The Transfiguration of Our Lord

Gerard David , "The Transfiguration"

The transfiguration of our Lord is not the same as an extreme makeover.  Jesus was not remade or changed into something that He was not already.  Instead, before our very eyes Jesus is revealing His Divinity!  

The disciples learned that there was more to Jesus than what first meets the eye.  Jesus changes, metamorphasizes, transfigures.  And in this physical change, a revealing of Who Jesus is happens.  We catch a glimpse of the divine glory of Jesus.  And when this glory of the LORD is revealed the identity of Who’s standing there in human flesh is crystal clear:  God Himself. 

With Jesus there’s more than you bargained for.  As the man Jesus stood upon the mountain with Peter, James, and John, one could say that His divinity leaks out on purpose for the benefit of Peter, James and John and even us!  Through His electrifying face, and His white-like-lightning clothes, God the Father wants witnesses to see that the man named Jesus is also God in the flesh, the one true God.  All the fullness of the godhead dwells fully in the body of Jesus, and on this mountain a little bit of the godhead shows through to the disciples.  So, if you want to know where God is, there’s Jesus.  

And that is not all that Jesus shows us at His Transfiguration.  Jesus says,

Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead. (Matthew 17:9) 

You’d think Jesus would zero in and explain about his flesh becoming white like when you stare into the sun.  But He does not.  Instead Jesus brings up a seemingly whole different topic; about being raised from the dead?  Jesus takes the disciples attention away from the movie-like special effects that had just taken place, and redirects the disciples attention to a prediction concerning His own death and resurrection.  God in Jesus did not come to earth for the primary purpose of being transfigured.  God in Jesus comes to save us from our sins.  He will hang dead on the Cross.  The transfiguration is just one event in the life of Jesus come to earth.  The highpoint of Jesus coming to earth is when we behold the God-Man Jesus going to die for sinners.  Jesus has come to lead us from the bondage of sin, death and the devil into the Promised Land of sins forgiven and a life forever with Him in heaven.   
            Heaven came down to earth that day when Jesus is glorified.  The most important prophets of the Old Testament, Moses and Elijah, are there.  They talk with Jesus most likely about His dying for the world, which would fulfill the promises of the Old Testament.  Imagine watching this conversation occur in real time!  Peter, James, and John must have been sitting on the edge of their seats.  Eyes wide open.  Taking notes feverishly. Right?  Wrong!
            We know from St. Luke’s account of the Transfiguration that Peter, James and John had fallen asleep. (Luke 9:32)  They were sleepy followers of Jesus.  They were awakened when they heard Moses, Elijah and Jesus talking to each other.  I don’t feel so bad now when people get sleepy in church.  Even Jesus closest disciples fell asleep.

Heaven came down to earth that day on the mountain.  And the disciples were asleep.  Things aren’t much different today.  The same Jesus appears to us through Moses and Elijah, the Law and the Prophets—His Word.  Jesus is in our midst in the power and glory of His death and resurrection.  He who has conquered sin, death, and hell is here.  In our very midst.  He preaches His Word.  He forgives our sin.  He gives us His Body and Blood.  And we (pastors included), like the three disciples, grow sleepy.  Bored.  In the very presence of God.
            The drowsiness is not because we stayed up too late.  It’s not because the church service isn’t exciting or the pastor’s sermon is boring (although perhaps it may be sometimes).  The sleepiness is due to our sinful nature, the drowsiness of the old Adam in us.  The problem is within ourselves.  Have you ever had it happen that every time you commit yourself to reading a bit of the Bible or your favorite devotion that your eyes get heavy?  And if not literally heavy from lack of sleep, how about just simply distracted and instead focused in upon the events happening in your life instead of Jesus happening in your life?

This drowsiness or sleepiness or even laziness or whatever you want to call it, is your sinful nature that wants you to avoid Jesus and especially His death for you.  Drowsiness of faith is the avoidance of Christ crucified for sinners.

            Is it no surprise then, that Peter declares that he wants His church the way He likes it, an exciting and special effects filled, not boring and unmoved, glorified Jesus?

Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (Matthew 17:4)           

As the spokesman of the disciples, Peter speaks for James and John too when he tells Jesus that he wants this special moment with Moses and Elijah never to end.  Peter wants Jesus to stay in His glory on this mountain and live there forever.  Literally, Peter wants that mountain-top-experience with Jesus to go on forever.  The disciples want Jesus to never leave the mountain and especially not go to Jerusalem.  They want Jesus not to go to the city where they murder the prophets.  All three know that death awaits Jesus in Jerusalem.  They want a Church that does not talk about sin and death.  Do you know what that would have meant?  No Calvary.  No cross.  No suffering and death for you and for me.  No salvation for anyone.  No wonder that in St. Luke’s account of the Transfiguration Luke adds that his Peter didn’t know what in the world he was talking about. (Luke 9:33)
            Too much drowsiness or too much business.  Either way we’re intent on avoiding Jesus.  We are intent on avoiding the Transfiguration of Our Lord.  Avoiding heaven come down to the earth.  Choosing not to attend the Divine Service, Bible Class, or even to read the Word of God.  We would rather move heaven and earth to have fun, have family time, get more money in the bank, pull the covers up over our heads, work on the house, or whatever else we can be busy with.  Why is that?  Because the god of bed, god of cash, god of coach, god of games, god of fun, god of home improvement, god of retirement, god of self, all demand our total and undivided attention.

But Pastor Olson, ‘I’m here at church.  I’m not at home or at church sleeping.  Here I am, I did my part.’  Really?  One hour a week?  God says that you shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart?  This means all the time, with undivided attention.  Have you forgiven your neighbor as you have been forgiven?  Every, single, time?  Have you loved your neighbor by helping every person you have come across who is in need?  Do you always put the best construction on people’s behavior?  Have you not spoken behind another person’s back?  Stop keeping these sins, these idols, from Jesus to forgive.   
            There is no true Sabbath rest with these gods hidden in your pockets.  Do you think that God does not know?  Why does God give you a pastor to call you out on them?  Because these pet sins prohibit you from hearing Christ’s Words.  That’s your sinful nature; the old Adam at work driving us to drowsiness and business.  You may get away with following other gods for a while, but eventually, all false gods share their time with no one.  You will end up serving them religiously.  No questions asked.  And by these false gods Satan slowly darkens our hearts and deafens our ears to Jesus.  We fear them.  We love them.  We trust them and not Jesus.  Repent.        

God the Father is gracious.  He is merciful.  He surrounds the disciples with His glory.  They can’t see anything else to distract them.  God the Father’s sermon is short and to the point.  It’s the same sermon He preached at His Son’s Baptism.  “This is My Son.  My chosen One.  Listen to Him.”  Hear His words.  His words are Spirit and life.  Hear His words.  He alone has the words of eternal life.
            And when the sermon’s over Jesus stands alone.  Moses and Elijah are gone.  Good thing.  They can’t save us.  Only Jesus and His words remain and these Words alone open heaven to us.  Jesus alone has the forgiveness that takes away your sin.  Jesus alone has the power to raise you from the dead.
            God is so gracious to us.  Although we don’t see Jesus as Peter, James, and John did on the mountain He still comes to be among us.  It is a little different when He comes these days.  God is somewhat hidden.  Yet He still comes graciously.  God does not come to give us what we deserve because of our idolatry.  God comes through His Son Jesus to forgive our sins of idolatry.  He comes graciously in the water of Baptism to create faith; through the preached Word to sustain that faith; the bread that is His Body; the wine that is His Blood to sustain and stamp your faith with the seal of His promise of life everlasting.  Revealing His glory, underneath bread and wine.  The God who forgives is for you and with you, even right now.

The same Jesus that lit up on the mountain now shines in your hearts because He placed Himself there through the Word He speaks into your ears.  And one day soon we too will shine in the visible radiance of Jesus with Moses and Elijah, Peter, James, and John, the angels, the archangels, and all the company of heaven.  That’s the resurrection of the body on the Last Day called Easter Sunday.  Until that Resurrection Day, Lord willing, the Church has three Sundays before Ash Wednesday, some  weeks of Lent, and an Easter to celebrate.
            Until He comes on the Last Day we listen to Him in His Word and Sacraments:  the Divine Service -- heaven on earth, Jesus with us and for us, until we go to be with Him forever. In the Name of Jesus.               Rev. Jon C. Olson

9 February 2014