Listen to Him

Michael Coppock

Individual sermon • Sermon • Submitted 5 years ago

0 ratings

· 2 views

Notes

Transcript

Psalter

Psalm 99 NRSV

1 The Lord is king; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! 2 The Lord is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples. 3 Let them praise your great and awesome name. Holy is he! 4 Mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. 5 Extol the Lord our God; worship at his footstool. Holy is he! 6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called on his name. They cried to the Lord, and he answered them. 7 He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud; they kept his decrees, and the statutes that he gave them. 8 O Lord our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings. 9 Extol the Lord our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the Lord our God is holy.

Opening Prayer

Holy One, Light of light, God of all creation, long ago you showed yourself to the disciples in Jesus’ transfiguration— his face glowing like a field of daffodils on a bright, spring morning. Shine in us, around us, and through us, that the world may see your glory in the faces of your people— faces transfigured in the light of your love. Amen.

Pastoral Prayer

Awesome and great is your Name, O God. You have revealed yourself to be the mighty ruler who loves justice; we, the children of your creation and adoption, come to worship at your footstool. we extol you in all the earth, and we come to praise you for your holiness.

From the days of Moses and the wandering-in-the -desert, you have revealed your will to your people in the Law. You have inspired prophets to speak the words of your truth and to call us back again and again. You have even shown yourself in your glory to humans. Despite all the evidence, we still try to draw away and follow our own interpretations. Although your call to us is very clear, we try to avoid the hard task of revealing your light to all those we meet. For our selfishness and neglect, forgive us O Lord.

As you have sent your Holy Spirit on those who have prophesied, so send it afresh on us that we, too, may speak the word of your truth. Give us the wisdom and power to move down from the mountaintops of seeing your face and into the world which is so in need of your mercy; make us your instruments.

As we rejoice in being the gathered community here in your presence, we call to mind that there are others this day who see no cause for rejoicing. O God, visit those who are in the hospital and nursing home; show your mercy to those who are in physical and emotional pain; wipe away the tears of those who mourn; and to all, give your peace. Especially, we pray for...

We pray that one day we might dwell with him in glory forever, the one who Name is Jesus Christ and who taught us to pray by saying...

Scripture Lesson

Matthew 17:1–9 NRSV

1 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. 3 Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 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.” 5 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!” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” 8 And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. 9 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

What are you listening to? In our passage on this Transfiguation Sunday, we come to a familiar place for many of us. A mountain top experience in the presence of God. Peter, James, and John had journeyed to this place with Jesus just six days after Peter’s famous confession and his infamous take-down Caesarea Philippi. Now they have traveled several miles north to Mount Hermon. Why Jesus takes them to this specific place? It alludes back to where Moses goes up the mountain when Moses was in the presence of God and covered the top of the mountain for six days.

The story of the Transfiguration has brought much thought and spilled ink to Christian theology. Certainly, there are connections back to the Old Testament and Moses. This is particularly true of Matthew’s gospel where Jesus is seen as the new Moses. But there is something much different that the synoptic gospel writers are trying to get across. Jesus’ coming into the world is more than what Moses did. Jesus introduces a complete and total shift in the world. What the disciples experience on this mountain was life-altering for them. We even read about in Peter’s account in

2 Peter 1:16–21 NRSV

For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain. So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

So what happened on the mountain had a profound affect on Peter after his quick rise and fall. But Matthew adds three words that are missing from Peter’s account, “Listen to him!” With everything that Jesus has already taught throughout the gospel, it’s just now that we hear this declarative statement. Shouldn’t they have been listening to him the entire time of his ministry and teaching? Yes. But now, we see why we should listen to him and what we should be listening for. Jesus is not the warrior messiah that Peter and the rest were anticipating. Hence, the reason for Peter’s rebuke after his confession. This is something more - something greater. Something completely unexpected. So this morning, on this Transfiguration Sunday, as we transition into the Lenten season, we look at the why and the what questions about Jesus that are found in the Transfiguration and ultimately, we are looking to answer the same questions that the disciples were trying to answer all those years ago.

1. Listen because he is fully God. (vs. 1-2)

Matthew 17:1–2 NRSV

Colossians 1:15–20 NRSV

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

Colossians 1:15–19 NRSV

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; 16 for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,

The event of the Transfiguration itself is shrouded in mystery. What exactly happened on the mountain? We get that everything was white, and there was this incredible light that came from Jesus. But what was it? Commentators for centuries have looked for answers. Most suggest that the transfiguration is a revelation of Christ’s heavenly or divine nature, a revelation of Jesus as he always was and is. On this view, Jesus was not really changed; rather, the disciples were enabled to perceive what was always the case. In other words, they were able to see Jesus not as the warrior messiah that had come to reestablish the earthly throne of David in Jerusalem and vanquish the Romans. They saw the full divine nature; Jesus is God in the flesh.

He always was God in the flesh. From his birth, God dwelt in the person of Jesus. Paul tells us in that he is the image of the invisible God and the fullness of God was pleased to dwell in him. This didn’t happen at his baptism like the Nestorians believed. There wasn't a difference in the divine and human. Jesus was some kind of demigod like we read about in Greek and Roman mythology. The disciples witnessed the full divine nature of God within Jesus.

Why is this so important for us to understand? Because as Paul says, all things were created through him and by him. He is before all things and holds all things together. They saw in that moment that Christ is above all things. He created all things. This is extremely important in light of all that has happened thus far and will happen as they begin to go toward Jerusalem and the cross.

On this Transfiguration Sunday, we are reminded that we listen to what Jesus says because he is God in the flesh. The Transfiguration points us to the fact that in Jesus the fullness of God was pleased to dwell and because of that we need to listen to what he says to us. In a world that is filled with so many other voices that are much easier to latch on to and follow, listening to Jesus becomes a different task. We have to take the time to drown out the other voices so that we can hear what Jesus is saying. In a recent Pew Research Report, two-thirds of Americans are getting their news from social media. Ready for this? Facebook is the number one source, followed by Twitter, YouTube, and Snapchat.

Over the last thirty years, Americans have seen a substantial shift in the way news is reported. American news sources have moved from informing people about world events in an unbiased way to reporting the news with the goal of influencing our perspectives and votes from biased perspectives.

It's because of this world that we live in that we need to turn off the things around us long enough to truly listen to the one who created all things. Jesus is God in the flesh. If we are to know him and ourselves, we must look to him first and foremost before all other things.

2. Listen because he is the fulfillment of Scripture. (vs. 3-5)

Matthew 17:3–5 NRSV

3 Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 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.” 5 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!”

Luke 24:27 NRSV

27 Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

Luke 24:

Next we deal with the question of what. What are we listening for? It is interesting that in this incredible moment we see the two pillars of Jewish theology and thought in presence of Jesus. It is a reminder that Jesus is the fulfillment of all Scripture. Along the road to Emmaus, Jesus tells the two disciples about how he is the fulfillment of Scripture in the Law and the prophets. But in what ways is Jesus the fulfillment of these things. I want to just take a moment to point out some scriptures that Jesus fulfills and may have shared with the disciples going to Emmaus.

Deuteronomy 18:15 NRSV

The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet.

Deuteronomy 18:18 NRSV

I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet, who shall speak to them everything that I command.

Fulfillment of the Cultic/Ceremonial Law

Leviticus 16:15–16 NRSV

He shall slaughter the goat of the sin offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside the curtain, and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, sprinkling it upon the mercy seat and before the mercy seat. Thus he shall make atonement for the sanctuary, because of the uncleannesses of the people of Israel, and because of their transgressions, all their sins; and so he shall do for the tent of meeting, which remains with them in the midst of their uncleannesses.

Psalm 22:6–8 NRSV

But I am a worm, and not human; scorned by others, and despised by the people. All who see me mock at me; they make mouths at me, they shake their heads; “Commit your cause to the Lord; let him deliver— let him rescue the one in whom he delights!”

Psalm 22:14–18 NRSV

I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. For dogs are all around me; a company of evildoers encircles me. My hands and feet have shriveled; I can count all my bones. They stare and gloat over me; they divide my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots.

Psalm 22:

Isaiah 52:13–53:12 NRSV

See, my servant shall prosper; he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high. Just as there were many who were astonished at him —so marred was his appearance, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of mortals— so he shall startle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because of him; for that which had not been told them they shall see, and that which they had not heard they shall contemplate. Who has believed what we have heard? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by others; a man of suffering and acquainted with infirmity; and as one from whom others hide their faces he was despised, and we held him of no account. Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have all turned to our own way, and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By a perversion of justice he was taken away. Who could have imagined his future? For he was cut off from the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people. They made his grave with the wicked and his tomb with the rich, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him with pain. When you make his life an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, and shall prolong his days; through him the will of the Lord shall prosper. Out of his anguish he shall see light; he shall find satisfaction through his knowledge. The righteous one, my servant, shall make many righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will allot him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out himself to death, and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Daniel 7:13–14 NRSV

As I watched in the night visions, I saw one like a human being coming with the clouds of heaven. And he came to the Ancient One and was presented before him. To him was given dominion and glory and kingship, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingship is one that shall never be destroyed.

Hebrews 10:1–4 NRSV

Since the law has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered year after year, make perfect those who approach. Otherwise, would they not have ceased being offered, since the worshipers, cleansed once for all, would no longer have any consciousness of sin? But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sin year after year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

Hebrews 10:11–18 NRSV

And every priest stands day after day at his service, offering again and again the same sacrifices that can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, “he sat down at the right hand of God,” and since then has been waiting “until his enemies would be made a footstool for his feet.” For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying, “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds,” he also adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

1 John 4:10 NRSV

In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Because Jesus fulfilled the ceremonial law to the fullest through his sacrifice on the cross, we no longer have to give sacrifices or have need for a Temple at all. He did it once and for all.

He also fulfills all the moral Law as well.

Hebrews 4:14–16 NRSV

Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

In all these ways Jesus fulfilled all the Law and the prophets.

3. Listen because he overcomes the world.

Matthew 17:6 NRSV

6 When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear.

Matthew 17:6–9 NRSV

6 When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” 8 And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. 9 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.”

John 1:3–5 NRSV

3 All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

In this moment, the disciples were completely overcome with fear. They had no clue as to what was really taking place. In his fear, Peter wants to build structures for everyone there. Some have interpreted this as Peter wanting to stay on the mountain because of this incredible experience. But it may have more of a connection to the festival of Booths. This was a pilgrimage festival that Jews went to every year. It was a reminder of their time in the desert when they made structures out of the things they could find in the wilderness as they moved from place to place. This festival is often connected to the coming of God or the day of the Lord as it is called in the Old Testament. So Peter may be thinking that this is some kind of eschatalogical event that will bring the end of the world. Cyril of Jerusalem wrote: “Peter, thinking perchance that the time of the kingdom of God was even now come, proposes dwellings on the mountain, and says that is fitting that there should be three tabernacles…But he knew not, it says, what he was saying, for it was not the time of the consummation of the world, nor for the saints to take possession of th hope promised them.” Whatever Pete has in mind, and whatever his mistake might be - Is it that he wants to linger when he cannot? Is it that he wants to build booths instead of letting God take things in hand? - the cloud and its voice interrupt him. His job is not at this point to do or to teach but to listen. It is a voice that speaks peace in a time of distress and confusion.

The light that comes from Jesus is the light of the world that overcomes all fear. Maybe this is why John writes in his first letter (), “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts our fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love.” Or it may be why Peter writes, “Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.” () Through Jesus, we overcome the fear that is set in our lives. It is easy for us to be overcome by this fear. When we listen to the world around us and hear all of the terrible things that can sometime happen, it can overwhelm us. We turn on the news or read Facebook posts, and it can be daunting to us. We just want to go into our booths and hide with Jesus and stay with him. But we can’t cut ourselves off from the world. We have to go into the world; we have to come down from the mountain. But unlike the disciples, we are commanded to tell the world about Jesus. We are not held back to keep the crowds from expecting a conquering hero. We declare the One who is God in the flesh. When we listen to him, the mountains and the valleys are not places of fear but places of opportunity. They are places to bring peace in times of peril. Keeping Jesus locked up does not allow for the movement of the Spirit. We go to declare the good news - the fact that Jesus is God and he is the fulfillment of all things. This is not fear. This is boldness. Just as Paul says in , “Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel.”

Conclusion

As we close, let us truly listen to what Jesus says to us. May his voice be the voice that brings boldness into our lives so that we can proclaim the good news that the God of the universe has come in the fulfillment of all Scripture so that we may be reconciled to him and be in relationship to him. Brothers and sisters, the mystery of the Transfiguration leads us to the truth of Christ and the truth of who we are in him. May we be the ones who let Christ shine through us. May we be like Moses was as he came down the mounting in the presence of God and our face shine brightly. May we illuminate Christ in our lives daily for the world to see. Then we become the embodiment of the Transfiguration today.

Benediction

Walk in light and truth. See the light of Christ in every face. Be the light of Christ to all you meet. Amen.

Related Media

Related Sermons