Transfiguration Sunday (Year A) RCL

Transfiguration Sunday (Year A) RCL

St. Matthew’s Lutheran, Cornwall

Matthew 17:1-19

Jesus and nothing else

Well, if you’ve been with us through these last few weeks leading up to this point (and then to Lent), then you’ve been with us as we followed Jesus up through His sermon on the mount. And in a way, that’s where we find ourselves today, isn’t it? At the top of a mountain. See today, Jesus leads His apostles up to the top of the mountain, so that they can SEE HIM as He really is. And that’s just what He’s been doing with US these past few weeks too, isn’t it? As He took us through His sermon on the mount, what we saw there and what we heard there were things that we can’t do. Things that we don’t do. But things that He DOES, and things that He IS – FOR US.And in the end of it, hopefully, what we saw, looking back at it all, wasn’t just an impossible instruction manual, wasn’t just a condemnation of our failure to be what we cannot be, but was Jesus as He is, for you, and for me. That as we heard of the one who is as Holy as God is Holy, who is merciful, who is compassionate, who is pure. As we heard of the ways of love and forgiveness and grace and mercy that we see Christ above all as He is FOR US – rather than something for US to do. That as we heard about salt and light, that we think firstly of the one who is the light of the world, who’s light has given life to all men. That in all of these that instead of thinking about how we can BE these things, we first see the one who already IS these things. And so bringing us to the top of this mountain, the whole purpose (which is the whole purpose of everything we do here together), is to show you Christ, as He really is.

That means that we see Him in His resplendent and radiant glory. That we see Him as the God of the Universe, King of all things, Lord of all creation. Creator, Sustain-er, and Savior. The Son of God. The fulfillment of the Law. The fullness of life. Light itself,,= loveHimself. Come to die – that He might rise – FOR YOU.

And that’s the purpose of everything else that we have, say, and do – as the church. It is to proclaim Christ to you as He is for you, in His life, in His death, and in His resurrection. In His glory, and in His humiliation. In His life, and in His death. In His teaching and in His doing. The whole thing. The whole man, the whole Christ. That is the purpose of all that we say, have, and do. And that was the sole purpose of Moses and Elijah (of the Law and the Prophets) – that’s the sole purpose of the entirety of the O.T., and even the New Testament too. That’s the purpose of all ofScripture. It’s to point to HIM. That is why we call these Scriptures the Word of God. Because these Scirputres are all, and always, only ever about He who was and is the Word of God made flesh. About who He is for you. And what He’s done, is doing, and will continue to do for you. That’s the whole Word of God. that’s the fullness of revelation. That’s the whole counsel of God for you and to you – it’s Christ and Christ alone. Whether its the Law which shows us what love looks likeor the Gospel which promises us the love of God in Christ – either way what we are to see is Jesus and nothing else. - Jesus and nothing else.

And yet what so often happens is that we see Jesus as something to add to the pile of other things that we have. To add to the O.T., to add to the N.T. epistles. TO add to theology and morality and whatever we think today's topic of the day should be.To add to Moses and to Elijah. And so like Peter we say things like Lord, it is good for us to stay here. Up on this mountain, with you alongside the Law and the prophets. Up on this mountain with you in your resplendent glory UNCRUCIFIED. Up on this mountain, where things are comfortable, and clean. Up on this mountain, with you alongside my hobbies and my sins and my disordered priorities. Or whatever it is.As if Christ is merely one of our many things. Or even, the first of many things, or chief, of our many priorities.

But the problem with that my friends, is that Jesus didn’t reveal Himself as the last piece of a puzzle, or first among equals, or the top of a spiritual pyramid. His claim – Jesus’ claim, is that all things, point to Him. And it’s that all things which point to Him, have been fulfilled BY Him.

And so the Word of God from heaven is spoken to Peter just as it is to you today; and that Word says that this Jesus of Nazareth, is the Christ (the Messiah). He is the Son of God. He is the creator of all things. He is Lord of all life. And The is the Savior of all sinners. And He has come to live for you, to die for you, and to rise for you. And hearing that Word, you now, Like Peter, should see nothing else along with Him. But only Him.

And that’s really the message today. That these things, all of these things. Whether other testaments or otherbooks. Whetherthey be sermons or hymns or liturgies – theologians or preachers or pastors or fellow Christian saints – these things serve to reveal Christ alone. That these things, when they serve their rightful purpose do nothing other than proclaim Christ and Him alone.That we might see Him alone. That we might believe in Him alone. And fix our eyes upon Him alone. And see Him, and only Him, and His work for us, and His Word for us, and His promise to us, and nothing else but Him alone

That in the Scriptures read and preached we would not so much see prophets and apostles and pastors and preachers but Christ and Him crucified. That as we administer and receive the Sacraments of Baptism, and confession and absolution, and the Lord’s Supper, that we would not so much see water, or bread, or wine, or mere words, but Christ and Him crucified, given for us, shed for us, made present to us. That in all things we might see Christ. IN all things we receive Christ. In all things we preach Christ – and nothing else. But just as it was for the apostles up on the top of this mountain; that revelation, that epiphany (if you will), did not come form the transfiguration itself. But it came only from the Word of God, as it was spoken to them audibly. Only then, after hearing God the Father preach Christ the Son to them, that Moses and Elijah disappeared. It was only after HEARING –hearing the Word of Christ preached, that they could finally SEE Him, and only Him – the one who had come fulfill the Law for them, to fulfill the prophecies for them, to live for them, to die for them, to absolve them, and to save them, - as He really is.

So – having SEEN Him, by our “EARS,” let us go out nowfrom here, seeingnothing but Christ and Him crucified, hearing nothing but Christ and Him crucified, knowing nothing but Christ and Him crucified, and PREACHING nothing but Christ and Him crucified. For faith – comes by hearing, and hearing, the Word of Christ.

For in His name, for His sake, and by His work – I forgive you all of your sins. F, S, & HS, Amen.