Listen to Him (2)

Context

Preaching Theme: Drawn to Jesus.

Jesus’ ministry of teaching, miracle-working, and healing, has caused the crowds to speculate that he might be the Expected one.

When Jesus asks his disciples who they think he is, Peter affirms that Jesus is the Son of God, the one who would come to establish the Kingdom of God.

Jesus’ praises Peter’s answer, but warns Peter and the other disciples that he is not going to establish the Kingdom of God through power — at least not at first — but through humility and suffering. He is going to be crucified and die for the sins of the world and then will rise from the dead on the third day to offer new life to all who will place their trust in him.

Peter and the other disciples are dismayed at such a plan. Peter even pulls Jesus aside and rebukes Jesus — far be it from you that such a thing should happen. In response, Jesus counter-rebukes Peter, saying, “Get behind me Satan…if you would follow me, you follow me to the cross.”

Then six days pass. We aren’t told anything about what happens during those days. Maybe a tense quiet. Then we are told.

Text

Matthew 17:1–9 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John 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 dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

Introduction

3 levels of listening

Not. Zoning.

Hearing. Surface.

Listening. Encountering world. Joining. Ralph G. Nichols, says in his book Are You Listening? that "if we define the good listener as one giving full attention to the speaker, first-grade children are the best listeners of all."

Nichols describes an experiment conducted with the cooperation of Minneapolis teachers from first grade through high school. Each teacher involved was asked to interrupt classes and suddenly ask pupils "what were you thinking about?" or "what was I talking about?"

Results were discouraging but informative. The answers of first and second graders showed that more than 90 percent were listening. Percentages dropped in higher grades. In junior high school classes, only 44 percent of the students were listening. In high school classes, the average dropped to 28 percent.

Most of us are not in school anymore. Been out for a while.

But we are all students. Students of the spiritual life.

Disciples of Jesus Christ. Are we listening to what he has to say to us? Teach us? How do really listen to him?

EXEGESIS 1: Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets.

Jesus takes his inner circle — Peter, James, and John — up a mountain.

He is going to give them a special revelation.

Better: an intervention.

They are hearing his words. But not listening.

right about his identity as the Son of God.

The one expected in the law and prophets.

But not listening to Jesus explain to them what that means.

They don’t want to hear him talking about the cross, and death, and resurrection.

So an intervention.

Takes them up the mountain.

There is transfigured.

Meta-morpho. His appearance changed, not his nature.

He has always been fully human and fully divine.

But his divine nature has been concealed.

butterfly a symbol. Larva. then concealed in a cocoon. Then a butterfly. Always a butterfly, but full nature revealed after the concealing.

Jesus reveals his glory. Overriding description: Brightness.

Face like the sun.

Clothes as white as light. Not a light shining upon him. But light shining out of him. Generation of glory. Self-illuminating.

This is the only time that this happens on earth in the Bible. Not even after his resurrection does Jesus show his glory like this. (Except perhaps to Paul who is blinded by a light).

His closest disciples get to see Jesus’ full nature...and more…

Then appear with Jesus, Moses (The Law-Giver) and Elijah (Greatest of the Prophets).

Moses died 1400 years earlier; Elijah about 800 years earlier.

The disciples know that it is them inward revelation. They are seeing the greatest figures of their people.

Moses: Who talked with God face to face, like a friend. Now here he is talking with Jesus.

Elijah: The one who heard the still small voice in the cave, now on the mountain with Jesus. Whispering back and forth.

Moses and Elijah are not dead. But alive.

If the disciples had not wanted to listen to Jesus because his talk about death was too threatening: the presence of Moses and Elijah alive gives truth to Jesus’ teaching that death is not the end, but eternal life is.

Opening their ears.

Role modeling for the disciples a proper orientation toward Jesus.

He is the center of God’s revelation. Absolute authority.

I imagine that Peter, James, and John, would never hear the Scriptures read in synagogue the same way. A reading from Moses: I met Moses. He was listening to Jesus. Hear the reading of Elijah: I saw him, he looked to Jesus.

Whatever Jesus says, that is to be heard and trusted.

APPLICATION 1: We listen to the Scriptures

Jesus wants to speak to us today.

He desires to lead us into a deeper understanding of who he is and what he does.

That necessarily means appreciating his work on the cross. Dying for sins and rising for new life.

That can be a threatening message for us. We don’t want to think about suffering and death.

Jesus wants us to know that he leads us through to a new life. He is the Lord.

One resource he has given us to help open our ears to him is the Scriptures.

The Law, the Prophets, the Gospels, the letters. They point to Jesus.

Book of Order W.3.01. The Scriptures bear witness to the Word of God, revealed most fully in Jesus Christ, the Word who “became flesh and lived among us” (John 1:14).

If we want to listen to Christ, then we want to open up our Bibles:

It may be your dining room table. It may be your cubicle at work. Physical Bible. An app.

Every time our Bible is open: A mountain top opportunity:

All that is written points to him with affirmations and examples.

Stills all other voices but his own.

He wants you to know him, just like he wanted his first disciples to know him.

Leading your through difficult times, through death even, to life in glory.

You can trust him…

EXEGESIS 2: The Triune God witnesses to Jesus

Jesus, Moses, Elijah are talking.

Peter speaks up. “Peter said to Jesus.”

Peter: I will make three dwellings. tabernacles. A fine suggestion as it goes, hospitable, respectful.

Yet indicates that revelation is something observed. Happening there between Jesus, Moses and Elijah.

God wants to bring the disciples into the experience. That is why he brought them up the mountain.

Intervention takes on its full force.

Cloud of light. Usually clouds are dark, feel the heaviness of it. This cloud is of light. Light one could feel. The Holy Spirit.

Then a voice from the cloud: The Father.

This is my son…

A Trinitarian witness. Enfolding presence of the Spirit, Voice of the Father, the radiance of the Son.

A command is given: Listen to Him.

The disciples are being directly addressed. Invited not just to observe Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus and listening to Jesus. But to themselves listen to Jesus. The Son of God.

APPLICATION 2: We need to listen to the inward testimony of God about who Jesus is.

Earlier: read the Bible. Witnesses say: You can trust him. The more we read and learn the Bible, the more it trains us in that outlook.

God offers more. God assures us directly of his Son.

Revelation not just “then and there” but also “here and now.”

Example. One person overwhelmed. Family member sick. Finances and stress overwhelming. Story of Peter and the Boat. God I need you...two words: Trust me. Complete peace! Stayed with the person.

When God speaks you hear it, it and it changes everything.

Addressed by God. Hod knows me and my situation.

In Christ, God is with us.

EXEGESIS 3: The peace and justice he brings is based on his death and resurrection.

The disciples are laid out by the voice of God. Sensory overload because of the holiness of God.

Jesus comes to them gently. Touches them.

Raises them up. “Rise, and have no fear.”

They saw no one but Jesus. Literally:

No one else there, Moses and Elijah and Father and Spirit departed.

And Jesus appeared as he always had before.

But mystically another meaning: their focus was on Jesus alone.

Ready to listen, ready to follow.

Jesus raises them up and commissions them.

Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.

But tell everyone...what you have seen AFTER I am raised.

A strange command: We should tell everyone right now! Peter: Why can’t I tell everyone right now?

But now they have heard God, listening to Jesus.

Ready to follow and obey.

They kept it quiet until after all had happened. Until after they had experienced the plan.

Jesus went to cross, resurrected.

They went through ups and downs; fled, the denied, but they were also restored.

In all of this, the lordship and saviorship of Jesus proven. Shaped as his disciples with testimony to share.

Peter testified — we saw his glory on the mountain, you would do well to listen, we are like lamps in the darkness.

And people listened. Even as we do today!

APPLICATION 3: We listen when we obey.

We listen to Christ with our obedience.

He often tell us what to do that we don’t understand. But we are to obey him. That is what faith is (not knowledge).

He is telling you to not do something: don’t do it.

even if it is the right thing otherwise, if he says don’t do it. Then better to obey him.

He is telling you to do something: do it.

Even if not sure why. Best to obey him.

Wait: wait. Try harder: try harder.

You don’t have to understand what will happen. Can’t know the future. But can know that he is the Lord.

Then, when it is all said and done, you can see that he was the Lord and Savior the whole time. And that your obedience worked into his plan.

Your ups and downs. But he was the Lord and Savior all the time.

He causes all things…

Authentic for ourselves. His path and our path are one. Destined for glory.

Then we testify to others. They hear the story. from someone with experience. Obedience. Authenticity.

Jesus said, “blessed are those who hear my word, and obey it..

CONCLUSION

Today our calling is to listen to Christ.

Not zoning. Not surface. Deep.

The good news is that Jesus helps us.

Scripture to center us on him.

Direct engagement with us.

Gives us opportunity to follow.

Not wait too late. Who knows when we will stand before the Lord...what were you thinking about? What did I say to you?

But much more that 28%. Lets be in 90+%, come to me as a child.

Get that percentage up...start listening now!

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

Sovereign God, you revealed your love and guidance for us on Mount Sinai and the Mount of Transfiguration, giving us a vision of how to live in equity and peace. Trusting in your care for us, we bring to you our prayers. God of glory...Transform this world.

We pray for your church, that it may be the light of love for all people. God of glory...Transform this world.

We pray for the nations of the world, that their governors may be wise and compassionate. God of glory...Transform this world.

We pray for those who suffer illness or oppression, that our care for them may bring your healing and liberation. God of glory...Transform this world.

We pray for your creation, that we may be your wise and obedient stewards God of glory...Transform this world.

We pray for all those who are in search of you, that they may walk by the lamp of your Spirit and be at peace in your light now and forever. God of glory...Transform this world.

Joined together in Christ, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all majesty and honor are yours, Holy One, forever and ever. Amen.