Transfigured

A sermon on transfiguration Sunday, preached Mar 2, 2025

Context

The last Sunday before Lent is called Transfiguration Sunday, and the scripture reading often used is the one where Jesus goes up a mountain and is transfigured, shines, before a few of the disciples. We will read that that today, but lets read what Jesus said and did with them just before that too.

Prayer for Illumination

God, as we open your word, may it open us. As we read your word, may it read us. As we hear your words, may we hear more than words, but You… in, under, and beyond them. All this we pray to you alone, Amen? Amen.

Scripture                  Luke 9:18-36

Listen for the word of the Lord…

18 Once when Jesus[c] was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” 19 They answered, “John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.” 20 Then Jesus said to (his disciples), “But who do YOU say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Messiah[d] of God.”

21 Jesus sternly ordered and commanded them not to tell anyone, 22 saying, “The Son of Man must undergo great suffering… and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes… and be killed… and on the third day be raised.”

23 Then he said to them all, “If any wish to follow me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit them if they gain the whole world but lose or forfeit themselves? 26 Those who are embarrassed of me or of my words, of them the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27 Indeed, truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”

28 Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus[e] took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30 Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. 31 They appeared in glory and were speaking about his exodus, which he was about to fulfill in Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep, but as they awoke, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33 Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us set up three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah,” not realizing what he was saying.

34 While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. 35 Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen (one);[f] listen to him!” 36 When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent, and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.

This is the word God for the people of God. Thanks be to God.

Sermon Yall Coming?

Some folks don’t know anything about Jesus. Some know a little about Jesus. Maybe they heard he said some cool things, and was an amazing teacher, that his birthday is behind Christmas, and his death and rumors of his life beyond death are behind Easter.

Then, there’s a third group of folks, disciples. These are folk who, in some way, are believing Jesus was a human, like us, but unlike us in that he was fully human, and somehow he was also fully God, not just a teacher, or prophet, but the anointed one of God for something special. Disciples call him Son of God, as in God’s unique human offspring, and Son of Man, meaning Son of Humanity, the only one of us who truly fulfills God’s expectations of holy humanity.

Jesus asks his disciples, what are others saying about me. “Some aren’t saying anything at all. They don’t know anything about you. But some are saying you’re another good teacher, like John. Some are even saying you’re a great prophet, like Elijah.” Why does Jesus ask the disciples? I think Jesus is checking. Have his disciples pulled themselves away from their neighbors and strangers, or are they still connected and in tune with their community?

Church with Jesus is interested in and connected with the whole community, what they think and feel and are saying. Thankfully, these disciples do know what others think and believes about Jesus.

Then, Jesus asks, “Okay, thanks, but who do You say that I am?” The rest of humanity can think or feel, or believe or not believe things about Jesus, and disciples need to know what others are saying about Jesus. But Jesus wants to know, who do YOU say that I am?

Church with Jesus directly asked disciples that direct, personal question, and church with Jesus is a safe space to risk answering, with no fear, no embarrassment, just trust, and courage.

When new elders and deacons are elected to leadership in this congregation, we ask each one to write a page about their life. Then, we ask them to state in a page or less what they believe… about God, Jesus, Spirit, church, scripture, evil, sin, life, death… There’s almost always one or two that say they knew what they’ve been told, but they’ve never taken the time to say for themselves what they believe.

Church with Jesus invites, challenges, and encourages everyone to risk trying to say what I believe. That’s what Jesus is asking us everytime we gather… It’s one thing for us to repeat what books, traditions, songs, former preachers, the Bible says. Jesus is asking, what do YOU believe? Who do YOU say that I am?

Even then, knowing, believing, saying what we believe out loud, that’s huge, but Jesus takes a bigger step. He says. “Good, you’ve discovered I am a teacher, a prophet. I’m also THE messiah. Now, here’s the thing. The messiah will suffer, be rejected, killed, then rise again after a few days. To have fullness of life, follow me. Suffer with me, be rejected with me, take up your own cross and follow me. You’ll never have life trying to protect the life you already have. Leave your life behind for me and my community, and you’ll find real, full, amazing, infinite life.”

Church fails when it gives people the impression Jesus grants individual salvation to individuals who “believe.” First, Jesus teaches us belief is important, but following is more than belief. In following, we leave behind the individual, the personal, the preferences and opinions, and we submit ourselves to the great collective, the community, church with Jesus. And whatever our degree of belief might be doesn’t really matter, as long we together go with him wherever he leads us. If I personally suffer or struggle to follow him that direction, into that decision, toward that change, through that problem, near those people, I have a choice to make. Will my personal be more important to me than following Jesus with his wider community? If I protect what I want, what I think is best, I will be alone. But if I can follow him, surrender MY stuff for the greater WE, then I am a part of a greater community with him! That surrender of what I want, what I think, what I believe, what I prefer, the way I like things, my opinion of what is true, to join in following him with others, he says that’s where his way, his truth, and his promises of real, full, amazing, eternal life happen.

Church with Jesus isn’t about giving every individual what they want from church. Church with Jesus is about giving up what each individual wants, for what we do together as long as it is close to Jesus.

After all this, Jesus decides to take a walk up a mountain. I imagine him turning to the disciples and saying, “Yall coming?” Now he just said, those who follow me suffer, are rejected, and lose their lives, so only a few go with him. When those few get close to the top, they are so tired, they sleep while Jesus keeps going a bit.

They are startled awake and see Jesus the same but different, transfigured, shining like an angel, standing with Moses and Elijah. That’s not the Jesus they followed here. Why Moses and Elijah? Moses and Elijah led ancient people away from trouble, through dry places, toward promised land. Moses and Elijah suffered, were rejected by many of their own people, and died before reaching the destination. Jesus is like them, another prophet leading humans on a great exodus out of slavery, through a desert, to a community of justice and peace. But Jesus is more than a prophet.

Peter has really tried. He stayed connected to his community, and paid attention to what others were saying. He came to believe Jesus is not just a teacher or prophet but THE messiah. Even when threatened with suffering, he followed Jesus up this hill. He was tired, and did fall asleep for a bit, but he woke up. He’s done so well. Then he says, “let’s build something here.”

The cloud rolls over them, surrounds them, disorienting them. They can't see Jesus or each other, or their own hand in front of their own face. That’s a horrible feeling in a fog like that, so thick you’re lonely and lost. Peter and the other disciples feel that, alone, scared in the very space that just seconds ago was so bright and holy, where they felt such wonder and awe.

The voice from the cloud is sympathetic but disappointed. “Oh Peter, you thought you could build something here, so you and your friends could keep it for yourselves, and come back to it over and over again? No, you’re following Jesus. He is my chosen one. Listen to him!” And the cloud is gone. Moses and Elijah are gone. Jesus isn’t shining. He is headed back down away from this holy place, back into the world, into synagoges where religious people will debate and resist him, into streets where people will ignore or mock him, among the sick and hungry who will beg of him and pull at him. And Jesus looks over his shoulder and asks, “Yall coming?”

To God be any glory or honor now and forever. Amen? Amen.

Charge

Benediction

Now, blessing, laughter, and loving be yours, and may the love of a great God who names you and holds you as the earth turns and flowers grow be with you, this day, this night, this moment and forever more. Amen? Amen!