Category: Transfiguration

Truth Established by the Testimony of Two or Three Witnesses

1/25/2021

James Tissot, The Transfiguration, 1886-94, No Known Copyright Restrictions.

Transfiguration 2021
Matthew 17:1-9
2 Peter 1:16-21
January 24, 2021

St. Peter testifies saying, “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). St. John, who also was with Peter on that holy mountain, likewise testifies, “And we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14b) And these testimonies are important, because the Law of God makes clear that everything must be established on the basis of two or three witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15; 2 Corinthians 13:1). And on that holy mountain of transfiguration, we have ample witnesses to establish that the Holy Scriptures are trustworthy and true and that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God and Savior of the world.
On the mountain of transfiguration, we see the meeting of the Old and New Testaments. The prophets Moses and Elijah represent the Old Testament. They were two of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament. Moses received the Law from God on Mount Sinai, and himself wrote the first five books of the Bible. Elijah, while not writing any of the books of the Bible himself, represents the prophets of the Old Testament who did, as he preached the Word of the LORD against the false prophets of Baal and Asherah, and famously challenged the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, which resulted in the people praising the LORD and killing the false prophets of Baal after God answered Elijah’s prayer and sent fire down from heaven to consume his offering.
Moses and Elijah are two witnesses who testify of Christ. And Christ, by revealing his glory to them, testifies that what they preached is true. All the writings of the Old Testament are trustworthy and sure. Moses, Elijah, and the rest of the prophets of the Old Testament prophesied of Christ, yet, they did not get to see him. Rather, they were guided by the Holy Spirit to write of things they longed to see. But at Jesus’ transfiguration, Moses and Elijah see what they preached and wrote, God’s only begotten Son in human flesh.
For the Apostles Peter, James, and John, it is the opposite. They have not yet written down anything, but they have seen the Lord Jesus. In fact, even before this transfiguration, St. Peter confessed Jesus to be the Christ the Son of God. And after they witnessed Jesus proved to be the Christ, they then went to write of what they had witnessed. So, here on this mountain, we have two witnesses from the Old Testament and three witnesses from the New Testament, seeing with their eyes and hearing with their ears that Jesus Christ is the Son of God! You can see then why St. Paul declares in Ephesians chapter 2 that the house of God is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the corner stone (vs. 19-20).
Yet, there is more testimony to the trustworthiness of Scripture and to the divinity of Christ than two human witnesses from the Old Testament and three human witnesses from the New Testament. There is yet another witness, that makes these truths even more sure. The witness of the Holy Trinity. In John chapter 8, Jesus says to the Jews, “In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” (vs. 17-18) At Jesus’ transfiguration we see the testimony of God the Father himself, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” We have the testimony of Jesus, the Son. And as we did in Jesus’ Baptism when the Holy Spirit descended upon him like a dove, we have the testimony of the Holy Spirit in the bright cloud. Even apart from the two human witnesses of the Old Testament and the three human witnesses of the New Testament, Jesus’ transfiguration fulfills the Law’s requirement of two or three witnesses by giving us the witness of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit!
And this again supports the trustworthiness of Scripture. The Bible has over forty human authors spanning around fifteen centuries, yet the Bible has only one Author, the eternal God, the Holy Spirit. St. Peter declares, “Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke rom God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:20-21) And so, the Bible is a book like no other book. It has many authors, yet it has one author. It has the testimony of many witnesses, and all these witnesses testify of the truth. It is a human book written in human history, yet it is a heavenly book whose origin is in God himself, so that the Son of God himself is declared to be the Word (John 1:1-3). This means that we must consider the words of Holy Scripture to be nothing else than God’s holy Word.
When God the Father declared Jesus to be his beloved Son from heaven, he then made a command: “Hear him.” “Listen to him.” This is an important command. St. Peter tells Jesus that he has the words of eternal life (John 6:68). St. Paul tells us that saving faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ (Romans 10:17). Yet, how can we hear Jesus’ words? From holy Scripture. The Prophets of the Old Testament speak Jesus’ word. The Apostles of the New Testament speak Jesus’ Word. The entire Bible is the Word of Christ. This is why our faith is grounded on Bible as the only rule and norm of our teaching.
So, what is the Holy Bible about; this most unique and profitable book, which claims prophets, apostles, and God himself as its author? It is about Jesus. This is the meaning of the prophets from the Old Testament and the apostles from the New Testament standing before Jesus in his shining glory as the Holy Spirit covers them and God the Father from the cloud declares Jesus to be his Son. The Bible tells us about Jesus and through Jesus we have access to our heavenly Father. This is why Jesus says in John chapter 5, “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me.” (vs. 39).
The entire Bible is about Jesus. The purpose for reading the Bible is to learn who Jesus is and what he has done to save you. This is why the Apostle John writes toward the end of his Gospel, “these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:31)
Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father. He is the only way to eternal life. St. Peter declares in Acts chapter 4, “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (vs. 12) And for this reason, the Holy Bible is the most precious book on earth. In fact, the Word of God is our dearest treasure. The Bible would be the greatest treasure on earth simply for being God’s Word! Yet, not only is it God’s Word, but it declares to the Gospel, which gives eternal life to all who believe.
Shortly after God the Father commanded Peter, James, and John to listen to Jesus, Jesus spoke. What did he say? He told his Apostles not to tell anyone about the vision until after he was raised from the dead. It seems strange that Jesus would tell his Apostles, whom he brought up to that mountain for the purpose of them witnessing his glory, to then tell them not to tell anyone about it! Yet, Jesus does not tell them to remain silent forever, and it is very important why he wants them to wait. Jesus wants the disciples to witness his betrayal, condemnation, crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection first. Why? Because you cannot receive Jesus’ glory without Jesus’ cross.
On the mountain Jesus revealed who he is. He is the Son of Man and he is the Son of God. He shines with the un-reflected light of the Divine. He is true God and true man. Yet, this glory does us sinner no good, unless our sins are taken away. What Jesus wants his disciples to preach is not only his transfiguration, when his divine glory was revealed, but also his crucifixion, when his divine glory was hidden. On the cross, laden with the sins of the world and covered in blood, Jesus was still just as much God’s Son as he was on the Mountain of Transfiguration. And this is exactly what they did. St. Peter told the Jews, “you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.” (Acts 3:15)
Jesus’ glory does us no good while we are sinners. So, Jesus bears our sin and takes them away. Now, Jesus’ glory does us infinite good, because we know who died for us, God’s own Son! This means that our sins are gone. If Jesus, in whom God the Father is well please, bore all your sins on the cross, and God was still so pleased with him to raise him from the dead, then that means that your sins our obliterated. They do not stand a chance against Jesus’ crucifixion. This means that God is immensely and infinitely pleased with you on account of Christ. That is the meaning of Jesus’ transfiguration, crucifixion, and resurrection, which Holy Scripture reveals to you.
A lot of voices have gone out over the world. It seems that we are constantly bombarded with new and conflicting information. What you were taught in school as true when you were a child may very well be considered false or even dangerous today. There are multiple sources of information from television to the internet to books, yet, they do not agree. They are not multiple witnesses, confirming the truth, but rather multiple voices arguing over your mind. And although none of these voices are God’s voice, it has become increasingly obvious that these voices are not simply trying to tell you what is going on in the world, but what you should believe is going on. A war of words is waging over our minds and hearts as well as over the minds and hearts of our children. And it is important to recognize that most of these voices, lie, they do not teach the truth of God’s Word, and they do not reveal your Savior.
Christians are called to be judges, to judge the spirits to see whether they are from God or not (John 7:24; 1 John 4:1). Yet, how are we to judge? How are we to test the voices whether they are true or not? By whether they conflict with God’s Word or agree. In order to do this, you must listen to God’s Word and hear sound preaching grounded on the Scriptures.
The chaotic voices of this world cause us stress and confusion. They divide us and cause people to hate one another. They lead us into sin and doubt. But God’s Word reveals our Savior Jesus. Holy Scripture is in full agreement that Jesus is the Son of God, who has won salvation for us, who is and ever will be pleasing to our Father in heaven. There has been much talk in recent weeks about censorship and freedom of speech and misinformation. And Christians are concerned that they will be silenced and lied to. But we already the true source of the most important information. We have God’s holy Word, the words of eternal life. As long as we have God’s Word, we will be able to protect our minds and hearts and battle misinformation, and much more, we will have Jesus and his Salvation. Amen.

0 Comments

Listen to Jesus

2/3/2020

0 Comments

Titian, Transfiguration, 1560, Public Domain. commons.wikimedia.org

Transfiguration 2020
Matthew 17:1-9; Luke 9:28-36

“28 Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. 30 And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure,[b] which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33 And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said. 34 As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One;[c] listen to him!” 36 And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.” Luke 9:28-36

“Jesus took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray.” They went up on the mountain to pray. What does it mean to pray? To pray is simply to speak to God in faith. You can speak to God anywhere and at any time. Going up on a mountain to pray can certainly be a good idea, because it gets you away from the hubbub and distractions of a busy life. Jesus often went to a desolate place to pray to his heavenly Father in peace and quiet.
And mountains have a particular significance in Scripture when it comes to talking with God, because God often met his people up on mountains. In fact, the two men Jesus spoke with on this mountain, Moses and Elijah, are well known to have met God on a mountain. Moses spoke to God for forty days on Mount Sinai. And when he returned to speak the words of the LORD to the people of Israel, his face shone with the brightness of God’s glory. Elijah met the great power of God on Mount Carmel, when the prophets of Baal prayed all day for their false god to send fire from heaven to burn their sacrifice and when the true LORD God sent fire down to lap up the water and devour Elijah's sacrifice. Elijah also met the LORD up on a mountain when he was hiding from Queen Jezebel. The LORD came to him in a low whisper, and Elijah wrapped his face in his cloak to go talk with God.
And now these two men talk to Jesus on a mountain and it becomes clear that Jesus is not just a man, who has come to talk to God, but Jesus is God himself. Moses shone with a reflective glory, which he hid behind a veil. Elijah in fear and trembling covered his face to shield himself from God’s glare. Yet, Jesus himself shines as the source of divine light. And the testimony of God the Father a second time confirms this with the words, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” These two men, who had already ascended to heaven have descended down to an earthly mountain to speak with their God, who has become man.
Moses and Elijah stand with Jesus as witnesses that Jesus is the true God and Messiah. Moses is the author of the Law, the first five books of the Bible. Elijah represents the prophets. Moses and the Prophets make up the Old Testament. These two prophets stand with Jesus as a testimony that all Scripture points to Jesus. It was Moses who declared that the LORD God would raise up a Prophet like him from the people of Israel, to whom God would give his words, to whom the people of Israel were to listen. (Deuteronomy 18:15-18). That Prophet is Jesus, who was born of the Jews while being the Son of God himself.
And what did these two prophets speak to Jesus about? Did Moses talk about how God used him to divide the Red Sea in two so that the people of Israel could walk across on dry ground? Did Elijah talk about how he called fire down from heaven? No. They spoke of Jesus’ departure, literally, his Exodus. They spoke of how Jesus would be betrayed, crucify, and die for the sins of the world and on the third day rise. This is the central teaching of the Old Testament. This is what Moses taught when he lifted up the bronze serpent in the wilderness, so that all who looked at that snake on a pole would not die from the deadly snake bites. This pointed to Jesus, who became a curse for us on the cross. When Elijah preached that the people should turn back to the Lord God and sacrifice only to him, he was teaching that only the LORD God would provide a Savior, who would sacrifice himself for the sins of the world. Moses and all the prophets speak of Jesus’ departure in the Old Testament.
Yet, when Peter joins the conversation, he doesn’t contribute very well. He is stunned by the divine glory shining forth from Jesus. He’s shocked to see these two great prophets visit them from heaven. He wants to capture the moment. So, he proposes to build three booths for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. But this is a mistake. So, God the Father interrupts Peter. He says, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.”
You see, Peter wasn’t listening. He wasn’t paying attention to what Jesus was saying with Moses and Elijah. He was too quick to speak himself. And in his speaking, he proposed ignoring what Moses, Elijah, and Jesus were talking about: Christ’s crucifixion for the sins of the world. Peter was ignoring this most important work of Jesus! And in ignoring the cross of Christ, he tries to prevent it! He tries to prevent Jesus’ suffering and death by keeping Jesus’ glory with them on that mountain.
This isn’t the first or the last time Peter tries to prevent Jesus’ passion for our sins. The first time was in Caesarea shortly after Peter confesses Jesus to be the Christ. Jesus tells his disciples that he must suffer and die and on the third day rise from the dead. But Peter rebukes Jesus and tells him this will never happen to him. Jesus then rebukes Peter, calls him Satan, and says that he is not setting his mind on the things of God, but on the things of man. (Matthew 16:21-23) The second time Peter tried to prevent Jesus’ crucifixion was here on this mountain of transfiguration, where he tries to keep Jesus’ glory without the cross. And finally, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter cuts off the ear of the High Priest’s servant Malchus, trying to prevent Jesus from being arrested. All three times, Peter is rebuked by God. All three times, Peter was setting his mind on the things of man and ignoring God’s word.
I don’t tell you this so that you look down on St. Peter or try to make him look like a fool. Rather, I tell you this to teach you how to pray. We’re all Peter. Peter kept setting his mind on the things of men, even while he was talking to God. God taught Peter and us, that if we’re going to talk to God, we need to listen to God.
When we treat prayer as simply an opportunity to talk to God without listening to what he tells us in his word, we end up acting like Peter and telling God what he should do. Our human way of thinking always ignores the cross of Jesus and tries to take away the cross that Christians must bear.
Yet, when we listen to Jesus’ words before, during, and after we pray, we learn how and for what to ask. We learn that our greatest need is the forgiveness of sins, which Christ purchased for us with his dear blood on the cross. We learn that his crucifixion is the greatest work God has ever done for us. We learn that through Jesus’ cross God gives us all that we need, including eternal salvation.
Jesus told Peter that he was setting his mind on the things of man. That is what we all by nature do. That which is born of flesh is flesh and that which is born of Spirit is spirit. We are by nature born of flesh. We don’t think the way God thinks, unless we are born of the Spirit. This means we try to prevent the good that God does in order to do it our own way. We don’t want to hear that our sins need to be atoned for by the blood of Jesus. We don’t want to hear that we need to be saved from our sins. We want to tell God what we need. And we want to make God dwell with us on our terms.
This is what Peter did when he tried to get Jesus in all his divine glory to dwell with him in a tent on the mountain. Yet, Scripture says that Christ dwells in our hearts through faith when God grants his Holy Spirit to strengthen our inner being (Ephesians 3:16-17). And the Holy Spirit creates faith in our hearts through the words of Christ (Romans 10:17). In order to have Christ dwell with us now and forever, we need to listen to Jesus’ words. And most especially, we need to focus on his passion for our sins, how he died and rose in order to save us.
Before Jesus took his disciples up on the mountain to pray, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?” (Matthew 16:24-26) It is important also for us to hear these words of Jesus when we pray. We often pray that the crosses we bear in this life would go away. Yet, sometimes God wills for us to keep these crosses here on earth for the sake of our eternal salvation. When we pray to God, we must understand that his goal is for us to inherit eternal life, even if it means that we lose our life here on earth. When we listen to God’s word and recognize what his goal for us is, then we are strengthened to bear our crosses in this life, knowing that we do not bear them alone and that we will obtain a prize in heaven by the merits of Christ.
Many were shocked last Sunday at the death of Kobe Bryant, one of the most famous athletes in all of sports, along with eight other individuals including his 13-year-old daughter in helicopter crash. It is a solemn reminder that death comes to us all, both young and old, rich and poor; no one knows when his soul will be demanded of him. And as tragic this event is for so many people affected, I read one report that gave me some hope. At 7:00 AM last Sunday morning, just a couple hours before they died, Bryant and his daughter attended church and received Communion. They were Catholics. So, there is hope for them, that they were prepared for death having just heard the words of Christ and having prayed to him just hours earlier. And there is a reminder for us. We do not know when we will die. But we do know how to be prepared: by listening to the words of our Lord Jesus, by receiving his body and blood for our forgiveness, by clinging to Christ and his crucifixion in faith.
Jesus’ transfiguration ended. But Peter and all the disciples did see Jesus in his divine glory again. After his resurrection. Yet, that time there was something different. Jesus still bore the marks of the nails in his hands and feet and of the spear in his side. These marks remained to teach us how we can see and share in Jesus’ glory forever; through Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross, which took away all our sins and made us right with God. When we pray, we pray in faith for the sake of Jesus’ suffering and death which we hear, and our faith tells us we too will see this Jesus, who was crucified for us. Amen.

0 Comments

Transfiguration: Glory Through The Cross

1/22/2018

0 Comments

Matthew 17:1-9

January 21, 2018

When Jesus was transfigured his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. This was un-reflected glory shining from Jesus, unlike the reflected glory that shone from Moses. The source of the glory is Jesus himself. Jesus is God.

Now, it is important to note that in Jesus' transfiguration he did not change into something else. Jesus' outward appearance changed, but he was still the same Jesus, who walked up the mountain with Peter, James, and John. The glory that shined forth on the holy mountain was present even before the transfiguration, yet it was hidden.

Jesus is both God and man. Yet, Jesus humbled himself so that his divine glory did not shine forth. Yet, Jesus remained God even then. The baby in a manger was God. The emaciated man tempted by Satan in the wilderness was God. Even as Jesus was scourged and nailed to a tree and finally laid lifeless in a tomb, Jesus remained God. This is very important, because when Jesus died on the cross for our sins, it was not just a righteous man who died. Everything Jesus does he does both as God and man. God bore the punishment for the sins of his people. This means that the price Jesus paid was greater than the debt incurred by the sins of the whole world. So, while we see a hideously bruised man dying on a tree, God is glorified by redeeming the world from sin.

Likewise, Jesus never ceases to be a man. As he was transfigured before his disciples displaying his divine glory, he remained 100% human. And when he rose from the dead never to die again, Jesus rose as a human being. And when he ascended to the right hand of the Father, filling all things with all powers and authorities placed under his feet, Jesus did this as a human being. You cannot separate Christ's divine and human nature. This means that our flesh and blood now reign in heaven forever.

Jesus' transfiguration foreshadows his resurrection. This is something Jesus' disciples were struggling with, in particularly Peter. Six days before Jesus climbed the Mount of Transfiguration he told his disciples how he must be betrayed and mistreated, suffer and die, and on the third day rise from the dead. Peter rebuked Jesus saying, "Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you." To which our Lord responded, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."

Peter could not understand that it was necessary for Jesus to suffer and die. And because such a thought distraught him so, he couldn't even think of the resurrection of the dead. So, here on the mountain Jesus shows Peter his glory, which will be revealed at his resurrection. Jesus shows the proof that death cannot defeat him and that his resurrection is unavoidable.
And if Jesus, who shares in our human nature rises from the dead, that means that we too will rise from the dead. Jesus is the first fruit, and we will follow from our graves. And this is testified further by the witness of Moses and Elijah. These two men are living. All who are joined to Christ will live forever. They shall not die.

Peter is stupefied by this marvelous sight. But he feels the need to say something. So, he proposes to build three tents, one for Moses, one for Elijah, and one for Jesus. Yet, God the Father interrupts Peter by declaring Jesus to be his beloved Son. And God gives a simple command. "Listen to him."

Peter wanted to harness the glory of Jesus. But he didn't know what he was talking about. He needed to listen to Jesus. Jesus told him not to be afraid. And then Christ tells them to tell no one about his transfiguration until he has risen from the dead. Jesus was transfigured before his disciples in order to show them that he truly is God the Son and to assure them that he does have the power to conquer death. But Jesus must still die. Peter wanted to grab hold of this glory without Jesus' death on the cross. Jesus is telling Peter, "You cannot have my glory unless I die."

Peter displays a problem that is rampant in our generation. People want glory. But they don't want the cross. They want the glory of Christ. But they don't want his crucifixion. It was not only in the first century that people despised a suffering Christ. People despise the suffering of Christ now. They want a winner, not a loser. Even more, people don't want to suffer themselves. Jesus died on the cross for all our sins. This means that we must repent of our sins and trust in Christ for our forgiveness. But this involves humility. Humility can be a tough cross to bear, even if God promises glory in return.

Jesus says, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." (Matthew 16:24) This means that your glory will be delayed. It means that you must grasp the glory of God through faith, while you do not experience it now. But Peter wanted it now. He wanted to keep Jesus in all his glory, and Moses and Elijah too. But Jesus makes it abundantly clear, there is no glory without the cross.

Yet, even today, people still strive to obtain glory here and now. Yet, they don't do this through faith in Jesus. Faith in Jesus doesn't give you glory now. It gives you the promise of eternal glory in the future. The way people try to obtain glory now is through the law, that is, they try to obtain glory through their own works. This makes sense. The Gospel of Jesus' death and resurrection and the free forgiveness of sins that flow from it does not have to do with your works, but with God's work. Through the Gospel, God says to you in regard to glory, "My grace is sufficient for you." The Law, on the other hand, has to do with your works, what you do. This gives people the idea of control. If I show myself to be a good person, be generous and kind, hard-working and virtuous, then I can gain glory here on earth. And many will invent a Jesus, who fits this model: a Jesus who preaches prosperity now! And this glory seeking might seem to work, temporarily anyway. And there's a good chance that you'll gain the admiration and praise of many people and be considered a good and successful person.

Yet, this earth won glory can only be temporary. The Law does not demand the approval of human beings. It demands the approval of God. This means that you must fulfill the law in all its parts without fail. Before God, the Law accuses you of sin and condemns you to death and hell. So, the Law which promised glory and which seemed to give it in this life proves to bring shame and death.

If you are going to obtain glory through the Law, you have to go all the way. You must completely submit to the Law. And in so doing, you will find a cruel master, as St. Paul writes in Romans chapter 3, "Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin." (vss. 19-20)

But there is a Savior for those condemned by the Law. St. Paul continues, "But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it- the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe." (Romans 3:21-22) This is of immense comfort to us sinners. When we try to achieve glory through works of the law, the Law shines brighter and brighter, exposing our failings and how far we are from God's righteousness. We are forced to shrink from this glory, just as the Israelites hid from the radiance of Moses' face. Yet, now God's righteousness is given to us through faith in Jesus Christ apart from the Law.

The glory of the Law is a glory that condemns sinners to hell. The glory of the Gospel, however, is a glory we do not need to shy away from. The glory of the Gospel is the righteousness of God given to sinners as a free gift. The glory of the Law condemns those, who lack glory. The glory of the Gospel causes those without glory to be glorious, as 2 Corinthians 3 states, "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another." (vs. 18) And so the glory that brings salvation to us far exceeds the glory that brings condemnation.

This glory of the Gospel that gives us salvation can only be received through faith. This is why Jesus would not let Peter build three tents for him, Moses, and Elijah. This is why Moses and Elijah stood with Jesus. This is why God the Father told Peter, James, and John to listen to Jesus. And this is why after the vision they saw Jesus only. Faith comes from listening to Jesus' word. If you want Jesus' glory, you need to listen to his words.

Moses and Elijah represent the Scriptures of the Old Testament. Jesus says in Luke 24, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. … Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations." (vss. 44, 46-47) Moses and Elijah stood as witnesses that Jesus was the Christ foretold in Scripture. And Christ stood as a witness that the Scriptures are true. If you want Jesus' glory, you need to listen to Scripture. Scripture is Jesus' Word.

The Word of God is a rather despised thing. People generally don't want to listen to it, or read it, or learn it. It doesn't seem glorious. The message of Jesus' death on the cross seems the opposite of glorious. And the call to repentance is very unappetizing. Perhaps if God would speak through a bright cloud, more people would come to hear. Perhaps if the preacher's face shone like the sun and he brought people from centuries past, then more people would come to church. But Christ has chosen to hide his glory in his Word, spoken by ordinary men. He hides his glory under ordinary means here on earth, so that we might receive God's glory through faith. We've already learned that just because God's glory is hidden, doesn't mean that it is not there.

Christ's glory can only be received through faith in Christ's cross, where he bore everything that would cause us to shrink from the glory of the Law. It is through faith in Christ's death and resurrection that we gain the hope of the future glory to be revealed to us, a glory from which we will not shrink back, but rather into its image we will be changed. Amen.

0 Comments

Transfiguration Sunday: Scripture is Trustworthy

2/6/2017

0 Comments

Matthew 17:1-9
2 Peter 1:16-21

Is St. Peter a liar? Can we trust him? The Apostle writes, "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. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,' we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain."
Peter was there upon the mountain. He saw with his eyes the majesty of Jesus' transfiguration. He heard with his own ears the voice of the Father. ...Unless Peter is lying. The first readers of Peter's letter were much like us. They never met Jesus in person. They didn't see him do miracles or die on the cross or rise from the dead or ascend into heaven. And it is quite possible that (for many of them) the people who first shared the Gospel of Jesus with them hadn't either. So Peter here says to them, "We do not follow myths. I'm an eyewitness. I was there. I heard God speak with my own ears! If you're going to doubt that Jesus is Lord you can't blame the naiveté of your pastor, you have to call me a liar."
And this is what Jesus' transfiguration proves. Jesus is Lord. St. Matthew records that Jesus' skin shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. His divinity shone through his humanity. And there stood Moses and Elijah. Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible. Elijah was among the greatest prophets of the Old Testament and encapsulates what a good preacher should be. He speaks God's Word.
Moses and Elijah stand with Jesus to testify that Jesus fulfills the words written and spoken by them. Jesus fulfills the writings of Moses. He is the Passover Lamb, which causes death to pass over us. Jesus is the bronze snake lifted up on a pole, which healed all who looked at it. Jesus is foretold in every bull and goat sacrificed by the command of Moses. God spoke through Moses, "I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers, and I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him." (Deuteronomy 18:18) And Moses stands next to Jesus as a testimony that Christ fulfills this ancient prophecy.
Jesus fulfills not only what Elijah proclaimed, but what every prophet preached of Jesus. Elijah stands before Christ to confess him to be the fulfillment of all prophecy. He is the virgin born Immanuel and suffering servant of Isaiah. He is the pierced one prophesied by Zechariah. All writings of the Old Testament point to Christ Jesus. And Jesus, aglow with divine glory testifies to the truth of the Old Testament. All of it is true, because it testifies of Jesus and Jesus is true.
And if this is not a sure enough testimony a bright cloud overshadows them and God the Father Himself speaks, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him."
This command from God is directed not only to Peter, James, and John, the three disciples who followed Jesus up the mountain. God commands you and me to listen to Jesus. Well, how are we supposed to do that? Jesus is in heaven. We listen to Jesus by listening to his Word from the holy Scriptures. St. Peter writes that the transfiguration of Jesus makes the prophetic word more sure. When we listen to Scripture, we listen to Jesus.
The holy Scriptures, the Bible is the Word of God. It has no errors. The Bible was written by men. Yet these men did not write their own opinions. St. Peter writes, "For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." St. Peter teaches us that the Bible is not any other book. It is God's book. The Holy Spirit caused it to be written, so we can know our God and Savior Jesus Christ.
During the nineteenth century biblical scholarship was hijacked by a discipline known as "higher criticism." The goal of higher criticism was to treat the Bible as any other book, meaning they would critique its writings and its authors as they would any book in history. However, the Bible became more scrutinized than any book in the history of the world. Everything about it was questioned from its authors to when and where the books were written. Biblical critics claimed nearly all the books of the New Testament were written generations after the Apostles died, making them far from eyewitness accounts. Of course all miracles and supernatural happenings in Scripture were dismissed as myths.
Rudolf Bultmann is known as one of the greatest Lutheran theologians of the twentieth century. He taught future Lutheran pastors theology at the University of Marburg, Germany. And although I'm sure most of you have never heard of him, you've probably heard his teaching. Bultmann was one of the most influential teachers in the so-called Protestant Church. Now don't get misled by the words "greatest Lutheran theologian" or "influential teacher." Bultmann was about the most destructive false teacher in modern Christianity. He took upon himself to "demythologize" the New Testament. He believed that modern people could not accept the "mythology" of the New Testament, so he had to separate the myths from history. Bultmann wrote in his essay, "New Testament & Mythology, "Can Christian proclamation today expect men and women to acknowledge the mythical world picture as true? To do so would be both pointless and impossible."1 Bultmann thought that the New Testament displayed a mythical world picture, "which is simply the world picture of a time now past that was not yet formed by scientific thinking."2 Therefore Bultmann exclaimed, "We cannot use electric lights and radios and, in the event of illness, avail ourselves of modern medical and clinical means and at the same time believe in the spirit and wonder world of the New Testament."3
Bultmann's attempts to separate myths from the actual history of the New Testament leaves us with giant holes in the Bible. It is then up to the interpreter of the Bible to determine what to believe. So miracles like turning water into wine and feeding thousands with just a few loaves and a couple fish, raising a young girl from the dead, and healing the sick, these all get pushed into the category of myth. Yet such criticisms of Scripture doesn't end at doubting a few miracles. The so called "greatest Lutheran theologian" of the 20th century denied the historical resurrection of Christ itself. Bultmann writes, "But what about the resurrection of Christ? Is it not an utterly mythical event? In any case, it is not a historical event that is to be understood in its significance." And yet, St. Paul writes by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, "And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins." (1 Corinthians 15:17)
Now Bultmann and such teachers like him caused great damage to the Lutheran Church in Germany as congregations continued to receive new young pastors, who actually didn't believe the Bible to be the Word of God. But the Atlantic Ocean didn't protect our continent from such false teaching. John Reumann, who was one of the great teachers of the largest Lutheran church body in America wrote in his book on the Lord's Supper, "Perhaps the most profound impact from biblical studies is the realization that we cannot today with surety ascertain what Jesus did, said, or intended, historically..." He further writes concerning the institution of the Lord's Supper on the night Jesus was betrayed, "scholars are more and more certain that we do not know exactly what Jesus said that night."4 According to Reumann we cannot be certain of what Jesus said or did, but we certainly can be uncertain.
Such uncertainty toward the Bible and what Jesus said and intended leaves it up to people to interpret what God wants us to believe and do. This usually leads to people dismissing anything in the Bible that makes them uncomfortable. This doesn't stop at miracles or a man being swallowed by a fish or God creating the universe with his word. It is no coincidence that so many in modern Christianity "discovered" that God actually doesn't have a problem with women pastors, homosexuality, divorce, and abortion after they "realized" that the Bible isn't actually God's word. Of course they replace the sure Word of God for their own flimsy opinions that will change with the tides.
Now we shouldn't be surprised that even men, who claim to be teachers of God will promote false teaching. St. Peter warns us, "But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies..." (2 Peter 2:1) Our Lord Jesus counsels us, "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits." (Matthew 7:15). So Jesus teaches us to mark and avoid false teachers. When you hear them run away. And how will you tell if they are false teachers? By their fruits; when they teach contrary to God's holy Word as revealed in the Bible.
We confess that the Scriptures are the Word of God. They tell us what God wants us to believe about Jesus. But the confession that the Bible has no errors isn't an end to itself. The fact that the Bible has no errors is a source of great comfort. The Bible is trustworthy. You can count on it. That the Bible is trustworthy means that you can have certainty of your salvation. St. Paul writes, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
The teaching that the Bible has no errors is very important for you personally. How do you know what God wants from you? How do you know if God loves you? If he forgives you for the wrong you've done. Scripture reveals that the same God who calls sin, "sin," and condemns all forms of sexual immorality, murder, hatred, and slander also reveals that that same God became man and died for all these sins. Jesus said, "You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me," (John 5:39). St. Paul writes, "The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost." (1 Timothy 1:15)
St. Peter states that the prophetic word is, "a lamp shining in a dark place" and so he agrees with the Psalmist, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105) Peter is confident that the Scriptures light the path to salvation, not only because he saw Christ transfigured before Moses and Elijah and confessed by God the Father, but he also saw Christ risen from the dead and ascend into heaven.
Peter did not lie. He told the truth. The Scriptures are trustworthy. In them you know that God loves you. He sent Jesus to die for your sins. Jesus' resurrection proves that you are forgiven. The Bible assures you that you can trust that God washes away your sins in your Baptism. You can believe that what you receive from the altar is Christ's true body and blood, crucified and risen for your salvation, because we do in fact know what Jesus said on the night when he was betrayed. Our faith is not about doubt, but about certainty. The Scripture gives us that certainty. Those who doubt that the Bible is God's word doubt what God thinks of them. You have no need to doubt. God loves you. He forgives your worst sins. Jesus is risen and so will you be to life everlasting.
The hymnist writes:
I know my faith is founded On Jesus Christ, my God and Lord;
And this my faith confessing, Unmoved I stand on His sure Word.
Our reason cannot fathom The truth of God profound;
Who trusts in human wisdom Relies on shifting ground.
God's Word is all sufficient, It makes divinely sure;
And trusting in its wisdom, My faith shall rest secure.5
That is our final hymn this morning. Let us all belt it out to let both God and Satan know where our faith is grounded. Amen.

0 Comments

"For faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." ~ Romans 10:17

Truth Established by the Testimony of Two or Three Witnesses

Listen to Jesus

Transfiguration: Glory Through The Cross

Transfiguration Sunday: Scripture is Trustworthy

Rev. James Preus

Archives

Categories

"For faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." ~ Romans 10:17

Truth Established by the Testimony of Two or Three Witnesses

Listen to Jesus

Transfiguration: Glory Through The Cross

﻿Transfiguration Sunday: Scripture is Trustworthy

Rev. James Preus

Archives

Categories

Transfiguration Sunday: Scripture is Trustworthy