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sermon by
Manfred Schreyer
Learn more about Transfiguration Day >>
(Luke 9:28-36 NIV) About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. {29} As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. {30} Two men, Moses and Elijah, {31} appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. {32} Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. {33} As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, "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." (He did not know what he was saying.) {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." {36} When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen.
If we read the biblical text in the Greek language (in Mark and Matthew) it becomes clear, that Jesus experienced "metamorphosis" (Greek). This term is used in the same way as when we describe the transformation from a caterpillar into a butterfly
In fact the text tells us, that Jesus’ face changes.
All of this happens after Peter’s confession, and Jesus telling his disciples of his impending death ahead.
Then Elijah and Moses appear. This is important, as it was prophesied that Elijah had to return before the Messiah.
"For,
behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and... all that do
wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up,
saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch...
And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles
of your feet in the day that I shall do [this], saith the LORD of hosts . .
. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great
and dreadful day of the LORD" -Malachi 4:1-5 (KJV)
Jesus had no power to save this world as the son of God until this prophecy was fulfilled.
But, there is much more to the story . . .
Why was Moses coming / returning?
First we must understand what faithful Jewish people believed during the time of Jesus:
Moses, we can read, died a very unusual death. He died alone and the Word of God tells us that God buried him, and that no one knew the burial place.
(Deuteronomy 34) 5 And Moses the servant of the LORD died there in Moab, as the LORD had said. 6 He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is. 7 Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. 8 The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over. (NIV)
This also happened to Enoch, the father of Methuselah as we can read in:
(Gen 5 24) Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away. (NIV)
Now, the third one of God’s faithful was Elijah. He also was taken directly into the heavens with God.
(2 Kings 2:11-12) 11 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. 12 Elisha saw this and cried out, "My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!" And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them apart. (NIV)
In all of these three cases Jews believed that all were taken up directly to our God . . . in fact they never died. All three were to the divine presence of our God.
Can you see where this is going?
Jesus, from this moment on knew, that he would conquer death, just as Moses and Elijah did!
Jesus face changed as this transfiguration would. It changed to the eternal. It changed, as it shed the feeling of the unknown, the separateness, and the loneliness.
We can compare it to Moses as he returned from the mountain, having an encounter with God:
(Exodus 34:30) 30 When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. (NIV)
Did Jesus know before this event what the future would hold? Of course He did! He knew, because He listened to our God and He was faithful to God’s voice.
In the Gospels Jesus describes Himself as the son of man . . . just like you and me.
He describes Himself as our brother . . . Just as we are bothers and sisters.
He describes Himself as the Son of God, just as we are the sons and daughters of our God and our Creator. We are created in God’s image.
Then Peter comes out with ‘weird’ idea of building three tents (. . . as if any of them need an earthly shelter). Yet as we will see, there is also a deeper meaning in this story.
Peter certainly understands the importance of the three appearing: Jesus, Elijah and Moses. And without a question, Peter meant well, when he offered to build a tent. Meaning in so many words, that he was willing to honor all three of them for their sacrifice, for their relationship with God and what they had done in Jewish history.
But just as he offered his gift to them, a cloud (God) out of nowhere appears and makes it very clear:
(Luke 9) {35} A voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him." (NIV)
And at that moment Elijah and Moses left. Without a doubt, God pointed directly to Jesus, saying "Although all that which once was, was important! . . . . But now you are to follow Him . . . because I have chosen you to be the godly presence for humanity to eternal life . . . as I want all my human creation to be in my eternal presence."
My dear friends: There is no greater evidence for us as believers, as God spoke clearly to His people and made it clear that we can overcome death just like Moses, Elijah and Jesus by simply believing God’s Word.
There are many people, who need a transfiguration in their life. Many people do not see Jesus as the fulfillment of prophecy and as the Truth God offers us.
What can we do?
Well, let us read the biblical text!
Jesus prayed!
He did not pray alone, but he
took those with Him, whom He loved.
This week I encourage you to pray for those who believe that they need Jesus the least, and I encourage you to pray for those who believe they need Jesus the most.
Learn more about Transfiguration Day >>
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