Sunday, February 10, 2013

The Mountaintop


Transfiguration Sunday
Luke 9:28-36

• Did you ever have a mountain top experience? At a retreat, heard an inspiring speaker, experienced powerful worship? Think of a time when you really met with God. People make commitments in such times. And like the disciples, we don’t want to come down.

• During this experience on the mountain, Jesus changes. He glows (Moses did, too, after receiving the Ten Commandments). Metamorphosizes. Receives divine visit from Moses & Elijah – affirmation from some major characters from the Old Testament.

Imagine putting on wet jeans and sweatshirt on blustery day like today – that's the incarnation. Jesus is away from his heavenly home for a lifetime, and in the Transfiguration experiences a momentary respite.

Peter wants to preserve the moment, but while he’s speaking, God speaks.

This is my Son whom I dearly love, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him!

Public and divine encouragement for Jesus... "attaboy" and "listen to this guy."

• It's enticing to stay there and soak up the sun but that’s not the purpose of this divine episode.

Three part purpose:
Divine encouragement, public acknowledgement, commission.

Jesus didn’t stay on the mountain because there was work to be done.
Passage before: Jesus is Christ. The Son of Man will be killed and raised.
Passage after: Jesus casts demon out of boy, reiterates SOM will be killed.

Jesus didn’t allow the guys to stay on the mountain because there was work to be done, and that work happens at ground level, where the people are.

But Jesus is Emmanuel God-With-Us, & having experienced God on the mountain, they return to “normal” life, with Jesus.

• We experience God, encounter God, are fed by God, but we can’t stay here, we go with Jesus into the world... so we can lead others to encounter God.

Meanwhile, we praise
• Hymn: How Great Thou Art

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