Grace, Mercy, and Peace to you in Jesus Christ.
Today we are observing the “Transfiguration of Our Lord”. This is a very important event in the earthly life and ministry of our Lord and Savior for the disciples and for all believers. It is also an excellent text to use as the basis for my first sermon among you as your pastor and Christ’s undershepherd. Why? Hopefully, I can explain why as I go along in this sermon.
The usage of this Transfiguration text by the Church at this point and time of the Church Year shows a transition from the light and shining joy of the Epiphany season to the more somber, sober, and darker observation of Lent as we meditate upon the suffering of Jesus upon the cross.
Epiphany begins with the star pointing the Wise Men to where the Christ child was so that they could be led to Him in order to worship Him in reverence and awe while bringing this Christ: gifts fitting for Him who is the king and God over all. This radiant light of the star pointed to the greater light and glory of God which had come down to earth, true God and true man joined in one flesh, Jesus Christ. He who descended to bring an end to the darkness and ignorance of sin and unbelief which is the natural state of mankind. Jesus came to redeem and reconcile sinners to the Father through His own loving keeping of the Law’s demands and then sacrificing Himself.
Epiphany, the season of light pointing to God’s glory, finds its peak of radiance in the Transfiguration of Jesus. For all other appearances, Jesus was just a man like any other. Sure He preached and taught with authority, unlike the scribes. Yes, He was able to perform miracles of all kinds, He showed that He knew the hearts and minds of people, yet He, Himself, except for the voice and dove at His Baptism, had not revealed the glory that was due Him as the Son of God. Jesus in His earthly life and ministry had covered and set aside this glory but because until the cross, His task was to humble Himself under the Law, under the obedience to His Heavenly Father in service to Him and His creation. His preaching and teaching was pointing the people to the understanding of the will of God, the Father, along with the Son, and Holy Spirit, of course. But here in His humility, Jesus did not point to Himself and say, here look at me. He didn’t have to. All of Scripture pointed to Him. All the prophecies, all the psalms, the Laws, everything pointed to and were affirmed by the teaching, preaching, and miracles of Jesus, that this was the Christ, whom God would send.
There were times when the Father chose to reveal the glory of His Son as His Son pointed to the Father, but now in this transfiguration, there was no doubt. If the disciples thought Jesus was special before, Peter, James, and John bore witness to a greater revelation. Jesus was not just a great prophet. Jesus was not just a powerful force of personality, He was more, much more. They saw with their eyes the brightness of Christ’s glory as His clothes and skin seemed to be as white and radiant as the light coming from the sun.
This blinding light and the attendance of Moses and Elijah in conversation with Jesus did not clarify in their hearts and minds as to who Jesus was, nor clue them in on the fact that they were in the presence of God. Peter instead basks in pleasantness of the moment, and makes a comment and suggestion which can be examined further in the future. It is always natural to want to remain in place of glory and joy, yet the terror of the Lord’s justice and wrath had not yet been appeased. Until then, all joy, all glory, all peace is but temporary. The seriousness of the situation and what yet had to be done, and who it was that would accomplish it, was revealed by the Father. He didn’t say look at my son, He didn’t say, be like my Son by your own efforts and you can receive this glory. Instead, He said: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!” Don’t just look at Him and be amazed by this temporary glory. Listen to Him. Take heed. Take heart. Receive His wisdom and assurance. This Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God as Peter had confessed only a few short verses before, but Jesus also must do what Peter did not want for Jesus and that was “He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” Matthew 16:21
Peter at the time of Christ’s arrest denied Jesus and fled. Jesus restored Him and the rest of the apostles after His death and resurrection. This restoring to life, to righteousness and peace, to service, this reconciling to God by the forgiveness of sins, is what Jesus came to do as He died and rose again. This He continues to do for you and me as He brought us to the waters of Holy Baptism, as He calls us back to those same waters to confess our sins at the beginning of the Divine Service. Then I as your pastor and undershepherd and under His authority point not to me, but to your Savior, and speak His forgiveness for you. God’s Holy Spirit even now as your fallen flesh clings to you, transforms you inside out by the declaration of His righteousness in Jesus Christ, and creates and strengthens faith within your heart and mind. He comes to you and feeds you the precious crucified and raised glorious body and blood of Jesus Christ in the bread and wine.
We do not have to fall on our face in fear and terror as the disciples did in the presence of God, but in awe, wonder, and joy we bow and bend the knee, that God in His love and forgiveness comes to encourage us here in this life, in the darkness of this world, to bring life to our bodies and minds which would be lifeless and without direction or hope without Him. He loves you and desires your salvation. This grace is His glory. The glory of the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit is forgiveness for you. The glimpses of God’s glory and grace that we see and hear now, in His Word, in the liturgy, in the sacraments which we experience now are experienced only for short moments, but when Christ returns at the last day, and we are called out, all believers will in soul and body transfigured in Christ’s likeness will experience His glory and joy without end.
This is the Good news that I have been called among you to declare and to encourage and teach you. The news that we all need. I, like you, am a sinner and fellow redeemed. I, though not an apostle, like Peter, may not always know the things to say nor to say them in the best way possible. I may even fail you as your pastor in my task from time to time, even as you may fail as God’s sheep. Yet though we, sheep and shepherd are imperfect, I shall point you and you shall in turn point me, to Him who is greater than us all.
As many of you heard last week at my installation and many of you answered to the questions presented, we are called to work together while we wait for our master’s full appearing. In the meantime, as I am called here, do not look to me as your savior. Do not look to me to be perfect at all times. Yes, look and listen as I as your pastor teach and exhort you and lead you, but do it as I point you to Jesus, as I speak for Him. For His sake, listen, be transfigured and transformed by the messages and ministrations rightly done in His name. Be comforted in peace and joy for service as God’s sons and daughters who have been forgiven, redeemed, and justified, for the sake of Jesus Christ, crucified and raised for you, Amen.
Pr. Aaron Kangas