to glean from the light show recorded in these verses.

• Jesus, who seems relatively sensible most of the time, all of a sudden pulls out all the stops and goes for the glitz, for the big show, the Super Sunday – and to be honest, it seems a bit over the top for us Christians.

B). But let’s take a look at it from Matthew’s point of view (Matthew 17:1-8)

1 Six days later Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. 2 As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. 3 Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus.

4 Peter exclaimed, “Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I’ll make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

5 But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.” 6 The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground.

7 Then Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 And when they looked up, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus.

God doing this for?”

C). Is this event for Jesus – the disciples – or for us today?

• The clear answer is: “Yes!” (all the above).

D). There’s clearly a message to Jesus and it is a part of Jesus’ journey toward Jerusalem.

• That’s the main focus of the rest that takes over the rest of the gospel.

• Jesus does some teachings – tells some parables – and the next thing we know He’s making His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem!

• So, this for Jesus is a pep talk - a half-time speech from the coach and assistant coaches (Moses and Elijah). But there is another component that is clearly a message to the followers, which includes us.