Transfiguration A
Listen to Jesus
Matthew 17:1-9
26 February 2017 – Redeemer
Listen. But I want to say something. Listen. But I’ve got an idea. Listen. But I don’t like what you’re saying. Listening is hard. Just ask Peter. Peter wasn’t a very good listener.
When Jesus told the disciples for the first time that he was heading for Jerusalem where He would be killed, Peter quickly took him aside and basically told him, “That can’t happen.” When Jesus says His disciples will all fall away, Peter is quick to speak, “Not I Lord.” It is no different for Peter on the Mount of Transfiguration. Jesus’ face is blazing like the sun. The glory of His divinity is shining right through His clothing. Moses and Elijah, long gone, but obviously completely alive, appear and are having a holy conversation with Jesus. Peter ought to be listening. This is a once in a life-time event which Peter would later come to realize. But what does he do? He doesn’t listen. He talks. He has an idea that can’t wait. Heh, Jesus, can you put your conversation on hold? I want to do something. I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.
Sometimes you wonder if all the disciples just rolled their eyes when Peter started talking. This is the guy who jumped into the lake, pulled the sword in the garden of Gethsemane, boasted about his commitment and then denied his Lord three times. Now he wants to build three tents – let’s keep Moses, Elijah, and Jesus right here for as long as we can. But before we join them in a collective eye-roll how easy is it for any of us to listen to the Lord? Aren’t we far more likely in our prayers to tell God what we desire? Listen God I know how this would work out really well for me. Listen to me God, here’s my plan. How difficult is it to hear God’s Word and receive whatever the Lord gives us – especially when He gives us the cross of Jesus, when He says the way to glory is through suffering – first Jesus and then us.
Is it any wonder that churches have added big screens or that they are actually encouraging members to use their phones during the service – to tweet or text or chat about the service on social media. Why? All of that is happening because we struggle to listen. So don’t roll your eyes too much at Peter, but learn with Peter at the Transfiguration.
It isn’t just our attention spans that get in the way of hearing Jesus. It is hard to hear what Jesus says. As I mentioned earlier, right before the Transfiguration Jesus told His disciples for the first time that He would be heading to Jerusalem and there He would suffer at the hands of the religious leaders. They would kill Him and three days later He would rise. It appears that His words went in one ear and out the other. Peter heard those words but wanted nothing to do with them. Why? Because Peter and the other disciples had already figured out what they wanted Jesus to do. They planned to follow Him into power at Jerusalem. He would take over the religious establishment and they would be rich. He might even upend Rome and that would be glorious. If the Jerusalem Post conducted polls this is what most people were hoping for in Jesus. What do you want from Jesus? Most of us want the same Jesus the disciples wanted – a Jesus who goes along with our plans, who grants us the measure of success and glory we desire. If the Saint Cloud Times conducted a poll that’s what most people would want – a God who blesses our plans and helps us succeed. But by now we should know – the polls are wrong. A Jesus of our own design won’t help us, that is God interrupts Peter and tells him and us listen to Jesus, because He is true God.
On the Mount of Transfiguration Jesus is fully shown for who He is. Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Mary, is without question or doubt, the only begotten Son of God. This Epiphany is made known at His baptism, in His miracles, by His Word, and most certainly at the Transfiguration. Jesus is God of God and light of light. If you have any doubts ask Peter, James, and John – they will tell you. They do tell you in Scripture. John says in his Gospel, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14, ESV) Peter says in His Epistle, “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.” (2 Peter 1:16, ESV)
When Jesus shone, and the cloud shadowed over the mountain, and God spoke, the disciples were afraid and quiet. That is where we need to be to listen, afraid of our sinfulness before God and silent about ourselves so we can listen to Jesus.
For what does Jesus say when He speaks to Peter, James, John, and you? He touches them and says, “Rise, and have no fear.” Jesus is God’s Word to you — His Word made flesh. In becoming a man Jesus has come to touch you, to be as human as you are. He has come to take away your fear of God by taking away your sin. Jesus’ whole life is one of touching sinners and saying to you, “Rise, and have no fear.” Have no fear because Jesus did go to Jerusalem. Have no fear because He suffered many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes. Have no fear because He was killed. All of that happened to God’s only Son, to Jesus, true God and true man. This man on the cross is true God. The blood shed for your sin is truly God’s blood. God’s only Son suffered His Father’s wrath for your sins.
Have no fear because He did this for you. Have no fear because Jesus rose again from the dead. Peter, James, and John saw that as well. Peter and John were among the first to see the empty tomb. They were in the room on Easter evening. They ate breakfast with the risen Jesus on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus who died rose to life. Listen to Him, because He alone forgives your sins. His cross alone is the end of your sin and death and your fear of God Himself. Your plans for life will never lead to life, so be silent before Him and listen. When your plans have gone awry, when suffering is upon you, when you have run out of things to say, then learn from Peter, James, and John. They looked up from their silence and fear and all they saw was Jesus – only Jesus. That is what we need to see and to whom we need to listen – Jesus only.
As the disciples come down the mountain Jesus tells them to keep quiet for a while longer. “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.” They were not to speak of Jesus in His glory apart from His cross. You cannot understand Jesus as true God apart from His crucifixion. So Peter is told to keep quiet for a little while. Being Peter he isn’t very good at holding his tongue and his words often fail him until a Sunday 50 days after Jesus rose from the dead. Then Peter, who has finally listened to the risen Jesus, preaches a sermon that leads to 3000 baptisms in a single day. Listen to Jesus. His Word is not an easy Word to hear – for He teaches of your sin and His cross, of His suffering and then glory. Listen to Jesus. Transfiguration proclaims He is true God and His cross preaches He is true God for you. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Pr. Bruce Timm
25 February 2017 anno Domini