Today is a special day in the Christian calendar. It is known as Transfiguration Sunday. As you can probably guess from the name and from today’s Scripture, it is the Sunday when we look back at the story of Jesus’ transfiguration before three disciples on the mountaintop. It is an important story in the New Testament, and as we’ll see shortly, it is a story that puts things into motion; things that will ultimately end with an empty tomb and a proclamation that will forever change the direction of the world. So, let’s buckle up and see where this ride leads us.
And as always, let’s get a little bit of background to give us an idea of where we are as we come to this passage. Prior to today’s reading, a very important conversation took place. Jesus and his disciples are walking around, and Jesus asks them, “Who do people say that I am?” It’s an interesting question because Jesus usually doesn’t seem too concerned with what other people think. But on this day, he wants to know what people think of him.
The disciples respond by saying a number of things. Some people think that Jesus is John the Baptist back from the dead. Others think that he is Elijah, or one of the prophets of old. In other words, the crowd, the everyday person, they don’t really know who Jesus is. There is a lot of speculation going on in the region.
And honestly, there’s a lot of that same stuff going on today. People don’t really know who Jesus is. Go to the religion section in just about any secular book store, Barnes & Noble, Borders, places like that, and you’ll see a wide variety of books published addressing the question, “Who is Jesus?” I always find that to be an enlightening exploration because, really, the only book you need to answer this question is the Bible, but there is no shortage of books on Jesus. Some of them are pretty good. Some of them are awful. I want to encourage you to read these kinds of books, but I think it is important for you to be reading it with your Bible open right next to you. The crowds that Jesus is asking his disciples about live all around us, even today. People have so many different views of who Jesus is.
But then, Jesus makes the question more personal; he asks them, “Who do you say that I am?” Another good question that we have to face in our own lives. Now before, the background information becomes the sermon, let me make one more remark. We have to decide on that question before we move on to the rest of the story. If we decide to stand with the crowd, we are going to be left confused. We won’t understand what is going on, no matter how hard we try. But, if we make the proclamation, as Peter did, that Jesus is the Christ, we still may not understand what is going on, but we put ourselves in a better position to see what God is going to do.
This question, “Who is Jesus?” lies in the background of today’s text. When we read the story of Jesus and these three disciples at the transfiguration, we need to have it in the back of our minds. “Who is Jesus?” How you answer that question determines the direction that you will take in your life of faith. And now, we pick up in verse 28.
Just over a week after Jesus and his disciples have this conversation, Jesus takes Peter, John and James with him to the mountaintop to pray. Here is where the three laws of real estate take place: location, location, location. Having this event take place on a mountaintop is really more theological and geographical. Mountains have a significant role throughout Scripture.
It was on Mount Horeb that Moses just so happened to see a bush that was burning but wasn’t being consumed. It was there that he encountered God for the first time. Later on, after he led the people of Israel out of Egypt, it was on Mount Sinai that Moses received the commandments from God. Elijah had his encounter with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, and then fled to Mount Horeb where God spoke to him in a low whisper. Jerusalem was built on a mountain. Often the mountains, or the high places, were where you would find altars. The idea is that they get you as close to the heavens as you can possibly be. And here, in Luke 9, Jesus takes three of his disciples up on a mountain so that they can pray.
And as Jesus was praying, something incredible happened. Luke writes that his face and clothes became a dazzling white. What it neat is that the word used is the same word that might be used to describe a flash of lightning. It was extremely bright. And it brings to mind the stories of Moses speaking with God on the mountain. When he came down, his face was so bright from being in the presence of God that he had to put a veil over his head so that the people could look at him. It’s incredible.
Is it a coincidence that this is how Luke describes this event? Doubtful. Because look at who else is in the scene: Moses and Elijah. Two other people, who have encountered God on the mountaintop in such profound ways in Scripture, are standing around talking to Jesus. Wouldn’t you love to be there for that conversation? Well, in a sense, we are, Luke tells us that they were talking about Jesus’ departure, which he was about to accomplish in Jerusalem. In other words, they are looking at what lies ahead for Jesus. Chapter 9 is pivotal in the Gospel of Luke because of Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Christ and because of today’s passage. From the point on, we are building up to Holy Week.
That’s kind of appropriate isn’t it? Because this Wednesday is known Ash Wednesday on the Christian calendar. It is the start of the season of Lent. Lent is forty days, not counting Sundays that lead up to Easter. Just like Advent brings us to Christmas, Lent brings us to the cross and to the resurrection. And this event is the catalyst that leads us into the season of Lent.
Remember the question that should be in the back of our minds when we come to this section? Who is Jesus? We just got a whole lot closer to understanding that question through understanding what is going on here. The glory of God shines all around Jesus. Two figures, who represent the Law and the Prophets in the Old Testament, come together over Jesus. The Law and the Prophets point to Jesus; they are fulfilled in him. And on this mountaintop, three disciples, who are a little sleepy, who had no idea what they were going to see on top that mountain, these three disciples see something that nobody else in history had ever seen.
And Peter doesn’t know what to do. And in all honesty, I don’t think any of us would know either. He says one of the biggest “no-duh” statements in all of Scripture. He says, “Master, it is good that we are here.” Well, no duh, Peter. But what else do you say? Peter, of course, continues speaking. And he wants to build three tents, or booths for Jesus, Moses and Elijah. He wants to stay in that moment. But just as he is saying this, a cloud surrounds them, and the Father speaks.
Again, this is not the first time that God speaks out of a cloud. When Israel was in the wilderness, a cloud was over the tabernacle when God was there. When the cloud lifted, the people knew that it was time to pack their belongings because it was time to move on. And they continued following the cloud, which symbolized the presence of God in the tabernacle, until it was time to enter into the Promised Land.
The Father speaks to the disciples from the cloud. And He says, “This is my Son, my Chosen one; listen to him!” Once again, they are headed towards the Promised Land. We start to pick up steam from here on out until everything clashes in Jerusalem. Jesus is arrested, tried, and crucified. The disciples are dejected and don’t really know what to do. And then the report comes, the tomb is empty. Jesus has been resurrected. That is the ultimate end to the journey, but it begins right here, on top of a mountain, where the answer to the question, “Who is Jesus?” is address by God Himself.
The next thing the disciples know, it’s just them and Jesus, and it’s time to head back down the mountain. At the base of the mountain, there is a boy who is possessed by a demon, and the disciples cannot cast him out. We have all been there at some point, haven’t we? Suddenly, unexpectedly, we see Jesus in a whole new, and we think that our lives will never be the same. We don’t know how to process what has happened, and eventually, we come back down the mountain. Life catches back up, and we are faced with new challenges. Maybe we feel defeated once again. And we so frustrated that nothing changes, and it seems like things will never change.
But we cannot forget the truth that we learned on the top of the mountain. There will always be highs and lows in our walk of faith. But what do the disciples do? They keep walking with Jesus. They travel all over the place with him. They learn from him. They listen to his teaching and marvel at his works. After the resurrection, they change the world because they finally get it. And this time, it’s not just a momentary glimpse, but it is a vision that will stick with them for the rest of their lives; lives that they give in the service of God.
One thing we can’t miss in today’s Scripture is the stark contrast between the mountain and the valley. On the mountain, they go to pray. They go to be with God, away from the distractions of this world. In the valley below, evil is still at work. A demon torments a young boy. On the mountain, they see Jesus for who he is, the Son of God. In the valley, they see Satan for who he is, one who torments and destroys. On the mountain, they don’t know what to do. In the valley, they are unable to do what they are supposed to do. And this is all in the same day.
Don’t be discouraged if you have a bad day in your faith. Don’t be discouraged if you can’t seem to do the things that you are supposed to do. Find your mountaintop. Spend some time with God, and allow Him to speak to you in powerful ways. Ways that will affect you for the rest of your life.
0 comments:
Post a Comment