Transfiguration (A)
Seeing More of God
2 Peter 1:16-21
2 March 2014 – Redeemer
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I would like to see more of God. I see the religious rights of Christians being taken away us as they were in Arizona this past week. I see the good gift of medical technology twisted so that children being created who may be connected to as many as 3 or 4 or more “parents.” I see that Belgium has legalized infanticide, so unwanted living infants can be killed by their parents.
I don’t have to search the world or even the news to see ungodly sights. I need look no farther than at you – and I see husbands neglecting their wives, and wives berating their husbands. I see parents neglecting to raise their children in the faith and children rebelling against mom and dad. I see the elderly left alone by their children and I see many of us worshiping the Zeus and Apollos of our day – money and happiness.
Actually I don’t need to look at you. I only need to look in the mirror. I need only examine myself as son and brother, husband and father, pastor and patriot – to see a sinner whose sanctification is weak, who says a contrite “amen” to Paul’s words in Romans 7, “The good that I would I do not.”
God has called me to preach His Word and would that I would see it be more successful. I would like to see God fix more marriages, relieve more suffering, sanctify more husbands and wives so marriage would be strengthened. I would like to see God call more young people into fellowship with His church and sanctify Christians to drop as much into the offering plate as they do in restaurants and for bar tabs. I have seen too much evil and failure and sin in the world, in you, and in me. I would like to see more of God. Maybe you would like see more of Him also.
That makes me somewhat jealous of Peter because he saw God. Along with James and John he saw more of God than any other person on earth. For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. (16) Peter was there on the Mount of Transfiguration, along with James and John – three eyewitnesses and this is what they saw for a moment – God in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.” (Matt. 17:1–2, ESV) For a moment Jesus pulled back the cover, lifted the veil, and He was shown for who He truly is – God in the flesh. The divinity of Jesus, His “God-ness” was revealed, a light and glory shining from His very being, through His skin, shining so bright it made His clothes appear brighter than those blue headlights we see on fancy cars. Peter saw God, got a glimpse of His glory. He was an eyewitness and an ear witness for he heard the voice of the Father from heaven declare, “This is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased.”
And remember Peter didn’t dream this up. He had two other witnesses – James and John. They saw God. They heard God. Jesus gave them an epiphany, a revelation of Him that no other human beings – this side of death will ever see. Jesus revealing His Divinity – that this true man is true God. At the transfiguration Peter saw God in Jesus.
But do I really want to see more of God? Do I know what I am asking when I ask God to pull the veil back and reveal Himself in full glory? Peter, James, and John saw the glory of God in Christ and then they fell down, perhaps like dead men, for they realized that the dazzling glory of God gave light to every dark corner and shameful sin of their lives. Whenever Peter got a glimpse of God shining through Jesus he hit the ground. After that fishing trip when he was skunked, Jesus filled His nets. Imagine that — a professional fisherman being shown up by a preacher. Peter fell down and told Jesus “depart from me for I am a sinful man.”
So maybe I wouldn’t want to see God – for seeing God in His glory would reveal every sin in my life and every scar and pain I’ve caused others. There is no hiding from the bright beams of God’s holiness and righteousness. Seeing God in His glory might be compared to a mosquito being drawn to the light of mosquito trap. He enters the light to his death – sorry, couldn’t resist a mosquito illustration on this balmy Minnesota morning.
This was not the last glimpse of Jesus that Peter saw and for that Peter rejoiced and all of us should as well. From the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus headed for Jerusalem and there the glory of God could not be seen with human eyes. In fact Jesus’ path did not look like anything God would do for He didn’t do anything, no miracles, no calls to arms, no resistance, no defense. Instead everything happened to Jesus. He was arrested. He was accused, convicted, and sentenced to death. Like a Lamb He was let to the slaughter. He was scourged, whipped, spit upon, mocked, and nailed to a tree. He was tortured and killed. At the cross there was no light illumining His skin, only blood pouring from it. There was no voice from heaven, only silence. There was no enveloping light, only encroaching deep darkness.
On the Mount of Transfiguration Jesus was showing the fullness of His divinity. Jesus is God. On the Mount of crucifixion Jesus was showing the fullness of His divinity for you. You do not want to see God apart from Jesus on the cross. You would not survive even a glimpse of Divine glory if you were not veiled and covered with the blood of Christ which cleanses you of sin. That truth is reflected in the way the Divine Service began this morning. You did not enter with your head held high singing “Here I am Lord” and then lift your eyes up to heaven. The service began with bowed heads, and the only thing you saw before your eyes was the sign of the cross as you heard the name of God spoken over you as it was in your baptism. You would not want to see your Father apart from the offering of His Son and the forgiveness you have been given by the Spirit in your baptism. Thanks be to God you Christ Jesus died for you and the Holy Spirit brought you to faith, and delivered to you Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. Now you are bold to call God Father, confident that Jesus is God for you, certain that He is at work for you and the whole of His Church on earht and in heaven.
Not too many people saw Jesus in His glory – only three were on the Mount of Transfiguration, only 500 saw Him alive after He died, 10 lepers, a few Marys, one Zacchaeus, a Paul, a Stephen, a few others. Peter knows how tempting it is to desire to see the glory of God, but it has not been given us to see. It has been given us to hear what Peter was privileged to see. All we need is in God’s Word – for it is the Word of eyewitnesses, and it is the Word of God. Peter, James, and John, weren’t on a Mountain camping trip sipping Southern Comfort when they decided to make Jesus God. This isn’t a cleverly devised myth – Peter, James, and John all died for this Jesus fellow. 500 people did see Jesus alive. And this isn’t merely the word of human witnesses – these men, like the prophets of all, were carried along by the Holy Spirit. This Word, given us through Peter, is God’s Word and it reveals to us all we need to know – Jesus was God in the flesh, evidenced by miracles, signs, and wonders, seen on the Mount of Transfiguration. Jesus Himself claimed this as well – I and the Father are one. Jesus died outside Jerusalem as God’s own offering for our sin. The Roman’s made sure He was dead and sealed His tomb. Three days later that tomb was empty and we have a hundred times more witnesses than any court of law would need declare Jesus risen from the dead. Jesus is God – that’s what Transfiguration declares. Jesus is God for you – that is what the Crucifixion declares. Jesus has forgiven you all your sins and grants you life – that is what the Resurrection declares. And that’s all you need to see of God for now – in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Pr. Bruce Timm