Bethel Lutheran Church - Pastor Luke Bernthal Super Sunday! ; Matthew 17: 1 - 9; 2008-02-03 The Bulletin (order of service) Text: Matthew 17: 1 - 9; With all the build-up and all that’s going on and around this day, it’s conceivable that someone might even forget the very reason this Sunday is called “Super.” Well, I’d like to direct your hearts and minds this morning to an even greater reason why this Sunday is “Super” other than the fact that there is a “big game” to be played this evening. We find this reason in our text from the Gospel of Matthew; his account of Jesus’ Transfiguration:
Text: Matthew 17:1-9 1 Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; 2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 4 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." 5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. 7 But Jesus came and touched them and said, "Arise, and do not be afraid." 8 When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. 9 Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, "Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead." If we would have gone around asking people why today is special do you think anyone would have said today is “Super” because it’s Transfiguration Sunday? Even if we asked 100 Christians? How about 100 Lutherans? Would you have guessed it? I’ll admit if I didn’t have to look at my church calendar each Sunday in preparation for each service I might not have realized it either. It’s true, Transfiguration Sunday is not one of the “high” festivals of the church year, like Christmas or Easter. We may not think of the Transfiguration as having the same importance as Jesus’ birth, or His suffering and death, or His resurrection from the dead. So was Jesus’ Transfiguration much like the Super Bowl: All show and hype, but in the end very little substance; lots of lights, glitz, and glamour followed by a big let-down? No!!! The Transfiguration had an important purpose for Jesus, for Peter, James, and John, who were eyewitnesses of it, and for us, who have seen it through eyes of faith in the Scriptures. That day on the mountain Jesus truly put on a “light show” that was greater than any Super Bowl halftime extravaganza. Our text tells us, “He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light” (v. 2). Jesus glory as true God was shining through as an awe-inspiring, faith-strengthening encouragement to these disciples. Moses and Elijah, two Old Testament prophets also appeared talking with Jesus as further proof that Jesus was the Messiah spoken of in the Law and the Prophets of the Old Testament Scriptures. To top it all off our text tells us, “a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!’” (v. 5). The very words of God the Father Himself gave these disciples a final assurance that Jesus was the Son of God, the Savior of the World. This was a light and sound display the likes of which has never been seen or will ever be seen, not even at the Super Bowl. It was so impressive, in fact, that our text tells us it caused Peter, James, and John to fall on their faces in fear (v. 6). Unlike the Super Bowl, however, this incredible spectacle wasn’t played out before hundreds of millions of people. No, the Transfiguration was meant for just Jesus and an audience of three of His closest, most trusted disciples. When they came down the mountain Jesus even commanded them, "Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead" (v. 9). Why? Wouldn’t God want Jesus in all His glory as God broadcast throughout the world? Wouldn’t God want the world to hear His announcement from the glorious cloud that Jesus was indeed His “Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!’”? Yes, of course! But sometimes, God just wants us to be still and to listen - to soak things in. The Mount of Transfiguration was one of those times. Shortly after they came down from the mountain Jesus would set out for Jerusalem…and it wouldn’t be pretty. The disciples were about to go through a whole bunch or problems - seeing Christ in almost constant conflict with the Jewish leaders; seeing Him mocked and beaten; even crucified and dying. They needed this high point to get them through -this alone time with Christ to grow in faith. They needed to just be assured that Jesus was the true light of the world. Eventually, through the words of these disciples the world would know. We heard Peter’s writing about it in our Epistle reading for this morning from his second letter, “For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (2 Peter 1:18-19). But at this time there were so many wrong ideas and misconceptions among the Jewish people, and even at times among the disciples themselves, as to what kind of Savior the Christ was going to be and what kind of kingdom He would have. Many of the people were expecting a hero and victorious earthly kingdom that would be more fitting for the worldly hype and glory of the Super Bowl instead of looking for a Savior from sin who would welcome them into His eternal, spiritual kingdom of heaven. This would all be revealed and made clear eventually, but first Jesus had work to finish. One of the unique and intriguing storylines of this year’s Super Bowl is the fact that one of the teams, the New England Patriots, are on a historic “Pursuit of Perfection.” They are trying to be the first team since the NFL went to a 16 game schedule to finish an entire season, including the playoffs and the Super Bowl, with and undefeated, perfect record. Jesus had a “pursuit of perfection” to complete as well. Shortly after He came down from the mountain of His Transfiguration would embark on a road to victory more important than any football game, no matter how “super.” Unlike us, never once were Jesus’ good intentions ever “intercepted” by the devil’s temptations. Never once did He “fumble” away an opportunity to show love for God and His fellow man. Jesus perfectly executed the “game plan” that His Father had laid out for the salvation of the human race that He loved so dearly. But after all the light and sound displays of the Transfiguration wasn’t there a huge “letdown”? We are about to head back into the dark and dreary days of Lent, a time marked by solemn meditation and repentance. Starting this Wednesday (Ash Wednesday) things are about to get really ugly really fast. We are going to be reminded once again of how the crowds turned on Jesus—with more than just “boo’s” and taunts, but with beatings, whippings, and even crucifixion. We are going to hear once again the sorrow-filled pounding of the nails into Jesus’ hands and feet, and see for ourselves the “ugliness” of the cross which our sins caused Jesus to bear. Perhaps, like Peter we would rather say, “Lord, it is good for us to be here” (v. 4) and then “pitch our tents” and stay on the mountain of Jesus’ Transfiguration and bask in that glory. Like Peter, however, we’d also be missing the point that this “ugly,” “un-glorious” work that Jesus was about to do would in actuality not be a “letdown,” but would in fact be the most eternally glorious work He would ever do for Himself and for us! The writer of Hebrews tells us, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings…Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 2:9-10; 12:2). In fact, Luke’s Gospel tells us this “ugly” yet glorious work of suffering and dying for the sins of mankind was exactly what Moses and Elijah were speaking with Jesus about on that mountain of His Transfiguration (cf. Luke 9:31). After all this pain and ugliness Jesus had a “Super Sunday” of His own waiting for Him in Jerusalem: His own resurrection from the dead! This, as Paul tells us in Romans, would be the ultimate proof that Jesus was the Son of God as He said He was and as His Father declared Him to be on the Mount of Transfiguration: “[Jesus was] declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:4). Like Peter said, “it is good for us to be here” (v. 4) gathered
in Jesus’ house of worship, basking in the glory of His Transfiguration.
But like Jesus we cannot stay here on this “mountain” forever. Like
Jesus we have work to do. We have again witnessed Jesus’ glory in both
His Transfiguration and in His death and resurrection through the inspired words
of Christ Himself. There are people to tell. Who can you tell? There are souls
dying to hear this glorious “Good News.” Do you know of one? Why
not tell them today? That would make this Sunday truly “Super!”
Amen. |