Transfiguration Sunday February 6, 2022
Matthew 17:1-9
Close Encounters of the Divine Kind
v.1-2 And after six days Jesus took with Him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as light.
Dear friends in Christ, some of you may remember the blockbuster science fiction movie of 1977 called Close Encounters of the Third Kind, in which a man's life changes immensely after a close encounter with an unidentified flying object or UFO. Written and directed by Steven Spielberg this film gained both critical and financial success. The climax of the story takes place on a mountaintop with dazzling lights and displays, where a truly amazing sight is beheld.
Well, beloved, in our texts for this morning, we also heard described some pretty close encounters--of the Divine Kind. In out O.T. reading Moses meets with God on a mountaintop, which is shrouded in cloud and bright lights, and when he comes down from speaking with God his face even glows! In our Epistle reading, Peter recalls and describes what happens in our Gospel reading where Jesus is transfigured--on a mountain--in front of His closest disciples. There is bright lights, loud voices, and clouds once again.
In all of these instances described for us in Holy Scripture, it is abundantly clear that something special--something incredible--happened--that lowly human beings both witnessed and experienced the Holy God in a close encounter. What about us today? Wouldn't it be nice to have a close encounter with God like Moses or Elijah or Peter, James, and John? Wouldn't it be comforting to know for sure that God is close by and speaking to you? There is no doubt a part of each of us that secretly longs for such an experience. But, as the old adage goes, "Be careful what you wish for!"
Whenever God is revealed in His divine majesty, sinners tend not to run up to Him to receive kisses and hugs or pats on the back, but rather they cower before Him in terror. Moses must be shielded by God so he is not destroyed. Peter, James, and John fall to their knees and bury their faces in the ground at just the voice of God speaking from the cloud. The Israelites wouldn't even approach the holy mountain to speak with God, but instead they begged Moses to go on their behalf. They were so afraid of Moses afterward, because his face glowed with the reflected glory of God, that he even had to veil his face after speaking with them.
More importantly, however, when thinking about close encounters with God is to ask the question, "Are you so sure that God does NOT come to you and speak with you closely, even now?" For example, think of the baptisms you have witnessed in this church. You saw a miracle take place. God acting in the here and now to save His beloved child from sin, death, and the power of the devil. "How can we be sure?" you might ask. "This was no mountaintop experience--there was no blinding transfiguration--no glowing faces--the earth did not shake--nor was there a thunderous voice from heaven declaring the baptized His beloved child with whom He is well-pleased."
But dear friends, God WAS present--He was here in His Word of command to baptize all nations in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. He was here in His Word of promise that speaks of Baptism as a washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit--that Baptism forgives and saves. The Lord was here through a pastor, His unworthy servant, to personally reach out to the baptized and bathe them in His forgiving love and joy. At God's powerful, creative Word, the devil was driven from their heart and the Holy Spirit moved in to create faith and life--all through the simple pouring of water combined with God's Word.
The white garment candidates for baptism often wear (and are given) is symbolic of this transfiguration--this metamorphosis or transformation--that has taken place in their heart. The darkness of sin and death is gone and the baptized is clothed with the pure and holy righteousness of Jesus Christ Himself who bled and died for their sins and all our sins on the cross of Calvary (another mountain!).
The candle that stands beside the Baptismal font is lit at baptisms and funerals to remind us of the very light of Christ who is, as the ancient Nicene Creed confesses, "the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God." This same candle is also lit during Easter to remind us of the glory of the Light of life that we have through faith in Christ our Saviour. The candle we receive at Baptism reminds us that we are given a share in this Light of life at our Baptism, which sees us through until either Christ returns in glory, or, we are called to His side in glory at our death. So the candle is lit at funerals to remind us that all those who are baptized and believe shall never die (never be swallowed up by the darkness of death), but live eternally with Christ in the light of heaven.
We know all this--we believe all this--not because we have been duped by "cleverly devised myths" as St. Peter reminds us in his epistle, but that we follow those who "were eyewitnesses of His majesty." Those who heard the voice, saw the glory of Jesus revealed, etc. But, even more so, "we have the prophetic Word more fully confirmed." The Holy Word of God that stands as a beacon shining in the darkness of this sin-broken world--that points us ever to Jesus the source of all Light and Life. For "no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."
You see, beloved, God still speaks to you today--through His Word and Sacraments. He comes to you--personally and individually--even as we gather together in this place--at what we rightly call the Divine Service. You want a close encounter with God? You want to hear Him speaking to you? Comforting you? Restoring you? Then look no further than here and now in this place. For Christ is here in Word and Sacrament. He is here for you--to forgive, uplift, heal, and redeem--all by His own holy and sacred blood that He willingly shed on the cross for the sins of the whole world—yours and mine.
Each time you hear God's triune name declared in this divine service--Father Son and Holy Spirit--be reminded of the grace of God poured out upon you in your Baptism. A grace that knows no end. You receive Holy Absolution in this triune name of God--the same name into which you were baptized (which is why I touch the baptismal font each time I proclaim holy absolution)--to give you joy and peace despite your grievous sins--despite your unholiness and discontent with God's Word. In His forgiving Word of power, Jesus beats back the wicked lies of the devil that seek to drag you down into despair, wondering where God is and if He loves you and will ever speak to you in kindness and mercy.
Dear friends, you have been baptized! All that is Christ's belongs now to you as you live and believe in Him. His suffering and death for your sins has washed over you in a cleansing flood--transforming your hard heart of stone, captured by the darkness of your sin and death--into a heart of flesh--one verdant and overflowing with Jesus' love and life everlasting. By faith in the crucified and risen Lord Jesus--faith bestowed upon you in Baptism, "You are [the Father's] beloved [child] with whom He is well pleased." And He is closer to you in grace and mercy than you could ever hope for in His Word and Sacraments. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Matthew 17:1-9
Close Encounters of the Divine Kind
v.1-2 And after six days Jesus took with Him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as light.
Dear friends in Christ, some of you may remember the blockbuster science fiction movie of 1977 called Close Encounters of the Third Kind, in which a man's life changes immensely after a close encounter with an unidentified flying object or UFO. Written and directed by Steven Spielberg this film gained both critical and financial success. The climax of the story takes place on a mountaintop with dazzling lights and displays, where a truly amazing sight is beheld.
Well, beloved, in our texts for this morning, we also heard described some pretty close encounters--of the Divine Kind. In out O.T. reading Moses meets with God on a mountaintop, which is shrouded in cloud and bright lights, and when he comes down from speaking with God his face even glows! In our Epistle reading, Peter recalls and describes what happens in our Gospel reading where Jesus is transfigured--on a mountain--in front of His closest disciples. There is bright lights, loud voices, and clouds once again.
In all of these instances described for us in Holy Scripture, it is abundantly clear that something special--something incredible--happened--that lowly human beings both witnessed and experienced the Holy God in a close encounter. What about us today? Wouldn't it be nice to have a close encounter with God like Moses or Elijah or Peter, James, and John? Wouldn't it be comforting to know for sure that God is close by and speaking to you? There is no doubt a part of each of us that secretly longs for such an experience. But, as the old adage goes, "Be careful what you wish for!"
Whenever God is revealed in His divine majesty, sinners tend not to run up to Him to receive kisses and hugs or pats on the back, but rather they cower before Him in terror. Moses must be shielded by God so he is not destroyed. Peter, James, and John fall to their knees and bury their faces in the ground at just the voice of God speaking from the cloud. The Israelites wouldn't even approach the holy mountain to speak with God, but instead they begged Moses to go on their behalf. They were so afraid of Moses afterward, because his face glowed with the reflected glory of God, that he even had to veil his face after speaking with them.
More importantly, however, when thinking about close encounters with God is to ask the question, "Are you so sure that God does NOT come to you and speak with you closely, even now?" For example, think of the baptisms you have witnessed in this church. You saw a miracle take place. God acting in the here and now to save His beloved child from sin, death, and the power of the devil. "How can we be sure?" you might ask. "This was no mountaintop experience--there was no blinding transfiguration--no glowing faces--the earth did not shake--nor was there a thunderous voice from heaven declaring the baptized His beloved child with whom He is well-pleased."
But dear friends, God WAS present--He was here in His Word of command to baptize all nations in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. He was here in His Word of promise that speaks of Baptism as a washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit--that Baptism forgives and saves. The Lord was here through a pastor, His unworthy servant, to personally reach out to the baptized and bathe them in His forgiving love and joy. At God's powerful, creative Word, the devil was driven from their heart and the Holy Spirit moved in to create faith and life--all through the simple pouring of water combined with God's Word.
The white garment candidates for baptism often wear (and are given) is symbolic of this transfiguration--this metamorphosis or transformation--that has taken place in their heart. The darkness of sin and death is gone and the baptized is clothed with the pure and holy righteousness of Jesus Christ Himself who bled and died for their sins and all our sins on the cross of Calvary (another mountain!).
The candle that stands beside the Baptismal font is lit at baptisms and funerals to remind us of the very light of Christ who is, as the ancient Nicene Creed confesses, "the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God." This same candle is also lit during Easter to remind us of the glory of the Light of life that we have through faith in Christ our Saviour. The candle we receive at Baptism reminds us that we are given a share in this Light of life at our Baptism, which sees us through until either Christ returns in glory, or, we are called to His side in glory at our death. So the candle is lit at funerals to remind us that all those who are baptized and believe shall never die (never be swallowed up by the darkness of death), but live eternally with Christ in the light of heaven.
We know all this--we believe all this--not because we have been duped by "cleverly devised myths" as St. Peter reminds us in his epistle, but that we follow those who "were eyewitnesses of His majesty." Those who heard the voice, saw the glory of Jesus revealed, etc. But, even more so, "we have the prophetic Word more fully confirmed." The Holy Word of God that stands as a beacon shining in the darkness of this sin-broken world--that points us ever to Jesus the source of all Light and Life. For "no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."
You see, beloved, God still speaks to you today--through His Word and Sacraments. He comes to you--personally and individually--even as we gather together in this place--at what we rightly call the Divine Service. You want a close encounter with God? You want to hear Him speaking to you? Comforting you? Restoring you? Then look no further than here and now in this place. For Christ is here in Word and Sacrament. He is here for you--to forgive, uplift, heal, and redeem--all by His own holy and sacred blood that He willingly shed on the cross for the sins of the whole world—yours and mine.
Each time you hear God's triune name declared in this divine service--Father Son and Holy Spirit--be reminded of the grace of God poured out upon you in your Baptism. A grace that knows no end. You receive Holy Absolution in this triune name of God--the same name into which you were baptized (which is why I touch the baptismal font each time I proclaim holy absolution)--to give you joy and peace despite your grievous sins--despite your unholiness and discontent with God's Word. In His forgiving Word of power, Jesus beats back the wicked lies of the devil that seek to drag you down into despair, wondering where God is and if He loves you and will ever speak to you in kindness and mercy.
Dear friends, you have been baptized! All that is Christ's belongs now to you as you live and believe in Him. His suffering and death for your sins has washed over you in a cleansing flood--transforming your hard heart of stone, captured by the darkness of your sin and death--into a heart of flesh--one verdant and overflowing with Jesus' love and life everlasting. By faith in the crucified and risen Lord Jesus--faith bestowed upon you in Baptism, "You are [the Father's] beloved [child] with whom He is well pleased." And He is closer to you in grace and mercy than you could ever hope for in His Word and Sacraments. Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.