Loving God, every so often you give us glimpses of your heavenly kingdom.  Help us to recognize you wherever you are at work, and strengthen us by the power of your Spirit for life in your service; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

            Epiphany is in many ways a season of light.  It begins with the light of a star leading the magi.  We hear about Jesus as a light to the nations.  And then today, we hear about Jesus on the mountain top, shining with heavenly light.  But today we hear other things, as well.  There is this ominous backdrop of self-denial and taking up your cross and losing your life in order to save it.  In fact, even before that part, Jesus had tried to tell his disciples that he would suffer and die at the hands of the religious leaders in Jerusalem and would be raised on the third day. However, the disciples quite simply didn’t want to hear it.  And so we have this contrast between darkness and light, between suffering and glory, between the earthly and the heavenly.

         Let’s start on the mountain top, where Peter, quite understandably, wants to build a few shelters and stay a while.  After all, it isn’t every day that you get to witness heavenly glory!  In fact, only three of the disciples get to see it when Jesus shines like the sun while having a little tete-a-tete with Moses and Elijah. While we aren’t told anything about what they were discussing (except in the gospel of Luke), there are a number of reasons why Moses and Elijah are the ones talking to Jesus.

         First of all, Moses and Elijah both had encounters with God on mountain tops.  In fact, Moses even had the shining face, although his was more a reflection that faded over time.  Second, Moses and Elijah are representatives of the law and the prophets, which point to Jesus’ coming.  Third, it was rumoured that neither Moses nor Elijah had actually died.  Elijah was taken in a fiery chariot to heaven, and Moses’ body was never found, even though he supposedly died on the mountain top. So it is possible that Jesus wasn’t really talking to dead people.

         However, perhaps the most important part of the whole experience happens when they are all overshadowed by a bright cloud (which is often how God shows up).  A voice from the cloud booms around them and says, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” (Mt. 17:5). The voice says almost the same thing as at the baptism of Jesus, with one exception: “Listen to him!”

         While you could certainly argue that they should listen to everything that Jesus has to say, some have suggested that they are to listen especially to the things that they do not want to hear – like denying themselves and taking up their cross and following Jesus.  It’s easy to hear about heavenly glory and God’s blessings and answers to prayer.  It is a lot harder to hear that there might be suffering and ridicule and hardship along the way.  Yet, when we truly listen to Jesus, all of these things are part of following him.

         There are certainly some who preach only blessings and prosperity and success.  In fact, it is a very popular message for some.  However, most people who live in the real world soon discover that life is not always joyful and blessed.  This is particularly true for those who follow Jesus and truly listen to him.  Those who wish to save their life will lose it, but those who lose their life for the sake of Jesus will find it.  Following Jesus is not all about our own personal happiness and salvation.  Rather, it is about being part of a community that cares for the lost and the lonely and shares the love of Jesus with all who come near.

         Jesus knew that those who followed him would have their share of trials.  He knew that those who believed in him would face ridicule, and persecution, and even death for the sake of his name.  Yet, having gone through the same things himself, Jesus would also be with his followers, sharing in their trials and strengthening them through the Holy Spirit.

         Just to clarify, though, denying yourself and taking up your cross do not mean that you seek out suffering, or fail to look after yourself, or allow everybody to walk all over you. Denying yourself means that your focus is on Jesus.  In other words, it’s not all about you!  Denying yourself means being Christ-centered instead of self-centered.  And taking up your cross?  This doesn’t mean that you have a death wish or even masochistic tendencies.  Instead, it is an action that brings with it an openness to being ridiculed and the possibility that you might suffer because of your faith in Jesus.

         I should add, though, that suffering does not always mean physical pain.  I think of pastors in the former Soviet Union who were taxed at a higher rate than everybody else in order to discourage people from wanting to be pastors.  People in other places, as well, have taken a financial hit because of their faith in Jesus. And then there’s the simple question that goes with inviting people to come to church with you: How many “no’s” are you willing to take for Jesus?

         In the end, the experience on the Mount of Transfiguration was something to hang onto both for Jesus and the disciples.  There were tough times ahead, as Jesus made his way toward Jerusalem.  It was an experience that gave all of them a glimpse of heavenly glory, and a voice from heaven telling them who Jesus is.  

         For us, too, we can only hope that somewhere along the line we have at least one experience that shows us who Jesus is and that gives us a glimpse of the power of God at work.  For Jesus continues to be the light in the darkness, bringing us love and new life, even in the midst of trials.  Thanks be to God!  Amen.

Transfiguration (NL 1)                                 Matthew 16:24-17:8

March 3, 2019                                              

St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church

Pastor Lynne Hutchison

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