Sermon by Deacon Mike Stutso, 2/19/2023, Matthew 17: 1-9
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer, AMEN.
You know I originally wrote this sermon in 2017 on our vacation in New Orleans but since then I’ve become such a theological giant, I said to myself I’ve got to rewrite this bad boy.
Anyway, I absolutely love this time of year because it covers two of my favorite readings. That being the Sermon on the Mount, how can you not feel hope for humanity with the beauty of the Beatitudes and then today because it shows a parallel between the Hebrew Testament with Jesus’ ministries to clarify his relationship with his Disciples and why he was sent by God. I was actually thinking about bringing in a smoke machine but that might just be a bit of over kill.
When I was a kid, I remember how most people from Michigan would go on vacation: they would load up the cars and head up north on US-23 or I-75. But my family, nope! We loaded up the car and headed straight south to the mountains and the hollows of W.VA, and I wouldn’t change any of those memories for anything. I remember those days and nights when the clouds would move in and cover the mountain tops and at times you could not even see the houses further up in the hollow.
But now, I associate these memories with today’s reading. Transfiguration is an odd word; it is not like we use it much. I can’t remember a time that my wife and I used the word, while, let’s say we were out to dinner. But when I hear the word Transfiguration I think of those mountains or flying over the Alps or flying through clouds on the way to New Orleans when I wrote this sermon and how I might feel if I saw the three of them in the clouds.
I love this story and do not find it hard to talk about; I just put myself into the world and the words of the text and then try to imagine and feel what Peter, John and James must have seen and felt. So now I ask you to put yourself on that mountain top while I talk and see what you feel.
The Transfiguration is a unique part of the Synoptic Gospels but differs as in Luke’s account they talk about Jesus’ departure, but we don’t know what they said in Matthew's account. Jesus never announced or foretold of this upcoming event, nor did the Hebrew Testament prophesy this would happen, and you can well bet that the disciple didn’t know anything about it either. It marks a major turning point in Jesus’ life where he is turning more and more to Jerusalem and the fate that awaited him in the fulfillment of what he spoke of only days before.
Now in today’s reading it says six days earlier (in Luke’s eight days). But six appears to be one of those important numbers like 12 in the bible, God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh and Hebrew slaves worked for six years and freed on the seventh and Mt. Sinai was covered by a cloud for six days before Moses ascended it, just interesting information for your thoughts. So, six days prior Jesus asked, who does the crowd say I am? Their answer, John the Baptist, Elijah or ancient prophets, only Peter said "The Messiah.”
It has been said by many theologians that the disciples had a problem “getting it”, that they had problems seeing Jesus as the son of God and Devine. One would think that after all they had seen and been through with him, little things like walking on water, raising the dead, curing the sick, restoring the sight of the blind, casting out demons and just days before feeding thousands with five loaves of bread and two fishes and had 12 baskets full afterwards you would think they might get it.
Peter is the only one prior to Jesus’ death that was close to getting it but no door prize yet. Jesus told them to say nothing and foretold them of the suffering of the son of man. So up the (unnamed) mountain we go in today’s reading, Jesus takes Peter, John, and James up the mountain, why those three, why not all of them? It seems that most theologians agree on the fact these three were the first of the apostles/disciples that Jesus chose as his followers, so they were regarded as Jesus’ inner circle, plus the fact Jesus wasn’t ready to totally reveal everything just yet.
Here are some other parallels: Moses went up a mountain as Jesus does, Moses takes three followers, Aaron, Nadab and Abihu as well as 70 elders, where Jesus takes Peter, James and John. Jesus’ face shines as did Moses the difference Moses’ was a flection of God’s glory where Jesus’ is a reflection of his inner glory. God speaks through a cloud to both Moses and Jesus and finally God says, “Listen to Him” and for Moses “You shall listen to him”.
It is interesting to see these parallels between the Hebrew Testament and the Christian Testament. Jesus knew these things and the importance of the Hebrew Testament and fulfilling scripture.
Now let’s go up there, I’m sure it was hot, dusty, rocky and somewhat unpleasant to climb, but they went up with Jesus to pray. Do you think that maybe the three were thinking why just us and why do we have to go up there to pray? One thought is a mountain top symbolizes where heaven and earth meets and God dwells and you know what in those days we all might believe that too. But they followed him because that is what they did. It says that while up there the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white! Things might be getting a little scary and confusing at this point. Suddenly they saw two men talking to Jesus, it was Moses and Elijah, they are two of the most important and powerful prophets in the Hebrew Testament, Moses represents the law and Elijah represents the prophets. These two are my absolute favorite prophets in the Hebrew Testament.
NOW, did you know that the oldest photo known in existence was taken in 1826 or 1827, so there were no cameras back then? Why do I tell you this, how did they know that it was Moses and Elijah? I guess they could have seen a painting or a statue but where? Again, this is just food for thought. At this point, what do you think the disciples were thinking, what would you be thinking? Do you think they were scared and looking for a quick way back down that mountain?
In Luke’s Gospel it says they were talking about his departure in Jerusalem, but this was not talk of the end but the future, the fulfillment of God’s plan for our salvation. What do you think they were thinking about this, where is Jesus going and why? Then Peter asks Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here, was he sure or making sure it was ok for them to be seeing this? I can see more concern growing within them. Then he offers to make three dwellings, were they hoping to keep all three there alive on the mountain or maybe to give all three equal status? But just then a cloud came over them and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Do you think? A personal testimony here, do y’all remember Sanford and Son? Well, if I would have been me there, I would have been saying, Elizabeth, I coming to join you, honey! Then Peter would have been hollering down the mountain. Hey, send a stretcher up Mike done passed out up here.
Now, they see their master’s face change, his clothes shine and talk to two great prophets who are no longer with us. Now we have this cloud what else could happen, they were just going up there to pray. Well now there is a voice from the cloud, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him! (REPEAT). Well didn’t we hear words like this at someone’s Baptism recently?
Folks this message applies as much today as it did back then, maybe even more because we’ve got some problems down here. Now the Apostles had just heard the voice of God, YAWY, I AM. They probably thought they were going to die because no one lives through this. The Hebrews believed to even say God’s name would mean death so now they are hearing the voice of God. I probably would have died right there and then again, they would have to carry me back down. But then the cloud was gone, and it was just Jesus, their friend, their Rabbi, teacher the man who they loved and followed. Now Jesus shows us his compassion and understanding on what they were going through. He leans over and touched them and said, “Get up and do not be afraid”, like any parent would do for their child.
But now he was so much more he was the Messiah, The Chosen One, and The Son of God! But they are Just Fishermen not brain surgeons so how could they process this whole situation, there has never been anything like this in their time. This was a glimpse of his true glory; those three disciples were chosen by Jesus to experience his Transfiguration, the glorification of the human body of Jesus. How hard must it have been not to have talked about what they had seen not to be able to share with their friends until after his death? But they did as Jesus asked them to do and say nothing until the right time. And the journey now continues to Jerusalem and destiny.
You know life is like those hollows my family came from, there are valleys and there are mountain tops. In our lives there are highs and there are lows just like the lives of the disciples. But we must always keep the faith that God is still there and loves us and will wait for us.
So, the next time you see the clouds think of the Transfiguration and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, then think of the voice “Listen to Him” for he is leading you to a new mountain top. Then ask yourself, what you gonna do when the Holy Spirit gets ahold of you.
AMEN