Heavenly Sights

Thanks to Facebook, I was reminded throughout the past week, of all my polar plunges, and all the pictures and videos that were taken. For many years, around the end of February, I would jump into a hole cut in the ice at Sunnyvale Manmade Park in Wausau, to raise funds for Special Olympics, doing the polar plunge into very cold water. Usually, I did a belly flop. The past couple of years I haven’t done the polar plunge, but there is always next year!

An inspection was being conducted by a colonel. Everything had gone smoothly until the officer came to the man standing next to the soldier who recalled the incident.

The colonel stopped, looked the man up and down, then snapped, "Button that pocket, trooper!"

Now, to understand this, you need to know that normally, I have a hard time even getting into a swimming pool. If the water’s cold, it takes me forever. However, when doing the polar plunge, I have a secret weapon. The radio personality on the loudspeaker begins the countdown. “5-4-3-2-1- Jump!” They do it in such a way, that by the time they say, “jump!” I’m ready to go. No fear. No second thoughts. I gladly leap into the water without a moment’s hesitation.

The soldier, more than a little rattled stammered, "Right now, sir?"

Some things are better done that way.

"Of course right now! Was the reply.

This is pretty close to the mental image I have of Jesus and the disciples on the Mountain of Transfiguration.

Whereupon the soldier very carefully reached out and buttoned the flap on the colonel’s shirt pocket.

We are given a Divine Vision of the Glory of Jesus Christ.

It is the ultimate pep talk, the ultimate motivation, seeing Jesus shine brighter than the sun, as he is speaking to Moses and Elijah. Actual Moses and Elijah. They represent in person the entire Old Testament, the Law and the Prophets. Moses represents all the Law, and Elijah represents all the prophets.

And for Jesus, too, it is a way counting down to a pivotal moment in history.

Once Jesus and his disciples, Peter, James, and John leave the mountain, Jesus will have his course set to go on His divinely appointed mission of suffering and dying on the cross.

We know that this is the case, because when he was speaking with Moses and Elijah, they were speaking about “his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.”

“Departure” comes from the Greek word, Exodus, and can only refer to Jesus’ painful road to the cross, to Calvary, where he would lay down his life to rescue us from slavery to sin.

The Mountain of Transfiguration was Jesus’ point of no return as it were, and before Jesus could once again be glorified, he would have to undergo all of his suffering.

We read,

And as the men (Moses and Elijah) were parting from him (Jesus), Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said. ( ESV)

Luke 9:33 ESV

And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.

What is up with that?

The disciples, awaking from slumber, found themselves in the cloud that surrounded Jesus, Moses, and Elijah.

All throughout the Bible, this kind of cloud indicates the presence and the glory of God.

In the Old Testament, in the original exodus, as the people of Israel left the slavery of Egypt and travelled through the wilderness, the book of Exodus says that the LORD went before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire at night, so that they could travel by night and by day. In this way, the LORD guided and led them, and also used the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night to deliver them from their enemies.

“Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.” (, ESV)

even describes the clouds as the chariot of God! That’s quite a picture!

“He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind;” (, ESV)

In the Old Testament, in the original exodus, as the people of Israel left the slavery of Egypt and travelled through the wilderness, the book of Exodus says that the LORD went before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire at night, so that they could travel by night and by day. In this way, the LORD guided and led them, and also used the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night to deliver them from their enemies.

Therefore, the cloud on the Mountain of Transfiguration also revealed that Jesus is true God, and that in Jesus, God was present with people. The disciples got a precious glimpse and were given a divine vision that revealed in no uncertain terms glory of Jesus Christ, the very Son of God, the Light of the World, the Savior of the Nations, the fulfillment to every promise, and our hope for the future.

Finally, when it came to the worship life of Israel, in the holy of holies, in the tabernacle, where there was the ark of the covenant, with the mercy seat on top, there also the LORD would appear in a cloud above the mercy seat.

Therefore, the cloud on the Mountain of Transfiguration also revealed that Jesus is true God, and that in Jesus, God was present with people. The disciples got a precious glimpse and were given a divine vision that revealed in no uncertain terms glory of Jesus Christ, the very Son of God, the Light of the World, the Savior of the Nations, the fulfillment to every promise, and our hope for the future.

I, too, if I were there on the mountain of transfiguration, would never want that vision to go away.

However, there is another aspect to Peter’s desire to stay, and that is his reluctance to come to terms with the cross of Jesus.

In the journey to the cross, the disciples appear increasingly confused. Peter himself would grab a sword and try to defend Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Jesus could not stay on the mountain. He had to go to the cross to pay the punishment that our sins demanded, and pay it in full.

What then of us?

Biblically speaking, any testimony needs to be established by at least two or three witnesses.

This comes to light in the trial of Jesus, before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council. As people came forward to testify against him, none of their testimonies matched, and these testimonies had to be thrown out. So, the High Priest confronted Jesus one on one and asked Jesus if he was “the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One.”

Mark 14:62 ESV

62 And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

On the Mountain of Transfiguration, both Moses and Elijah spoke to Jesus. They established, by their testimony, that Jesus had come as God’s Son, the Savior the world.

What Jesus said next ties in perfectly with what happened on the Mountain of Transfiguration. He said,

“I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” (, ESV)

Mark 14:62 ESV

62 And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

On the Mountain of Transfiguration, both Moses and Elijah spoke to Jesus. They established, by their testimony, that Jesus had come as God’s Son, the Savior the world.

So, truth needs to be established by two or three witnesses. It’s taken me a while to get to this point, since I wanted to show you exactly how I got here. Now here it is at last!

On the Mountain of Transfiguration, both Moses and Elijah spoke to Jesus. They established, by their testimony, that Jesus had come as God’s Son, the Savior the world.

On the Mountain of Transfiguration, both Moses and Elijah spoke to Jesus. They established, by their testimony, by the words that they spoke, that Jesus had come as God’s Son, the Savior the world, and now nothing would ever be the same again.

When Jesus rose from the dead, there also were two witnesses, two angels that looked like men in dazzling apparel. They spoke to the women who had come with burial spices, and the two witnesses said,

Luke 24:5–7 ESV

And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.”

Luke 24:5–7 ESV

5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.”

Once again, when Jesus ascended into heaven, there were two witnesses, angels who appeared standing by the disciples. The angels wore white robes and said,

“Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” (, ESV)

Acts 1:11 ESV

and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Thus, there is a powerful connection between the Transfiguration of Jesus, the Resurrection of Jesus, and the Ascension of Jesus. In each case, there are two witnesses who prove that Jesus, God’s Son, true God, is our risen Savior, and He come again on the last day, riding on the clouds.

But that’s not all, there are other witnesses, too, witnesses who would testify to each of these events, witnesses who would learn that Jesus had to suffer in order to be our Savior, witnesses who would learn that though we are sinners, Jesus has given us forgiveness through His body that was given and His blood that was shed. There would be witnesses who would testify that they saw Jesus risen from the dead, and they heard Jesus promise to be with us, even to the end of the age.

The disciples, as confused as they were, would learn the truth. They would spread the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And that is what we are called upon to do as well.

We have been given a divine vision in the means of grace, as they are called, in the Bible, which is God’s Word, we have learned the truth about Jesus. In Baptism, we have been joined to Jesus and His death and resurrection, and the Sacrament, we receive Christ’s very body and blood, given and shed once for all, so that whoever believes in Jesus has forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

There is only one true Christ. He came as God’s very Son. He endured suffering and the cross. He rose from the dead. He’s coming again as judge.

This is who is He is, and we are His witnesses, witnesses of His death and of His resurrected glory!

We have seen Jesus through faith, and so we bear testimony to him, even though it means that we are also called to bear our crosses and follow Jesus.

What you have seen bears a huge impact on what you do. What you have witnessed impacts not only your life, but others.

Here is a true story that a soldier wrote about his experience in the army. It happened during a company inspection at the Redstone Arsenal in Alabama. An inspection was being conducted by a colonel. Everything had gone smoothly until the officer came to the man standing next to this soldier. The colonel stopped, looked the man up and down, then shouted, "Button that pocket, trooper!" The soldier, more than a little rattled, stammered, "Right now, sir?" "Of course right now! Was the reply. Whereupon the soldier very carefully reached out and buttoned the flap on the colonel’s shirt pocket. I’m not sure what happened next, but I know that took a lot of courage.

It’s not always easy being a witness. It usually takes all the courage we have. But we have seen something so very special, and something that extends beyond, beyond the cross, beyond the empty grave, and into eternity. We have seen Jesus Christ, our Savior. He is glorious. He is our Savior, who loves us unconditionally. He leads us and guides us day by day. He will put His arms around us and welcome us into his eternal presence, into heaven itself.

The vision has become our mission. So, let’s reach out, and let’s be the witnesses that we are. Amen.

Heavenly Sights

1. The Mt. of Transfiguration is the countdown to the cross.

2. We see that Peter didn’t want to leave.

3. Like the disciples, we, too, are witnesses.