For Mar 22

 

Sermon Notes: Jesus, Our Transformer

Intro: For the last four Sundays, our Lenten journey to Easter via the Cross has shown us some of the things Jesus did during His earthly ministry, and can do for us even now. He healed people’s physical ailments that no one else could, even raising Lazarus from the dead. But His real focus of healing was not this human, mortal body, but our immortal, however sin sick, souls. For such healing, He was the Lamb of God, the Perfect Sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins. We saw Him also as our Chief Priest, the only One who could enter the Presence of the Holy of Holies to offer Himself as the one time, for all time sacrifice for all who believe in Him, instead of an annual sacrifice for the sins of Israel. Then, forgiven of our sins through His Sacrifice, we are able to enter the eternal kingdom of Heaven. Not only will He forgive our sins, he can mend lives that have been broken by sin and by any tragic circumstances of life.

 

I. Who Are You, Jesus?

A. Jesus drew much attention during His earthly ministry. Word of His healings traveled rapidly throughout Israel. He was continuously surrounded by those who wanted to be healed, and even more to see if He was the long awaited Messiah of prophecy. But in spite of the many signs pointing to Jesus as the Messiah, the overarching question persisted, and a question that still lingers for many today still searching for the answer: Who are you, Jesus? Today, our journey of Lent will take us to the event called the Transfiguration that revealed Jesus’ divine identity to a chosen few at the time, but becomes a significant witness even today to those seeking answers to Jesus’ identity.

B. To provide context for the Transfiguration event, we join Jesus and His disciples in the pagan area of Caesarea Philippi, north of the Sea of Galilee. Pagan belief was that the entrance to the deep underground cave there was the gate of hell, where the evil gods of the underworld resided. It was the backdrop for Jesus to ask the disciples perhaps the final exam questions after two years of being with Him. He first asks. “Who do people say I am?”, then the more significant question, “Who do you say I am?”  Without hesitation Peter responds, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God!”  Jesus is pleased, saying that upon the rock of that confession, He would build His Church, and the gates of hell wouldn’t prevail against it.

C. Their graduation celebration was short lived when Jesus then announced they would be heading back to Jerusalem, where they had recently escaped an angry confrontation with the religious leaders and didn’t want to return. It was still about 6-7 months until Passover, and Jesus had begun to tell the disciples He must die in Jerusalem. Although they didn’t understand, they followed their Master on what would be their last journey with Him.

 D. Stories of His miracles had attracted much attention, while many hoped He was the Messiah to free them from the Romans. So, this question of “Who is this Jesus?” was a growing hot topic in Israel. People wanted to see and hear Him for themselves. As word spread of His coming to Jerusalem, they’re met by a large, growing crowd. After teaching them for a day, Jesus miraculouslyfeeds the 5000 with the two fish and 5 barley loaves. Afterward, Jesus is talking to His disciples and possibly a  group of followers about His suffering,

death, and resurrection, where He states that some of those present will experience these events.

E. So our Scripture lesson from Luke’s Gospel, begins with the words, “about eight days after Jesus said this”, referring to that discussion. The "eight days" may have been also significant as it connected to the Jewish tradition of the eighth day being a time of new beginning, like circumcision, highlighting  the importance of the Transfiguration event that would be a pivotal new revelation in Jesus' ministry.

 

II. Luke 9:20-36

A. Jesus chooses three of his disciples – Peter, James and John -  to go up the mountain with Him to pray. But why only three? And why these three? Under Jewish Law, it took three witnesses to validate a testimony. Even though Jesus would instruct these three not to tell others of the event until after His Resurrection, three witnesses would have been important to later substantiate the event. Peter, James, and John were part of Jesus’ inner circle, and would seem to have been chosen for their ability to grasp and later proclaim the events, despite their initial fears. Peter was a strong leader, an essential trait for establishing Jesus’ Church. James, not the writer of the Epistle, was the first apostle to be martyred for his witness. John would later write significant portions of the New Testament. By taking only these three, Jesus offered a concentrated experience of His divine glory that would prepare them to lead the developing Church after His departure.

B. It must have been an exhausting ascent to the selected place to pray, because when they arrive and Jesus goes off to pray, the three disciples fall asleep. They awake to see Jesus in His divine appearance which Luke describes as His clothes becoming as bright as a flash of lightning. Matthew wrote that His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. In deep conversation with Jesus, in similarly divine, dazzling appearance, are Moses and Elijah.

C. In retrospect, the Transfiguration was a miraculous, major event for Jesus as the Messiah. In Christian teachings, the transfiguration is a pivotal moment, and the setting on the mountain is presented as the point where human nature meets God. The meeting place of the human and the eternal, where Jesus, as both true man and true God, serving as the connecting point, became the bridge between heaven and earth. Thomas Aquinas, an 11th century Italian friar, theologian, and philosopher, recognized as one of the most influential thinkers in Catholic theology and Western philosophy. considered the transfiguration "the greatest miracle". The Transfiguration is one of the five major milestones in the Gospel narrative of the life of Jesus, the others being His baptism, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension.

D. So what was the significance of Moses and Elijah meeting with Jesus?  Why these two?  Why not David, Samuel, or Abraham?  Moses and Elijah had lived centuries before. Moses is most recognized for receiving the Ten Commandments from God on Mt Sinai. They were the Law at the time, but the Law would later incorporate the first 5 books of the OT which had been given by God and written down by Moses, into Torah,. So, Moses would have been representative of the Law.

E. Elijah was the main prophet of the OT that God spoke through during the reign of the very wicked King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. He performed great deeds, but never died, taken up into heaven by a fiery chariot in a whirlwind. The prophet Malachi prophesied Elijah would return again. Many thought John the Baptist was the reincarnated Elijah; some even erroneously speculated that Jesus was the reincarnated Elijah. Passover meals still include a glass of wine set out for the return of Elijah. So, Elijah was considered symbolic of all prophecy. Apparently, God had had further use for these two unique servants.

F. What would they have been talking about? Theologians have made some strong assertions over the years. Moses and Elijah would also have been representative of the Old Covenant, the Old Testament or Will of God. Moses may have been speaking about the OT Law that had been pointing to Jesus all along. Elijah may have been discussing how prophecy had all pointed to Jesus. And that Jesus would soon embody the New Covenant, the New Testament of God’s Will. Jesus would have discussed that, as The New Covenant, He would not replace the Old Testament, but would fulfill all the Law and Prophecy. When the two left, Jesus remained as the New Covenant.

G. The disciples had been confronted with the same question we all face: “Who are You, Jesus?“ But these disciples had witnessed this greatest miracle of seeing Jesus in His divine appearance. How does one put that supernatural event into human words?  Peter was so overwhelmed he could only talk about making three “tabernacles” for each of the divine trio to mark the spot as sacred. However, his proposal indicated misunderstanding the event's purpose as a permanent establishment of God's kingdom on earth, instead of its prophetic significance for His future Kingdom. As they proceed down the mountain, a thick cloud covers them, and a Voice is heard. “This is my Son whom I have chosen. Listen to Him”. The three disciples witnessing Jesus’ divine appearance with Moses and Elijah had now witnessed the Father endorsing Jesus as His Son, irrefutable answer to Jesus’ identity.

H. But Matthew’s account says that Jesus instructed the three not tell anyone what they had seen until after His Resurrection. Even the disciples had questioned who Jesus was at times. But this was not a witness of Jesus ability to perform miracles, heal the sick, or raise the dead. It was the answer to the question he had asked the disciples earlier of who He was. They had witnessed Him in His divine nature, and even the Father verifying Jesus as His Son. It would be the foundation of their faith as His witnesses to the world after His Resurrection.

 

III. Romans 12:1-2;9-19

   A. What significance should it have for us today? An historical event confirming Jesus as the Messiah? Or seeing it as the basis for Jesus transforming our human lives, letting ourselves be seen with HIs godly nature. In our Epistle Lesson this morning, Paul urges us to present ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. Our living, ongoing acts of worship, contrasting with the dead sacrifices of the Old Testament, involves dedicating one's entire being to Jesus, reflecting a life of holiness and service. Paul is urging us not to conform to the world’s patterns of sin, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

B. Transformation here implies a fundamental change in character and conduct, like the metamorphosis of a caterpillar into a butterfly. Matthew uses the Greek word for "transformed" as "metamorphoo," in describing the transfiguration of Jesus, indicating a profound change. In power engineering, a transformer takes inputs of voltage and current and transforms them to a desired output. Voltage and current, although still electrical components, take on different forms to meet essential power requirements for particular needs. Jesus, as our transformer, takes us as inputs, and transforms us to outputs He desires to meet His particular purposes.

C. Paul says this transformation is achieved through the renewing of our mind, suggesting a continuous process of spiritual growth and understanding. Like Jesus had been transfigured to a divine form, we are to be take on a righteous appearance before God through the righteousness of Jesus. Then we will be able to test and approve what is good, pleasing, and perfect will of God" "Test and approve" suggests a process of examination and confirmation, like testing metals for purity, an especially relevant metaphor during this season of Lent. The "good, pleasing, and perfect will of God"  refers to God's desires and plans, which are inherently beneficial and complete. This aligns with the biblical theme of wisdom and discernment, where trusting in the Lord leads to a straight path. Understanding God's Will requires spiritual maturity and insight, cultivated through a life dedicated to following Christ.

D. Paul then lists a variety of characteristics that such transformation should produce, similar to what Paul writes in I Corinthians 13, the “love chapter”. Sincere love, hating evil, clinging to the good. Honoring others above ourselves. Never lacking in zeal for the Lord. Living in peace with one another, not taking revenge, to name just a few.

 

Conclusion: On this leg of our Lenten journey, we saw Jesus confront the disciples with two questions:  Who do people say I am?  But more importantly, Who do you say I am?  They no longer saw Jesus as an extraordinary healer, teacher, Rabbi, or miracle worker. They had seen His glory, His divine nature, confirmation that He was indeed the Son of God. It would transform the disciples from believers to evangelists. From followers to leaders. The Holy Spirit confronts us with those same questions about Jesus. We may hear others have opinions about who Jesus is. But for those of us who have seen His glory working in our lives, who do we say He is?. We answer that when we let Him take our lives, letting them be transformed, consecrated to His use by all we say and do. Witnesses that testify that He is the Son of the Living God. Amen