Transfiguration Sunday
\nFebruary 7, 2016
\nLuke 9:28-36<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.\u00a0 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.\u00a0 Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus.\u00a0 They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.\u00a0 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.\u00a0 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, \u2018Master, it is good for us to be here.\u00a0 Let us put up three shelters\u2014one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.\u2019\u00a0 (He did not know what he was saying.)\u00a0 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.\u00a0 A voice came from the cloud, saying, \u2018This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.\u2019\u00a0 When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone.\u00a0 The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen.\u201d\u00a0 (NIV1984)<\/p>\n
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,<\/p>\n
Today is a day that many people consider to be one of the most glorious days of the year\u2014 Super Bowl Sunday!\u00a0 For at least the past year San Francisco has had the glory of being the host city for Super Bowl 50.\u00a0 For the past week thousands upon thousands of people have been enjoying the glorious Super Bowl City and all the glorious Super Bowl activities taking place in the Bay area. Did you see the re-lighting of the Bay Lights and the fireworks?\u00a0 Wasn\u2019t it glorious!\u00a0 And then there is the football game.\u00a0 Can Peyton Manning win his second Super Bowl ring or are his glory days pretty much over?\u00a0 Can Cam Newton win his first Super Bowl ring or will his glory days have to wait?<\/p>\n
No matter how glorious the Super Bowl may be for the Bay area that glory will fade.\u00a0 No matter how glorious the game might be that glory will also fade.\u00a0 In fact, when you stop to think about it, my friends, is there any glory that you and I see any glory that you and I experience here on this earth that doesn\u2019t <\/strong>fade?\u00a0 Think back to the days that you might consider to be your glory days.\u00a0 While you might like to relive them could you repeat them?\u00a0 Would other people remember them to be as glorious as you remember them?<\/p>\n While the glory of this world fades there is a glory that does not fade, a glory that cannot fade!\u00a0 It is the glory that Peter, James and John were given the privilege of seeing on the Mount of Transfiguration.\u00a0 Today then let\u2019s rejoice at the opportunity we have been given to walk with Peter, James and John up that holy mountain and stand in awe as we:\u00a0 Behold the Glory of the Lord!<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0 There are two things we want to see this morning.\u00a0 First let\u2019s see that the glory of the Lord is a glory that our Brother Jesus naturally possesses.\u00a0 Then let\u2019s see that the glory of the Lord is a glory that Lord Jesus joyfully shares with us!<\/p>\n It is certainly not difficult to see that the glory of the Lord is indeed something that Jesus naturally possesses.\u00a0 In fact, Luke emphasizes this truth in three different ways here in our text.\u00a0 The first way is found in verse 29, \u201cAs he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightening.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 For thirty-three years Jesus looked just like everyone else.\u00a0 For thirty-three years there was nothing in His outward appearance that set Him apart from any other young Jewish man living in that day and age.\u00a0 At the very same time, for three years Peter, James and John sat in awe at Jesus\u2019 feet and listened as Jesus taught the Truth of God with a power and an authority and an insight that was unmatched by anyone else.\u00a0 For three years Peter, James and John stood in awe of all the miracles that Jesus performed\u2014 from changing water into wine to raising the dead back to life.\u00a0 But nothing<\/strong>, my friends, nothing<\/strong> compared to what Peter, James and John saw with their own two eyes as the glory of Jesus\u2019 divine nature literally radiated forth from His human body!\u00a0 Imagine what it was like to behold the glory of the Lord as Jesus\u2019 face shone like the sun!\u00a0 (See Matthew 17:2)\u00a0 Imagine what it was like to behold the glory of the Lord as Jesus\u2019 clothes became as \u201cbright,\u201d<\/em> as \u201cbrilliant\u201d<\/em> as a \u201cflash of lightning.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 What an awe-inspiring sight that was!\u00a0 But there is more!<\/p>\n We are also able to behold the glory of the Lord, the glory that our Jesus possesses, when we look at what Luke writes in verses 30 & 31 of our text.\u00a0 Luke goes on, \u201cTwo men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus.\u00a0 They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Moses and Elijah were two unique figures in the history of God\u2019s Old Testament church.\u00a0 Moses, of course, represents the powerful holy Law which the Lord gave to His people on Mount Sinai.\u00a0 Elijah represents the powerful prophets which God sent to proclaim His Word to His people.\u00a0 Both of these men had experienced their own unique \u201cdeparture\u201d<\/em> from this world.\u00a0 Moses died after viewing the Promised Land from the top of Mount Nebo.\u00a0 He was then buried by the Lord God Himself.\u00a0 (See Deuteronomy 34:1-8)\u00a0 Elijah was whisked into heaven in a whirlwind without ever experiencing physical death.\u00a0 (See II Kings 2:11-12)\u00a0 Now, these two great representatives of the \u201cold covenant\u201d were talking with Jesus \u201cabout his<\/u> departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n These words remind us that Jesus, the Son of God, came into this world with a very<\/u> specific mission to accomplish:\u00a0 to fulfill His Father\u2019s Plan of Salvation for this world, to establish a \u201cnew covenant\u201d\u2014 a covenant that guarantees our salvation!\u00a0 As we look at the Lord\u2019s Plan of Salvation for you and for me we can not help but behold the glory of the Lord, my friends!\u00a0 Not only was God\u2019s Plan of Salvation for this world meticulously planned out from all of eternity, not only was God\u2019s Plan of Salvation for this world perfectly carried out to the very last detail, but, God\u2019s Plan of Salvation for this world was based purely upon the amazing grace of our God!\u00a0 When you and I look at the love that motivated Jesus to willingly and resolutely bring that Plan of Salvation to \u201cfulfillment\u201d<\/em> on the cross then, my friends, then we are indeed able to behold the glory of the Lord\u2014 the glory that our Jesus possesses!\u00a0 But there is more!<\/p>\n The third way in which Luke emphasizes that Jesus possesses the glory of the Lord is seen in verse 35.\u00a0 As Peter, James and John are enveloped by a \u201ccloud\u201d<\/em>\u2014 a \u201ccloud\u201d<\/em> that is reminiscent of the cloud that covered the Tent of Meeting as the \u201cglory of the LORD filled the tabernacle\u201d<\/em> (Exodus 40:34-35) Peter, James and John heard God the Father say, \u201cThis is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 To have God the Father openly testify that Jesus is<\/em><\/strong> His Son, the Son He loves, the Son He has chosen and sent into this world to be our Savior, the Son He commands us to listen to\u2014 this is indeed a powerful revelation of the fact that when you and I look at Jesus with the eyes of faith we can indeed behold the glory of the Lord God Himself!<\/p>\n Once we are able to see that Jesus does indeed possess<\/u> the glory of the Lord, then, my friends, we are also able to rejoice in knowing that Jesus joyfully shares<\/u> the glory of the Lord with us and with everyone who believes and trusts in Him.\u00a0 Go back to verses 30 & 31 of our text.\u00a0 Luke says, \u201cTwo men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in<\/u> glorious<\/u> splendor<\/u>, talking with Jesus.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Moses died about 1,400 years before the Transfiguration of our Lord.\u00a0 Elijah left this world in that whirlwind about 850 years before the Transfiguration of our Lord.\u00a0 That\u2019s a long time, my friends!\u00a0 That\u2019s a lot of years!\u00a0 But\u2014 was Moses really dead?\u00a0 Did Elijah ever cease to exist?\u00a0 No!\u00a0 Then what happened to them?\u00a0 What happened, my friends, is that when Moses\u2019 physical body died and when Elijah\u2019s physical body was taken up to heaven the Lord shared<\/em><\/strong> with them His glory in a way that goes far beyond our comprehension!<\/p>\n It is absolutely beautiful to see how God the Holy Spirit inspired the evangelist Luke to reveal to us that Moses and Elijah appeared on the Mount of Transfiguration \u201cin glorious splendor.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 I checked and double-checked the Greek for this portion of our text.\u00a0 It is fascinating!\u00a0 The Greek word which is translated here as \u201cglorious splendor\u201d<\/em> has a beautifully rich depth to it.\u00a0 Very literally this word means:\u00a0 \u201cglory, splendor, grandeur; power, honor, pride; brightness, brilliance.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Let\u2019s think this through, shall we?\u00a0 While we are here on this earth we experience pain and suffering, heartaches and headaches, sadness and setbacks beyond number.\u00a0 But when we die\u2014 or to be more specific I should say that when our physical<\/u> body dies\u2014 we leave all of that behind and the good Lord shares His glory with us!\u00a0 This very literally means that when a child of God dies in the arms of Jesus they leave behind the gloom, stain and degradation of this life as the good Lord shares with them glory, splendor and grandeur of the life that is to come.\u00a0 This very literally means that when a child of God dies in the arms of Jesus they leave behind the weakness, shame and dishonor of this life as the good Lord shares with them the power, honor and pride that will last for all of eternity.\u00a0 This very literally means that when a child of God dies in the arms of Jesus they leave behind the darkness and dullness of this world as the good Lord shares with them the brightness and brilliance of His heavenly Kingdom!<\/p>\n Yes, my friends, the simple fact that Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration \u201cin glorious splendor\u201d<\/em> not only brings us the comfort of knowing what the good Lord has already shared with our loved ones who have died in His arms, but it also brings us the confidence of knowing what the good Lord has waiting for us!<\/p>\n I would like to close this morning by directing your attention back to verse 35 of our text.\u00a0 When God the Father spoke to Peter, James and John as they were enveloped in that cloud, He said to them, \u201cThis is my Son\u2026listen to him.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 As you and I prepare to enter into the solemn season of Lent we need to consciously make sure that we do indeed \u201clisten\u201d<\/em> to Jesus.\u00a0 What will we hear as we \u201clisten\u201d<\/em> to Jesus?\u00a0 When we listen to Jesus we are going to hear our Savior emphasize two glorious<\/em><\/strong> little words.\u00a0 They are the words:\u00a0 For you\u2026.<\/em><\/p>\n For you<\/em> I willingly left My heavenly home and was born into this world as your true flesh and blood Brother under the most humble of circumstances.\u00a0 For you<\/em> I placed Myself under the rules and regulations of the Law so that I could live a perfect life in your place.\u00a0 For you<\/em> I not only faced every temptation that you could ever possibly face, but I also conquered each and every one of those temptations.\u00a0 For you<\/em> I endured loneliness and sadness, hunger and fatigue.\u00a0 For you<\/em> I allowed mortal sinful human beings to slap and to spit on the very same face that shone like the sun on the Mount of Transfiguration.\u00a0 For you<\/em> I allowed my enemies to beat Me, ridicule Me, whip Me and then publicly humiliate Me by stripping off the clothes that once were as \u201cbright as a flash of lightning\u201d<\/em> and divide them up as plunder for themselves.\u00a0 For you<\/em> I cried out in pain as they pounded nails through My hands and feet.\u00a0 For you<\/em> I endured the unspeakable horrors of hell itself so that I could pay the debt of your sins\u2014 the debt that you<\/strong> owed to Me<\/strong>.\u00a0 For you<\/em> I willingly shed My holy precious blood and laid down My perfect innocent life as the ransom price to buy you back from sin, death and the devil.\u00a0 For you<\/em> My lifeless body was lovingly placed into a grave so that you would not have to fear the day when your lifeless body will lovingly be placed into a grave.\u00a0 For you<\/em> I physically rose from the dead\u2014 not only to guarantee that you too shall one day rise, but also so that you would know that through Me all mankind has been declared:\u00a0 \u201cNot Guilty!\u201d<\/em><\/strong> by the Living God Himself.\u00a0 For you<\/em> I victoriously returned Home to the resounding praise of all the saints and all the angels in heaven.\u00a0 For you<\/em> I took My rightful place at My Father\u2019s side so that I can defend you against all the accusations that Satan is constantly bringing against you.\u00a0 For you<\/em> I have recorded My Word right here in this Book so that anytime you want you can pick it up, read it, study it and hear My voice speaking directly to you.\u00a0 For you<\/em> I give My true body and My true blood in My holy Supper so that no matter what you have done and no matter how heavy your burden of guilt might possibly be, here at My table you have My visible tangible guarantee that all of your sins are completely forgiven.\u00a0 For you<\/em> I am preparing a room in My heavenly Father\u2019s mansion\u2014 a room that already has your name engraved on the door.\u00a0 For you<\/em> I will come back and take you Home so that I can share My glory with you in ways that you can\u2019t even begin to imagine and so that you can join your loved ones in the \u201cglorious splendor\u201d<\/em> of My heaven.\u00a0 For you<\/em> I have done all of this\u2014 and more!\u00a0 Yes, my friends, as you and I consciously strive to listen<\/em> to Jesus we will always hear Him emphasize what He has done for us!<\/p>\n Today is indeed a day that many people consider to be one of the most glorious days of the entire year.\u00a0 Today is Super Bowl Sunday!\u00a0 But by this time tomorrow, by later on tonight, that glory will already be fading into the history books, won\u2019t it.\u00a0 Praise God, my friends, that there is one glory that does not fade, one glory that cannot fade.\u00a0 It is the glory that you and I witness as we stand alongside of Peter, James and John on the Mount of Transfiguration.\u00a0 But today we will also need to follow Peter, James and John as they make their way down that holy mountain.\u00a0 As we prepare ourselves to once again follow our Savior as He willingly walks the path that leads Him directly to the cross I pray that we will indeed take the time to behold the glory of our Lord!\u00a0 Behold the glory that our Brother Jesus naturally possesses.\u00a0 Behold the glory that our Lord Jesus joyfully shares with us!<\/p>\n To God be the glory!<\/p>\n Amen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Transfiguration Sunday February 7, 2016 Luke 9:28-36 \u201cAbout eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.\u00a0 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.\u00a0 Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-640","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermon"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/640","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=640"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/640\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":641,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/640\/revisions\/641"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=640"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=640"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=640"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}