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Transfiguration Sunday Matthew 17.1-9 2Peter 1.16-21 Exodus 24.12-18 February 6, 2005 “This is my Son, the Beloved; with whom I am well pleased” These are the same familiar words of God that we heard one month ago when we celebrated the baptism of our Lord—marking the beginning of his public ministry. And now, here we are again, with God making his voice known from the cloud on the Holy Mountain—this time near the very end of his life. For, today is Transfiguration Sunday…the last Sunday before the Season of Lent, when we walk with Christ up to Jerusalem where he will be crucified. These familiar words are important because they tell us who this man, Jesus Christ, is….He is God’s humble servant. Listen to the words of God spoken through the Prophet Isaiah (which is also quoted in Matthew’s Gospel to explain who Christ is)…Listen. Mathew 12.18-21 “Here is my servant, whom I have chosen, My beloved, with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not wrangle or cry aloud, Nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets. He will not break a bruised reed or quench a smoldering wick Until he brings justice to victory. And in his name the Gentiles will hope.” He (Jesus) is God’s humble servant, and just as he refused to exult himself by baptizing John, even now—near the end of his life—he refuses to point to himself. He refuses to get caught up in a life of fame—a life of fame that surely would have changed his life immensely. Throughout Matthew, Jesus seems to see this self-exultation as extremely dangerous—a temptation of Satan (as can be seen in the wilderness in Matt 4). And again in the 16th chapter of Matthew, when he tells his disciples what he must undergo in Jerusalem—crucifixion and death—Peter tells him to protect himself. Jesus says, “get behind me Satan.” And in the same chapter the scribes and Pharisees ask him for a sign if he truly is the Messiah. And again he refuses. Isn’t it ironic that the one—the humble, suffering servant of God—whose whole life would be a sign (and has been a sign for thousands/millions of Christians) was the one people had such a hard time seeing? Looking @ the Son of God square in the face, and not knowing it. It kind of makes you wonder about our own lives doesn’t it? I mean, how often do we come upon God in our lives without realizing (usually not until much later do we realize these encounters). And even on the Holy Mountain, when Jesus is glorified by God the Father, Peter wants to set up tents (one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah) in order to prolong the vision that he sees. When suddenly right before his eyes Jesus changes—no longer is the vision of Jesus talking to Moses and Elijah—now it’s just him. And now comes the hard part…the command..the voice of God that says… Listen to him… Listen to him. But how? How do we listen to Christ…in a world that fights form our attention? In a world that will today spend millions of dollars on Super Bowl commercials, trying to grab our attention, how do we listen to such a humble God? How do we take time in a world that seems to be moving faster and faster? How do we take the time from our busy schedules to listen to God? In 2Peter, Peter tells us to allow God’s prophetic voice to be a lamp in a dark place. How do we allow God’s voice to change our world—our lives? And how do we listen and stop neglecting the word of God in scripture? You know, every time I read scripture, I hear something new, but how often do I neglect to pick it up and read it? Brothers and Sisters, as we approach Lent…as you consider what you might do…I challenge you—no Let God’s voice challenge us to “Listen to him.” This Lent, rather than giving something up, perhaps, let us each try to listen to God in some new way: weather it’s by spending more time with our families (the people God has given us), through prayer, or through cracking open the pages of scripture…let us pick up this challenge “This is my Son…Listen to him.” -------------------- Joshua W. Magyar, Pella Lutheran Church 418 W. Main Street Sidney, MT 59270
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