Text: Luke 9: 28-36
It’s that time of year again. The time when we begin a weekly journey together. This Wednesday, Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent. After that, we will gather each Wednesday evening here in Petaluma and Windsor. We’ll begin our yearly journey to a place that would seem so tragic to those that followed Jesus. And if we didn’t know any better we would think the same. We would not have a cross in front of our church. We would not think of wearing one. But we do and gladly so.
You and I are about to make our way to a place where God brought two things together. The first is this. The awful, despicable guilt of this world and what that guilt deserves. But not just the guilt of the world out there. My guilt and yours and what our guilt deserves. God brought that together at the cross with something else. Something that makes no sense. Something we do not deserve. His love that wants none of us to die and go to real place called hell. God’s love that wants to forgive us, to reclaim us as his children. God’s love that wants us to live in his blessed presence. Well there on a cross long ago, God brought those two things together. His love and our guilt. He brought them together in the One we follow this season of Lent as he makes his way to that cross.
But before we step off and begin our journey, our Lord takes us on kind of a side trip. And when we follow, when we take to heart what God has for us here, we realize how very wonderful His love is. We see a love which enables us to look up and over the troubles and hurts that come our way. We see that love in what he was willing to do for us. We see it in who God was willing to give to save us dying sinners from ourselves. This Word from Luke’s Gospel helps us to see how very amazing God’s love is. For here think of:
THE ONE WE FOLLOW TO HIS CROSS
I. See his glory
II. Listen in on one special conversation
III. Take God at his Word.
About eight days after Jesus said this… Said what? He had told them plainly what would soon happen. He must suffer and be rejected by the religious leaders. Then he must be killed and after three days rise again. What a shock it must have been to hear Jesus speak this way about himself. How different from what they hoped for and expected. You can imagine how confused they were.
28 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. The Holy Spirit does not tell us which mountain. Tradition tells us it was Mount Tabor not very far from Nazareth. I believe it was Mount Herman, a lot higher and a closer to where Jesus had just been. Yet knowing the place to put the historical marker is not near as important as what happened there.
Jesus went there to pray. He went off away from the crowds like he often did. But Jesus had more in mind for these men than just a prayer retreat. Think about it. They had spent a good portion of the day climbing that mountain. They were all tired and worn from the climb including Jesus. They arrived and Jesus took to prayer. How long? We do not know. But at some point, 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, Matthew says it this way. His face shone like the sun. and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Just imagine how that looked especially if it happened in the night darkness.
What were they seeing? For a brief moment Jesus gave them to see his divine glory. He let down his human nature for them to see with their own eyes, that Jesus was so much more than a man. He let down his human nature so that one day they could look back to Jesus’ death and understand just who it was that God had given to die for them.
Do you understand? Listen to John who was there speak of him years later and this after James and the others were killed. He still is bold to say. We have seen his glory. Listen to Peter speak of him also. We were eyewitnesses of his majesty. Do you understand who it is we follow to His cross? See his glory. The glory of God the Son given for you.
Ever go someplace wanting and expecting to be alone. I remember climbing a mountain and hiking down to a lake on the other side. Ah this is a nice place. We’re out swimming in that lake, when suddenly we hear a car engine. Maybe we aren’t so alone. But that wasn’t the case here. There were no other climbers on that mountain. They were alone until. 30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, 31 appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. Here think of the one we follow to his cross as we get to listen in.
But before we do, think of what the Lord shows us here. We all have lost loved ones to death. The last memories we sometimes have are that of a lifeless body. In Moses and Elijah God gives us a different sight to hold on to. Our mom or dad, our sister or brother our friend who died in Christ, now lives and lives in glory with God. No more sadness or pain.
But the Lord had these men appear for a reason. Moses and Elijah represent the Old Testament. The Law and the prophets. God brought them from heaven to show these men Jesus is the One this book pointed to. Jesus is the One God promised. These are the Scriptures that testify of me…
Now listen in on one special conversation: They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. When Jesus had spoken about that with his disciples they pushed back against Jesus’ words. But Moses and Elijah knew different. This was God’s saving will. This was God’s plan. And Jesus was about to go to Jerusalem to fulfill God’s plan.
They spoke about his departure, Jesus’ death. Literally the Greek word is exodus. Long before God used Moses to give his people an exodus from their harsh slavery in Egypt. Jesus’ death would mean an exodus for us. An exodus from the slavery of our guilt and death. An exodus where Jesus leads us to a far better promised land. For what can we sing? I’m but a stranger here, Heaven is my home. And why? The One we follow to his cross. Moses and Elijah show us the way.
Have you ever had this kind of experience. Something so good, so happy, you don’t want it to end. You get to be with someone you love after a long time away. As a kid, it was that raspberry tart my mom brought home from the bakery. I savored every bite. Whatever it is, we want it to go on and on.
Think of Peter, James and John basking in Jesus’ glory with Moses and Elijah there. But now, the conversation is over. Moses and Elijah seem to be leaving. Well you know Peter. The first one out of the box as always. This is good. This is great. “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” But what does Luke add. (He did not know what he was saying.) For Jesus could not stay there. Not if our sins were to be paid for. Not if we would ever be able to say to God in heaven. Lord, It is good for us to be here.
So we follow Jesus to his cross. But it’s so important we know who we follow. The cult member who comes to your door will describe him with words that sound kind of right. But they mean something else. To them Jesus is someone more than us but less that God. It’s important we understand who it is we follow to the cross. Here I can make no better suggestion Take God at his Word. 34 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” That cloud makes me think of that pillar of cloud above the Tabernacle in the desert. The glory of the Lord that told his people, I am with you. I am with you in that tabernacle.
Here and now another cloud appeared. And from that cloud came a voice, the voice of God the Father who said. This is my Son. And there what can we know. God is with us. Not in a tent in the desert, but in Jesus, his Son, our Lord. He is the one we follow to the cross. The one he has chosen to pay the price for each of us. He is the one we follow to the cross. Take God at his Word.
I love how this ends. I still remember our synod president coming to dedicate a church in New Mexico and preaching a whole sermon on these last few words. Think about it. One moment, the cloud, the voice of God the Father. The next moment, only Jesus. Only Jesus. It’s like God framed up the picture for these men. He’s farmed it up for you and me. Look. Here is the One you need. Here is the One to follow. How God must love us! For where do we now follow him this season of Lent. To a cross for us all. Amen.