Sermon Tone Analysis

Light at the end of the tunnel

I’m sure we’ve all go through times when everything builds up and life just becomes overwhelming.

We wonder are we going to make it through.

I’m talking of the times when we have so many projects needing completion that we can hardly keep track of them all.

You’re working on completing one task, but you know there isn’t much joy to be gained when you finish it, because of the hundred things following it which need to be done right now.

The times when this feels particularly suffocating is when there is no apparent end in sight.

You look at your calendar, and for months ahead there is no let up in sight.

What generally helps with the situation though, is when you can see a time when things will ease off.

It’s what we generally refer to as the light at the end of the tunnel.

But that light is something that we need to treat cautiously.

You see, if you focus too much on this light at the end of the tunnel, the danger is you lose sight of what you are supposed to be doing, and more than likely make a big mess of it.

On the other hand, if you don’t observe the light at all, the danger is that you can be so swamped with what you are doing that you lose all hope and become aimless.

Now in some ways, our Christian walk can be like this.

You see, one thing you learn quite quickly after you become a Christian is that becoming a Christian is not the silver bullet to all the suffering in this life.

In fact, to the contrary, there can be an expectation that you will receive suffering.

Now there is a lot to be said about this suffering, such as the growth that we can gain through it, but I’ll leave that discussion for another day, because what I want to focus on this morning is actually the light that we can see at the end of the tunnel.

The Christian’s end goal

You see, as Christians, we’re actually not just aimlessly wandering with no direction.

The Bible gives us direction.

In fact, you could look at the entire Bible pushing us in this direction.

You see if I were to summarize the Bible in one sentence, I might say something like - the Bible reveals God’s plan to reconcile fallen humanity to himself.

The direction therefore is towards God.

The end goal therefore is to be in glory with him.

As we dig into individual sections of the Bible, we will find different aspects of this ongoing journey.

But from time to time, as we read through scripture, we get these little glimpses.

These glimpses come in a number of different forms throughout the bible, but they are glimpses of the glory that will happen at the end.

The passage that we have before us today serves as one such glimpse.

Being a glimpse, we’re not going to be able to reconstruct a full picture of the glory to come, rather what I want to take from it instead is actually an assurance of something better to come.

In this way, it is like that light at the end of the tunnel.

As we’ll explore, it’s not a promise that our sufferings are now over, rather we’ll explore some of the cross overs between suffering and glory.

Context

But first, let’s take a step back and look at how this fits into Mark’s gospel.

Now, I don’t expect you all to remember this, but in early 2017, we actually did a series on the first eight chapters of Mark’s gospel.

There is actually a common thread that holds these chapters together and it feeds into the whole structure of the book.

You see, these eight chapters effectively asks the question: who is Jesus?

In the early chapters we get a number of different answers.

He is someone who the spirits respond to.

He is someone who can forgive sins.

He can heal people, even death.

He has control over nature.

He can multiply food to feed thousands.

But all of that culminates in chapter 8, with Jesus asking his disciples: “who do you say I am?”

It is at this point that Peter speaks up and ties it all together - “you are the Messiah!”

It really was a profound statement, and from this point in the book, we get a new direction.

Instead of answering, who is Jesus, now the focus turns to the what it means to follow Jesus.

In fact, it is quite a sudden shift in Mark’s Gospel.

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If you look back in chapter 8, you’ll see in the little section between verses 27 and 30 we get that exchange involving Peter’s confession.

And then in the very next verse, Jesus starts talking about his death.

You see, what becomes very clear is that if you are to follow Jesus, then that means following him to the cross.

That doesn’t mean we will be crucified - Jesus did that for us, but we are to share in the suffering - in fact the suffering can be counted as a blessing, knowing that we are suffering with Christ.

Just look from verse 34 when Jesus calls a crowd to him - he says: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it”

There is no denying - if you want to follow Jesus, then in this life, there will be suffering.

Structure of Mark

Now before I get into the transfiguration, it’s worth pointing out a bit more of the structure of this gospel.

You see, chapters 9 and 10 move

I’ve already mentioned about the transition in theme, but with this transition is also a geographical transition.

You see, interestingly, the first eight chapters are all set around the Sea of Galilee, which is a few day walk north of Jerusalem.

In chapters 9 and 10 however we see a journey from this area, down to Jerusalem.

It is interesting to see how Jesus geographically gets closer to Jerusalem and the cross, we also learn what it means to take up your cross.

As we then move into chapter 11, we are then taken into Jerusalem - and this also becomes the final week before the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus.

Transfiguration

But now that I’ve given you a quick run down of Mark’s gospel, I want to come back to our passage for this morning.

Now remember that I said that chapter 9 starts considering what it means to follow Jesus to the cross.

Well, while suffering is to be part of our experience, what we can be really thankful for is that fact that this is not the end.

I described before about the end goal of Christianity - that we are moving towards glory with God.

Well, today’s passage gives us that little glimpse.

But it is only Jesus’ three closest companions that get to see it.

It happens as they go up a high mountain.

The mountain isn’t named, some have suggested, Mount Hermon, some Mount Tabor - but it probably doesn’t really matter.

From Luke’s account, we can learn that they are going up to pray, but while they are up there, something extraordinary happens.

Jesus is transfigured before them.

Verse 3 describes what that looks like, it says: “His clothes became dazzling white, whited than anyone in the world could bleach them”.

And then in verse 4, we learn something else - with Jesus is also Elijah and Moses, and they were talking with each other.

Now, I’m going to come back to this and explore some of the theological significance, but let me just stick with a brief recounting of it all.

Peter’s remark

In verse 5 we get one of those classics from Peter.

Now for anyone who is familiar with the Gospels, you’ll know that Peter is one of those characters that says and does some of the most profound things, but also says some of the most stupid things as well.

(I think it’s a bit of a case of speak first, think second).

Well, Peter is in the middle of seeing one of the most remarkable things seen by man, and I think he must feel that he needs to say something - but what do you say in such a situation?

Well, maybe James and John had the better idea of not saying anything, but Peter instead speaks up, suggesting that it would be appropriate to build three shelters, for Jesus, Moses and Elijah.

Verse 6 however indicates that Peter has somewhat missed the mark with his suggestion - telling us he didn’t know what he was saying.

God’s voice

It would seem however that the off the mark suggestion is glossed over, and instead, through the clouds comes the voice of God: “This is my Son whom I love.”

And that profound statement is followed by a command: “Listen to him!”

And then that’s it.

Now a feature you’ll note in Mark’s gospel, he states things simply and doesn’t elaborate much.

And so in verse 8, he tells us that suddenly they saw no one with them except Jesus.

They then come down the mountain discussing what they saw, but with Jesus telling them to keep it to themselves until he rises from the dead.

Theological reflection

Now, from verse 11 the discussion moves to the significance of Elijah, but I want to go back and explore some of the theological significance of what I have just recounted.

You see, one thing I love about the bible is how deep it is.

As you study it you can discover layers upon layers, with lots of different connections with other parts of scripture.

We find themes develop and as you explore those themes in different parts of the Bible you will new levels of depth to your understanding.

I believe that certainly is the case in this passage.

Similarities with Exodus 24

One of the very clear connection in this passage, is to an experience that Moses has back in .

Now describes the momentous occasion when Moses goes up Mount Sinai to receive the 10 Commandments and other laws.

What I want to do is point out a few of the similarities between what happens with Moses, and the transfiguration.