Luke 9 28-36 2007
Transfiguration
Luke 9:28-36
February, 18, 2007
“Are You Listening”
Listening test: 1. Spell the word shop…shop. Say the Word. Now, when you come to a traffic light that is green, what do you do? 2. Spell the word silk…silk. Now say the Word. Now, what does a baby cow drink? 3. Listen very carefully. You are the conductor of the train. There are 30 people on the train. At the first stop, ten people get off. At the second stop, five people get on and five people get off. Now, answer the question, who is driving the train?
Introduction: Brothers and Sisters in Christ, At the beginning of the Epiphany season we hear the Voice from heaven as God the Father sends the Holy Spirit upon His Only-Begotten Son standing in the Jordan River. Jesus is baptized to fulfill all righteousness. God the Father says, "This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17).
At the end of the Epiphany season we hear the same Voice - this time from a cloud on the mountain where Jesus is transfigured. On this Transfiguration Sunday, three days before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent, the eternal Son of God manifests the glory that is His from eternity. God the Father says, "This is My Beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him" (Matthew 17:5). Our Father speaks and tells Jesus' disciples to "Listen to Him." When the Word of the Father is heard in this world, it is important, and Christians of all ages and places do well to "Listen to Him."
One of the first reactions for many people is to ask the question, "Why?, Why Listen" But considering that this is the LORD God Almighty speaking, no one should presume to ask God the question, "Why?" Of course some people, in ignorance, will still ask the question. God has explained "why" in His Holy Word. Through the Apostle John, God tells us, these things are written, as they were heard by the first people listening, (so that you can hear them) so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. That by believing in His name you may have eternal life. Of course, the person contented with this life, doesn’t care about eternal life, at least not until they are about to die. We too, who were dead in our trespasses and sins, also scorned this Word from God, a Word that needs to be heard, that does in fact give what it promises. Through God’s Spirit, through the waters of Holy baptism we have been given ears to “Listen to Him.” And, as we do, we have life, and faith, and we live according to what we have heard and believe as Christ’s disciples. "Listen to Him." Listen to His Word, the word of God.
Luke 9:28-36 - Now about eight days after these sayings He (Jesus) took with Him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And as He was praying, the appearance of His countenance was altered, and His raiment became dazzling white. And behold, two men talked with Him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His exodus, which He was to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and those who were with Him were heavy with sleep, and when they wakened they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him. And as the men were parting from Him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is well that we are here; let us make three booths, one for You and one for Moses and one for Elijah" -- not knowing what he said. As he said this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. And a Voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My Son, My Chosen; listen to Him!" Thus far the inspired and inerrant Word of the LORD our God.
First we hear the command of the Father. Like any commandment that proceeds from the mouth of God, it is not optional, nor is it a divine suggestion. A Voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My Son, My Chosen, listen to Him!" The disciples of the LORD are to listen to Jesus because they will hear the Voice of God. He is the very Word of God made flesh. If we are to respond in any way, the proper and wise response is what the boy Samuel said when God called out his name in the night. The boy responded, "Speak, for Your servant hears" (1 Samuel 3:10). This is what the LORD expects.
To neglect listening to the Word is sin. To avoid hearing what Jesus says is a transgression of and against the holy will of God. To shut your ears to what the Son says is to shut your ears to what the Father says, for the Son and the Father are one along with the Holy Spirit. The yawning mouth of hell awaits those who listen neither to the Father nor to the Son. We must listen to His Word because the One thing needful for us is to sit at the feet of Jesus and hear Him; to be in the Presence of the LORD and to listen to the Word.
In listening to Him the Lord God gives us faith in His Son that Saves us from sin. "Faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ" (Romans 10:17). One of the most frequently recorded words of Jesus is this, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear" (Matthew 11:15).
What do we hear? The Father announces that Jesus is His Beloved Son Whom He has sent to be the Savior of the world and the Redeemer of all people - a Light to lighten the Gentiles and the Glory of His people Israel. "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the
world might be saved through Him" (John 3:17). "For the Law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ" (John 1:17).
This Moses, who talked with Jesus along with Elijah, had spoken of the promised Savior. In Deuteronomy, Moses communicated to the children of God, "The LORD God will raise up for you a Prophet from your brethren as He raised me up. You shall listen to Him in whatever He tells you" (Acts 3:22). This prophet is the man Jesus Christ and the Son of God
What the Son of God has to say is important. And so you ask, what is the content of Jesus words that we are to hear? The answer is His Exodus. The story of the Jews led out of their slavery in Egypt, led through the desert and finally into the promised land is fulfilled for all people as Jesus leads us home. And in the scripture reading Jesus calls it His exodus, "And behold, two men talked with Him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His Exodus, which He was to accomplish at Jerusalem." The Exodus of Jesus would take place after the Passover when He would depart from the Holy City and be led outside the gates to the cursed place where crosses were planted in the ground. Here the Exodus of the Incarnate Son of God would take place as the Lamb of God atoned for the sins of the world. The ultimate sacrifice is made. At the death of God, His spirit departed from His Body that was broken for you. But Christ's Exodus did not end there, for He rose from the dead and departed from the tomb. He rose from the dead in the flesh, with body and spirit re-united, the glorious and victorious Jesus ascended into heaven and resumed His place at the right hand of the Father. Then He returned to and entered into the promised land of Paradise. As He has entered into the promised land of heaven He has led all people that believe in Him into that glorious land. For Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you.”
We are not there yet? Oh, it’s true, heaven is our home, yet we must wait. We journey through this life. Peter, James and John left that mountain top and journeyed with Jesus for the first part of His Exodus. In doing so they would be witness to the humiliation of Christ as "He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross" (Philippians 2:8). The disciples would hear the Son of God speak the Word and then watch the events unfold that God was permitting. ///What they saw disturbed them - the Son of God assuming the position of a slave with towel and basin to wash their feet, Jesus praying alone in the Garden of Gethsemane - the guards taking the Master into custody in the darkness of the night. The disciples would hear the LORD Jesus speak the Word of God and then get it all backwards in their lives. They will hear Jesus say to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priest and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified, and He will be raised on the third day" (Matthew 20:18-19) In the process they will fall asleep when Jesus needed them the most. Peter will draw the sword to save Jesus, then he will deny Him… three times. All of the disciples fall away from Him as He continues His Exodus to the cross, to the grave and finally out of the empty tomb.
After all these things they lived by faith, and followed their Lord and all that He said. As they listened to Him, during their earthly journey they suffered hardship, persecution and death. Why, because they listened to Jesus and understood, “Lord to whom shall we go, You have the Words of eternal life. Their journey is over, their Exodus from this life is complete, they are in the Promised Land.
Dear Baptized, when visited with suffering, disease, pain, grief, injury or declining health, even as we stand at the door of death, it is important to abide by that Voice which says, "This is My Son, My Chosen; listen to Him!" and hear the glorious Son of God say, "And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also"
Throughout the penitential season of Lent and into Easter, we will hear the Words of our Lord, “Listen to Him." I invite, encourage and beg you to come to this holy house and hear the words of Jesus. As we follow Jesus this Lent and as we journey with Him on His exodus and ours. “Listen to Him.”
"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. And we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God'" (John 6:68- 69). Amen.
