Sermon and Video for Transfiguration Sunday

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Divine Service Video 

Transfiguration of our Lord             

Deuteronomy 34:1-12            
Hebrews 3:1-6            
Luke 9:28-36  

Reading about Moses’ final ascent unto a mountain took me back to the few times when I have been in high places and had the pleasure of seeing way out into the distance.  In Chicago, buildings formerly known as the John Hancock building and the Sears Tower, offer views of the city and Lake Michigan that were beyond my young imagination. I have also had the pleasure of being in the mountains in Colorado and Wyoming. But, what for me was mere fascination about the big city, Lake Michigan, and the mountains, was for Moses a view of the promises of God. From Mount Nebo, Moses saw where the past and the future would meet and dwell together. While I could venture into the areas that I saw from a distance, Moses did not have the pleasure and satisfaction of entering the Promised Land. Moses fulfilled his call and brought the people to this point, now, under Joshua’s leadership Israel will go forward in faith. 

While Moses did not have the pleasure of entering the promised land, he did have the unique privilege of seeing the Lord face to face on Mount Sinai. I suspect that on Mt. Sinai, it was the pre-Incarnate Jesus who was giving Moses the 613 commandments. Imagine Moses’ delight to find Himself face to face with the now Incarnate Son of God and on a mountain in the Promised Land. 

All the Epiphany moments that the disciples witnessed up to this moment served to open the eyes, ears, and hearts of the disciples so that they might perceive that Jesus is more than meets the eye. No one can do the comprehensive range of miracles that Jesus did. What he did far exceeded standard medical treatment. Jesus made the lame walk, the blind see, the deaf hear, the lepers cleansed, demons cast out, mental illness healed, the dead were raised. Even more, creation itself obeyed Jesus. He turned water into wine. He quieted storms. He walked on water. He created food for thousands from next to nothing. Abundant supplies of fish were suddenly available for the catch. The miracles lent credibility and authenticity to Jesus’ preaching and doctrine. 

The transfiguration expanded the disciples’ wonder and surprise. All of a sudden, the Jesus that they had been following, watching, and listening to, lifted the veil, and revealed all that divine glory that resides alongside the humanity of the one person. What they saw was confirmed by the Father’s acclamation, “This is my Son, my beloved son, listen to Him.” If there were any doubt before, there shouldn’t be now. Jesus is God, as we confess in the Nicene Creed, “God of God, light of light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father.” 

Alongside Jesus is Moses and Elijah. The Law and the Prophets.  This is the past. Yet, in the present moment, in Jesus, is the fulfillment of the law and the prophets. Jesus is the past, and the past is fully present and visible with Jesus in that transfigured moment. 

Luke recorded for us some of the conversations that occurred between Jesus and his disciples eight days prior.  Jesus spoke of the future, His future and ours. Jesus will shortly enter His passion and be crucified and rise on the third day. All who receive Jesus with faith as Lord and Savior are called to discipleship that begins in Holy Baptism. Jesus comes to defeat the destructive power of sin, death, and the devil. In the transfigured Jesus, we behold our future with God. Because Jesus is God, his sacrificial death on the cross atones for our sins. From the cross, the eternal God-Man confers his righteousness unto us so that we have an eternal future with God. Jesus is the door by which we enter the promised Kingdom of God. 

On account of Christ Jesus, we have an eternal future in the Promised Land. As we stand on this earth, we have the promise of God’s forgiveness and everlasting presence. We look to Jesus, and we see our future with Him in heaven.  We will join Moses and Elijah and all the rest of the faithful in the promised land of heaven. We cannot go to the Promised Land on our own power and will. Jesus will take us there. 

By showing us His divinity and humanity, we trust that our future is secure and in Him is our hope. 

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen. 

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