Key Moments in Jesus' Life: Transfiguration

Pastor Meyer’s Sermon

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our heavenly Father and from our risen Lord and Savior, Jesus, our Christ.

I couldn’t believe it. It was 9:30 at night. I am tired and exhausted. All I want to do is go to bed. It’s been a long day and, there I was, in the middle of Target. And I was trudging through the aisles looking for the signs to lead me to the most important light bulb there is. Because, my friends, I don’t care what you say, when you put the kids to bed, it doesn’t matter how many times you fluff the pillows, it doesn’t matter how tightly you tuck them in, it doesn’t matter how many glasses of water you give them and make sure they have their blankie and their stuffed animal and even lay down with them, if you do not have this light bulb, they will not go to sleep. Hence, it’s the most important light bulb in the house because it doesn’t matter what words of encouragement you use, it doesn’t matter what actions of comfort you try to give, the kids still need their nightlight.

And this morning, we see that these three disciples, Peter, John and James, also were in need of something similar. For three years, they had trudged through the land of Israel. They, too, were tired and exhausted for it had been a long three years. They had been following sign after sign given to them by their master, Jesus, and it gave them a glimpse of who He is but they still were not sure. And in spite of all the words of comfort and all the actions of assurance that Jesus gives, in spite of all the things they had witnessed Jesus do and say, the disciples still needed what amounted to a nightlight.

And so here on this mountaintop becomes another key moment in Jesus’ life when He transfigured Himself before His three closest friends. And, my friends, transfigured can also be described as metamorphosed, that He changed into something. We describe it when we talk about a caterpillar changing into a butterfly and here we see that Jesus has changed His appearance completely and the question becomes, “Why did He do that?” Certainly, He didn’t just transfigure so He could show off His power. No, because we see Jesus saying over and over again that He has come to serve, not to be served. Truly, He didn’t shine like a Roman candle on July 4 just because he had the switch and could switch it on. No, there certainly was an important reason for this key moment in the life of Jesus. In fact, He wanted it to become a key moment in the life of Peter, James and John, to give comfort, to give assurance at a time that it was needed, to be, in essence, a nightlight.

And I wonder this morning where you might be in your life and what circumstances you might find yourself if we, too, are in need of a nightlight. Because, you see, just as a nightlight does for kids, Jesus also does these three things as He transfigures on the mountain. And when you talk to children, they will say the first reason why they have this nightlight is because they’re afraid of the dark. A nightlight provides light in the midst of darkness. It’s interesting what things can look like in the dark. My daughter, Abby, said she doesn’t like the ceiling fan because, in the dark, it looks like a monster. And you know that crumpled up sweater in the corner of the room can certainly take on a whole different persona in the darkness.

And Peter and James and John were finding themselves in the midst of darkness, a darkness of misunderstanding because Jesus was to be their Messiah. After all, that’s what Peter had confessed six days before Jesus’ transfiguration. He said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” but in the darkness of their misunderstanding, “Messiah” had a totally different meaning for them. For them, “Messiah” meant they were going to Jerusalem to take over the kingdom of Israel, to take it away from the Romans. “Messiah” to them meant that their kingdom was going to be restored to the glorious time of King David and King Solomon. To them, a “Messiah” meant that all the people in the land of Israel would be provided for. There would be no needs. And, in fact, so great was this belief that the disciples themselves would argue amongst themselves about who would be the greatest in this kingdom but, through Jesus’ transfiguration, in Him becoming as bright as the light, He shines in the midst of misunderstanding. And He begins to show things for what they truly are, that Jesus is not just a Son of God but He is the true Son of God, to help them to see who He truly is and what the “Messiah” really means, that He was not going to go to take over Jerusalem, rather, the people of Jerusalem were going to take over Him. In the words of Jesus, He said, “The son of man is to suffer at their hands.” That’s what it means for “Messiah.”

And I wonder, “Are we in need of a nightlight?” For, are there times in your life where you feel covered in the darkness of misunderstanding? And maybe you find yourself in the midst of that right now. Maybe you’re saying, “If I’m a believer, then why am I dealing with such a mess in my life at this moment?” “Why isn’t God answering my prayers, the prayer that I’ve been praying for? Doesn’t He care?” But in this transfiguration, Jesus shined a light to Peter and James and John to show them things for what they truly were and He also shines a light for each and every one of us to tell you that this son of man is the true Messiah, that this Messiah has suffered for you, that in the midst of darkness, in the midst of misunderstanding, we can say with the words of Paul that, “For God who said light shine out of darkness has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus.” My friends, let Jesus shine in the midst of that darkness of misunderstanding.

Now the second reason why we would need a nightlight, as well as to be a light in the midst of darkness, but the second one is a light to show the way. My son said the reason why he likes his nightlight is because it shows him the way to the bathroom but then it also shows him the way back home, home meaning his bed.

And Peter and James and John were certainly at a time where they were uncertain of their way. Just six days before this transfiguration, I mentioned that Peter had talked about that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the living God, but Jesus told them this. It was certainly astounding to them, “From that time, Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and to be killed.” This certainly wasn’t a way that they were expecting to follow. And, all of a sudden, their path became cloudy. They weren’t sure which way to go. They weren’t sure whether they could truly follow this man. This man was teaching and telling them very hard things. Could they accept it? Is this person who He really says He is?

And, my friends, I wonder if we find ourselves asking similar questions. We, too, are in need of a nightlight. Maybe we find ourselves having to make a choice and we’re just not sure on this decision which way to go. Or maybe you have a certain circumstance in your life that you’re just not sure the best way to go about disciplining your children or going about leading them the way you would like to see them as they grow older. But Jesus tells us, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” And on that mountaintop, He confirmed for Peter, James and John and he confirmed for us, too, who He truly is, the Son of God.

Now the third reason why we would need a nightlight would be because the light provides hope in the midst of darkness. And we might find ourselves in darkness. We might find ourselves needing a light to show the way but maybe we are doing okay right now in our lives but we know that light gives us that hope.

Peter, about 30 years later after Jesus had died and rose again and ascended, was facing a difficult time. He had been told by Jesus that there would be a time in his life where he would go where he does not want to go, that he would be clothed what he does not want to be clothed in. And he knew it was getting close to the end of his life and he also knew that many people were starting to question whether this Jesus was really true or not, whether these teachings were really true or were they just myths. And in the midst of this darkness, in the midst of these questionings, Peter had hope and this is the hope he gives, “For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power in the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ, for we were eyewitnesses of His majesty, for when He received honor and glory from God the Father and the voice was born to Him by the majestic glory, ‘This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased,’ we ourselves heard this very voice born from heaven, for we were with Him on the holy mountain and we have something more sure, the prophetic word to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place.”

The nightlight provides hope. Jesus shining like the light of day on the mountaintop provided hope for Peter during difficult times. And I pray that same hope can be with you this morning, that this morning would be a key moment for you in your life, that you would know Jesus is truly who He says He is, that He is there with you in the midst of darkness, that He will show you the way and that He will give you that hope. My prayer is that you’ll take that with you and that you’ll live that out and make it a part of you. Amen.

Copyright 2009 Gloria Dei Lutheran Church