Title: LISTEN TO HIM ON YOUR WAY!

Focus: When we find ourselves entering a valley filled with shadows of fear and death, be sure to listen to Jesus’ voice.

Function: To encourage the people to take hold of Jesus’ words and work as we continue our journey into the season of Lent.

Text: Matthew 17:1-13

INTRODUCTION

Most valleys are inviting and beautiful; they are places to travel or to camp, or to make a living by growing crops or developing all sorts of industries. I don’t mind entering such valleys. But there is one valley that gives me the “shakes.” When I see that valley coming up in my journey of life, my heart begins to pulsate more quickly, my soul opens its mouth in prayer, and my emotions are conflicted with fear and anxiety which I try to keep under control. I’m talking about the valley that is filled with shadows—shadows of fear and even death. These are valleys where the road is rocky, and where the going is rough

Those valleys may look different for each one of us today, but we all know when we are entering that valley. We all know the fears and anxiety of these valleys, because we all are human beings. No one can escape or bypass the valleys filled with shadows of fear and death.

But here is the good news: when we find ourselves entering a valley of despair and death, be sure to listen to Jesus’ voice.

THE PASSAGE: MATTHEW 17:1-13

On this Sunday, just before we enter the Lent season, the Word of God leads us on a mountain top, where we see a wondrous sight. Consider the passage and

• Its Wondrous Vision: What we See on this mountaintop is a glory moment, so beautiful and breath-taking that we must stand still and soak it in. What we see is a vision of holiness. As one commentator said (Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary): we see “a combination of heaven and earth, a blending of time and eternity, a mixture of present reality and transcendence.” What we see is a merging of human history and sacred story.

Look at the glory of God radiating from Jesus: Scripture says that Jesus’ “face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light” (vs.2). Luke tells us that his clothes became “as bright as a flash of lightning” (Lk. 9:29). Maybe you children have seen the metamorphesis of a caterpillar into a butterfly. That’s a strange and wondrous sight, to be sure. But nothing comes close to what we see here with Jesus: it’s a magnificent, heavenly glory moment.

Look also at Moses and Elijah; though they lived on earth centuries before this wondrous vision, they now re-appear in history and join Jesus in his glory moment. Luke tells us in his gospel that they appeared in “glorious splendor.”

But that’s not all. Do not lose sight of the glory of our heavenly Father. That glory comes to us in this vision when a bright cloud envelops or surrounds the disciples and Jesus and Moses and Elijah. That cloud points to the presence and glory of God the Father. That cloud brings us back to Israel’s history—the exodus, the journey in the desert, the dedication of the temple, for example. The glory of the Father is awesome; it fills the disciples with fear; that glory strikes them, especially when they hear the voice of God saying: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” Folks, get into the story and hold on to this wondrous vision of God’s glory. Also, consider this passage’s

• Timing: This glory moment for Jesus and his disciples happens at a very crucial time: just before Jesus enters his valley of the shadows of death. Jerusalem is appearing on the radar screen: angry religious leaders are waiting for him; Pontius Pilate, King Herod, Roman soldiers, a frenzied mob—they all wait for Jesus in the shadows of the future: pain, rejection, suffering, a horrific death mark the next stretch of Jesus’ journey. How on earth can Jesus face this valley of fear and death?

Ah, God gives him a glory moment. Jesus (and his disciples, and we too) receive a preview of things to come. It’s true: In order for Jesus to bring life eternal to this world, he must face the gore of suffering and death. But God gives him a preview of resurrection glory that is to come. And thus we must not only pay attention to this wondrous vision and the timing of Jesus’ transfiguration; we must also reflect upon the

• Importance of Jesus’ transfiguration: Ask yourself: what are Moses and Elijah doing there with Jesus? Who are they? What do they represent? Well, they are talking with Jesus. What are they talking about? Luke tells us in his gospel: they are talking about “his departure (litt. his exodus), which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.” Of course, exodus or “departure” brings to mind the story of Moses leading the Israelites out of Egypt into the promised land. Moses’ exodus connects us with Jesus’ upcoming crucifixion, death, and resurrection. In this transfiguration or glory moment, we see Jesus connecting the dots of God’s deliverance of his people throughout the centuries with God’s most awesome act of saving his people through Jesus’ work on the cross and in the tomb. God’s work of exodus climaxes in his Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus fulfills that what God foreshadowed in Moses’ exodus of Israel.

The same is true for Elijah. Elijah is the “mother of all prophets’ so to speak. He represents the bearer of God’s Word par excellence. That Word of God as found in the works and words of the prophets find their fulfillment now in Jesus Christ. He is the Word of God, who will lay down his life that you and I may have life eternal.

Jesus’ transfiguration and Moses’ and Elijah’s presence stress this important point: Jesus is God’s Son who fulfills the Law and the Prophets, who combines the saving work of God into one earth-and-history-shaking event—the Christ event on the cross, in the tomb, and on the throne of God in heaven today.

Jesus’ transfiguration also points to the far end of history, when He comes again as “the Son of Man, as the “Elijah,” as the Savior King and Judge over all. This becomes clear in the conversation that the disciples are having with Jesus. They pondered the significance of Elijah appearing with Jesus. They were taught by their religious leaders that at the end of time Elijah would appear in glory. But now they have seen Elijah, but certainly they aren’t facing the end of time as yet.

Jesus responds and says: “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things.” That’s a reference to Jesus himself, as the Son of Man appearing in glory at the end of time. But then Jesus reminds his disciples that Elijah in the Scriptures is “larger” than one person. “Elijah” is a designation of a number of people: John the Baptizer, for example. Listen: “I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished.” “Elijah” stands for the prophet, for John the Baptist, and also for Jesus himself, as the Son of Man, the great Savior and judge of all humanity.

So then, what shall we take away from Jesus’ transfiguration? I think we do well to listen to the voice of God in the cloud saying: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” As we enter the season of Lent, and as we continue our journey of life, this is what stands out to me in the Scriptures today: when we find ourselves entering a valley filled with shadows of fear and death, be sure to listen to Jesus’ voice.

APPLICATION

Some of us today are facing a valley that we fear. All of us must face such valleys from time to time. Today, the Lord invites us to climb the mountain of his glory. We need to see the glory of God to complete our pilgrimage of faith. We need to see the larger, the bigger picture, as we get down into the muck of misery, or as we face the shadows of fear and death. As I think about our son Elliot, and the valley of Iraq that he, and so many other soldiers must face, I fear. And like so many other parents, and husbands and wives and children and grandparents, I worry. Thank God, then, for this glory moment seen on the mountain of Jesus’ transfiguration. For there I see the bigger picture about life, and death, about fear, and suffering, and sickness. After the misery, there is victory. The valley of fear and sorrow and death ends into resurrection, and life, and power, and comfort and hope forevermore.

So come. Take a good look at this Jesus Christ—he is the Son of God, our Savior. Take a good look at his accomplished work—he was victorious over sin, and the devil, and death itself. The grave could not hold him down—he arose again. The disciples could not hold him down—he ascended into heaven. The world cannot stop his Word and Spirit from radically changing our lives. Jesus is our hope—not only when things are “smooth sailing,” but also when there is a rough stretch ahead of us. Come, climb that mountain of glory. And consider this Jesus. He is worth following. He is worth living for and dying for. He is worth listening to!

Yes, as you face your valley in this season of Lent, climb the mountain of transfiguration, and listen to Jesus. What does he say as he himself goes through his valley? What words from Jesus’ valley of the shadows of death come to us today?

Perhaps the doctor has given you a threatening diagnosis; perhaps you face surgery this week. It is true: “dust we are, and to dust we shall return”. That’s what this upcoming Ash Wednesday also tells us. But listen to Jesus: (John 11:25) “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.”

During these upcoming Sundays in Lent, we will hear these words of Jesus at one time or another: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”(John 14:1-3)

On Maundy Thursday (as well as today) we will hear him say: “Take, eat, drink, remember and believe….” And we draw strength and nurture from him, and we will face our valleys in faith and trust that all is well because of what Jesus has done, is doing, and will do as yet.

On Good Friday we will hear him say: “My God, my God why have you forsaken me,” And thus we can identify with Jesus in our pain. But we will also hear him say: “It is finished.” Jesus’ suffering and death—ultimately—means also an end to our suffering and death. Therefore, we shall not despair when the valleys with their shadows threaten us. Rather, we shall go forth in strength and hope today. For the rainbow of God’s glory, bundled up in Jesus Christ, keeps us going in the days to come.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.