The Transfiguration of Our Lord (2026)

2 Peter 1:16-21

My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, Lent is fast approaching and we find ourselves already at Transfiguration. We were only given two weeks to hear about the miracles that Christ performed and now we find ourselves with the disicples on the top of a mountain witnessing a magnificent site. Jesus in The Glory that Belongs to Him in heaven above. The disciples had heard this in the temple, when they heard about Moses, and Isaiah, and Ezekiel, and the magnificent visions they behold of God in His glory. Now they witness it within their own two eyes. Last year, I preached on the Gospel, which describes the scene on the mountain, but this year I want us to look at the Epistle lesson. Where Peter encourages all those who were not there on that Holy Mountain, for although they beheld a magnificent sight, but that was shown to them for a purpose to confirm the Prophetic Word.

Cleverly Devised Myths

Myths cannot be proven.

This is what makes some of them cleverly devised, you leave the person unable to test, to confirm to see whether or not a statement is true. Consider the greeks and their beliefs about the creation of the gods. That things were borne out of a primordial chaos that existed, and from it came the earth, the sky, and the titans which gave birth to the olympians. Who can go back and confirm it? What evidence is there.

Most religions rely on this.

It’s not necessarily creation myths like this, but you can have men like muhammad who meet angels in caves, or you can men like Joseph smith who receive golden tablets from heaven that are then taken away, or you can have visions like modern spiritualists, or shamans. It surrounds us, and we are told that

We are not to be taken captive.

We are to be trapped by these visions, and claims, that are designed in such a way that they cannot be proven. Because if we are going to tear down these things, we have to examine our own faith and ask how do we know? Some might turn the questions back on us, who was there to verify the creation? How do we know that Moses met with God on the mountain and received the 10 Commandments? How do you know then that Christianity is real? For many were raised as Christians but were taught to defend the faith using the same methods that false religions used to justify their existence, but those reasons fall apart, and thus many fell away from the faith.

How Do You Know?

The apostles were witnesses.

They weren’t relying on secret knowledge, or a personal vision, Peter here tells us that he was an eyewitness of Jesus’ majesty. Now he speaks here of the transfiguration in particular, but it isn’t the eyewitness testimony by itself that establishes our faith. Christianity is built upon the historic fact that Jesus proved that he is the Son of God by His resurrection. That’s why these men went forth boldly to share the truth with those who hated them, and they

They confirmed this by their blood.

If it was one man who was raving about this you might not think too much of it. But the apostles, plus the other followers of Jesus and the 500 that saw Him alive after His resurrection that they were willing to lay down their lives for the sake of this confession. For the resurrection was not a private matter, no it is something that could be verified, like the miracles Jesus performed in front of the large crowds, eye witnesses to events that were impossible. The reason the Israelites believed that Moses saw God up on the mountain, is that they had witnessed the wonders and miracles of God, and that record was passed down and then verified by Jesus as being true. These miracles and wonders were done and then they

They were pointed to the Word.

For most people this is shocking and surprising for why not rely on the miracles? Why not chase after the wonders? Why be pointed back to something that is so ordinary, plain, and simple. Why believe the Words spoken in that book over any other book written? Because they are the Words of God and it was confirmed by the prophecies that were fulfilled, and by the man Jesus Christ who died and rose again to eternal life. That is why the Word of God remains sacred in our midst to this very day.

The Lamp Shining in the Dark

Jesus is the life and the light of men.

They saw that with their own eyes. When the Gospel John speaks about Jesus being the light of men. He had witnessed Jesus in His glory and the radiance of God was manifested before his very eyes. He came from heaven to earth that we might have life and have it in the fullest. He is not speaking about the life we have here on earth, but rather looking ahead to eternal life that is to follow. The question of course is

How do you know?

This is where we want to be ready to explain to everyone who asks us for the reason for the hope that dwells inside of us. Why do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God? Why do you believe that Christianity is true? For why do you hope to be saved? You and I don’t have a personal eyewitness testimonies to share with the World. We have not seen Him or any of the MIracles with our own eyes.

God points you to the word.

From the beginning this is how God would reveal himself to the Creation. Through the word that was spoken in the beginning and through which all things were created good. That Word then became flesh, and dwelt among us for only the one through whom all things were made could restore the fallen creation. For the Father does not deal with us apart from the Word.

Why the Bible?

Prophecy doesn’t come from men.

Men wrote not from their own wisdom, or by their own power, or ability, but were rather carried along by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit worked through these men and like a master calligrapher using different pens, they each have their own style and patterns that comes through in the text, but it is the Holy Spirit that is working through them. That’s why the

The Bible is God’s Word.

It’s why we can say at the end of each passage, This is the Word of the Lord and respond thanks be to God. It’s why we are also careful to pay attention to it and treat it with reverence. It seems ordinary and plain enough for we hear it frequently, but it is different than the words of men. For the

The words of men can be broken.

God’s Word remains forever. So His Law, and His Gospel are good to know, for its by the Word that you and I are saved. It wasn’t the water in Baptism that saved us, but God’s promise that is attached to the Water. What if I forgot the Words of Christ at the Lord’s Supper? Then you only receive bread and wine that nourishes the body, but doesn’t offer eternal life or forgiveness. It has ever been about the Word, and what we find in God’s Word is that

God Remains Faithful

We know promises are to be kept.

We know the pain and disappointment that follows when someone promises to help us or do something and we are relying upon them and they fall through. We get so used to it that we become a bit numb, and give up on seeing them fulfilled. Be it family, a friend, a boss, or be it the government when our faith is put in their word, we can become a bit bitter, and cynical. Satan can use this to ask, well what makes God’s promises any different? Why should you listen to His Word that was written by sinful men.

Talk about darkness and doubt.

If you are in that place, there is no place left to turn. That’s why it is so important that we go back and read God’s Word and see that He keeps all of His promises. That’s why Jesus is the life and light of men, because in a world that is broken by sin, where the words of men have become cheap, God showed that His Word and His promises are fulfilled. Even when it seemed like all hope was lost and the Son of God is giving over unto death and cries out, my god, my god why have you forsaken me. Think of the disciples who had seen him in radiant glory, now transfixed upon a cross as darkness covered the land, covered in blood, but God promised that His Holy one would not see corruption. That’s why

Jesus’ resurrection brings hope to our hearts.

For it is not only the Father that keeps His Word, but also the Son even through death. We have enough trouble keeping promises while we are yet still alive, but Jesus promised that death would not stop Him. Sure enough His Word was fulfilled. If Jesus can keep that promise, then He can keep the promise that He made to you, that not only are your sins forgiven, but He has secured a place for you in paradise.

This my brothers and Sisters in Christ, is why we cling to the Word, and why God continues to point us back to again, and again. The word of men can be a flimsy and feeble thing used often to deceive and mislead, but the Bible is not the Word of men, but the Word of God. Even though we have not seen Jesus in his glory, we have eyewitnesses to His Majesty, to His miracles, and his Resurrection whose testimonies were confirmed by their own blood. So cherish the Word, hold it close, learn, and do not stray from it, for we cannot remain with God or Christ if we forsake the Word. Do not allow anyone to take it from you, but hold it close all your days. In Jesus name. Amen.