Lent Two: IMITATION

“Imitation”

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT

February 24, 2013

Rev. Tom Cundiff

Luke 13: 31-35

Philippians 3: 17- 4:1

 

 

Luke 13: 31-35

The Lament over Jerusalem

31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” 32 He said to them, “Go and tell that fox for me, ‘Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. 33 Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.’ 34 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 35 See, your house is left to you.  And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when  you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ”

Philippians 3: 17 - 4:1

17 Brothers and sisters,^* join in imitating (become co-imitators with*) me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. ¹⁸For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. ¹⁹Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. ²⁰But our citizenship^* is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. ²¹He will transform the body of our humiliation^* so that it may be conformed to the body of his glory,^* by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself. 4¹Therefore, my brothers and sisters,^* whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

*possible translaton.

I.

In last Sunday’s sermon I spent some time talking about the maintenance of the church organ and how we too, during Lent, need to maintain our lives in keeping our lives in tune with God.    

There is something else in this sanctuary that requires regular and ongoing maintenance.  I am talking about  ---  

 

The Cross

Look at the cross for a couple of moments!  At first glance it appears it needs very little maintenance—maybe some dusting the next time someone is up there. J 

The cross has a prominent place before us in worship.  While it doesn’t have any moving parts that can break down requiring maintenance, let’s not be fooled.  The cross probably needs more maintenance than anything else in this sanctuary! 

Consider this:  Everything that has ever been given to this church since our founding in 1967 has been dedicated to the glory of God in the name of Jesus Christ who lived and then suffered and died on the cross.  All the sweat and tears that built this church in maintaining worship with ministries in tune with God all these years has been done from “Beneath that cross of Jesus”.  Every single dime in our church budget helps maintaining all the cross represents.  All that we believe and all that we do is in the name of Jesus Christ reaches down to us from that Cross to fill us with God’s Spirit! 

Think about it:  Jesus dedicated his life ending in his suffering and death on the cross so we can be here today!  He took our sins with him to the cross.  We owe everything we have to God who gave us his only begotten son who loved us so that we may never perish but have eternal life.

Truly, the cross requires significant maintenance in our giving our lives to the one who died for our sins sealing God’s promise to us of eternal life.

II.

Paul today is writing from prison to his friends in Philippi because they are not living up to expectations he has for them in carrying the cross with them into every situation each and every day.  Paul writes to them to challenge them to renew their commitment to be ambassadors for Christ, co-imitators with him in preaching and teaching and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with others.  This sounds to me like a challenge for us during this season of Lent!

The challenge Paul gives us?  The best way we have to maintain the cross of Jesus in our lives is to dedicate our lives, to the best of our ability, in imitating along with Paul all within us that can reflect God;s love that comes down from the cross that touches us, our families and friends and church today.    

In borrowing from the imagery of the first hymn we sang today:  

From “Beneath the Cross of Jesus” we do a pretty descent job of imitating along with Paul our serving the needs of the community – especially the children.  We have not taken Christ’s cross to become a church in another part of the city.  At night, when the flood lights shine through those three large windows, the whole neighborhood can see that cross – we are here to maintain a relationship with this neighborhood. 

I dare say – with just a hint in sinfully boasting – we do a pretty good job in loving and serving God from “Beneath that Cross of Jesus”!      

But herein rests the problem that Paul may have with us.  Just like his friends in Philippi:  Are we doing all we can and should be doing? 

III.

Digging Deeper I go back to these words found earlier in Chapter 3 of Philippians – scripture that preachers rarely want to read or preach: 

“Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate the flesh!  For it is we who are the circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of god, and boast in Christ and have no confidence in the flesh—even though I too have reason for confidence in the flesh.”  Philippians 3: 1-3

Who is Paul calling “dogs” or “evil workers”?   He’s not talking about the unbelievers.  He’s not pouncing on the impoverished with these harsh words.  He is talking to those whom he says in this scripture  have been circumcised.  In other words he is talking to believers – the inner circle of disciples who have become complacent – even to the point of turning their backs on their beliefs because it is more comfortable to do so.

So could it be that Paul is talking to us?  How often do we find ourselves saying we will be faithful to our Lord and then turn away from neighbors in need?  When we say things are going well with us in our discipleship and in our church – where and in what ways have we fallen short of God’s calling?  

Have we become too comfortable in our worship and work requiring Paul’s writing to us today charging us to again become co-imitators with him in serving our Lord?   Paul says clearly to us today:  “stand firm” as co-imitators in emulating Christ “whose citizenship is in heaven”.  Our true citizenship is to be found not in this world but in heaven?  That’s the way of the cross!  

III.

In speaking of things we tend to avoid or neglect because it’s not comfortable to do so:  EVANGELISM  or to put this another way:  SHARING THE GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPEL WITH OTHERS! 

Just wondering:  If I were to ask the Session when they meet after worship to form a new team with the sole responsibility of finding and nurturing new members?  Who among us would volunteer to be on this team?  What would it take to bring a half-dozen new members into our fellowship between now and the end of the year?  What would Paul say to us?  I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t want to hear all the reasons why we think this may not be possible!!!   --- most of my friends already have a church, or what I hear from our West-Side members:  people don’t like to come to this location.  The fact is:  There are a lot of people in this community who don’t have or feel they want a church affiliation!

In sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with others, how often have we been intentional in extending an invitation to a friend or neighbor to come join with us in worship? 

This idea of forming an Evangelism Committee is an illustration of what I mean in leaving our comfort zones to live out the gospel of Jesus Christ and his Great Commission as found in Matthew 28:

Go therefore and make disciples….

IV.

Final point:  Let’s not be too hard on ourselves.  We see a lot of needs and suffering and we do respond to the best of our ability as a small congregation in using this large building for several programs in a part of town where it is a challenge to be doing OVERT EVANGELISM.   Our way of sharing the gospel with others is in opening our building so children, in particular, have a safe place to come to study and play and be safe.  This is also our gospel mandate, in caring for the children around us.    

Let’s hear this point:  Let’s take home with us the message from Paul to be co-imitators for Christ in whatever ways we believe this to mean.  Let’s accept the Lenten challenge to find ways to imitate Christ in doing things that are visible;  things that truly make a difference in the lives of others.  Let’s do some soul searching in evaluating where we are in our relationship with Christ. 

The task before us is clear.   Maintaining the cross!   Keeping our lives in tune (or in tune as we can be) with God.  In joining with Paul in doing Christ’s work in the community. 

As co-imitators with Paul for the cause of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, let’s move forward in finding ways to live with a closer relationship with our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.  

 

Amen

 

 

 

Lent One: The Tempations of Jesus

The Temptations of Jesus”

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT // COMMUNION

February 17, 2013

Rev. Tom Cundiff

Luke 4: 1-13

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, ²where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. ³The devil said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.’ ⁴Jesus answered him, ‘It is written, “One does not live by bread alone.” ’

Then the devil^* led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. ⁶And the devil^* said to him, ‘To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. ⁷If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.’ ⁸Jesus answered him, ‘It is written,  “Worship the Lord your God,  and serve only him.” ’

9Then the devil^* took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, ¹⁰for it is written, “He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you”, ¹¹and “On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.”   Jesus answered him, ‘It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”  When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.

 

 

I.  Introduction:  Organ Tuning

Take a few moments to think with me about this magnificent church organ that we never take for granted because the music in provides enhancing worship is such an integral part of our worship.    

Something I have learned over the years is that this instrument has quite a temperament!  In fact, that “temperament” is a formal term in the vocabulary or organists.  Each instrument is unique.  Each instrument has a personality.  Each organ has its own temperament! 

Scott Smith is the professional who currently takes care of maintenance and tuning this organ.  Very few people have a “specialized ear” for tuning organs.  We’re blessed to have Scott fitting us into his busy schedule helping us do the tedious work of caring for this organ.  Behind the scenes he climbs up into these huge chambers with his crew, upper and lower chambers filled with hundreds of different pipes each with their own unique sound—and temperament.  It’s tedious work turning each individual pipe!   

Without getting too technical:  There is a conversation between the electronics of the organ console connected with a huge bellows in the basement below us that pumps air into pipes of different sizes, tall and short and thick and thin—some that are metal and others are made out of wood.   Each pipe is unique with the gift of a specific sound made as air flows through it.  The challenge in tuning is in making sure the sound of each pipe is in tune with the others! 

Consider this detail:  I have learned that a near-perfect environment is required to make sure all the pipes are in tune.  If we could afford it, we would maintain this sanctuary and those chambers at a constant 72 degrees with 50% humidity–24 hours a day every day throughout the year.  Realistically, there’s no way we can keep the boiler running full-time – and we don’t have air conditioning or humidity controls. 

What do we have?  We have a wonderful,  ‘hard-to-maintain’ organ with pipes in large chambers where the temperature can fluctuate between the top and bottom and front and back depending on how close those pipes are to the sanctuary or outside walls.  You get my point?  It’s hard keeping the temperament of this organ attuned with the type of music it is meant to give us.       

Back to each individual pipe:  Each pipe, like each of us, has a unique personality.  Air flows through each unique pipe just as God’s spirit flows through each of us as we make beautiful music working as Christ’s disciples in concert—in tune with one another.  

God is the master tuner who works in and around us in helping to create, in harmony, beautiful music in the name of the living Christ.  While we try to always stay in tune, we are not perfect.  We have unique personalities in trying to always make beautiful music as a church, but we are not perfect.  We need to be honest.  We need to confess we are sometimes out of tune with God!

II.

LENT is the time of year we work to get ourselves attuned—in sync with God.  Scripture takes us into the story of Jesus in his getting himself in tune—attuned with God. 

You know the story.  Jesus while in his late twenties starts searching for what God wants him to do with his life.  John baptizes him in the river Jordan.  It is through baptism Jesus discovers he is unique.  God has claimed him.  He is God’s son.  As a unique child of God called to be an instrument and voice for God, Jesus must decide how to live his new sense of calling.    

As the story goes, the spirit of God leads Jesus into the wilderness for his own 40 day journey to be tempted by the devil.  Critical  questions need to be asked and answered.  Decisions need to be made.   As Jesus address brokenness and sin and evil in his life, we too travel through this season of Lent, forty days and forty nights, called to address sin and brokenness and evil in our lives. How in tune are we as children of God, as followers of Jesus Christ – with God in our lives?  

Jesus with his own unique temperament for dealing with evil as the Son of God fasts and is tempted on three occasions. 

The first temptation for Jesus is to turn stones into bread in order to ease his own hunger.  In a much broader context this temptation is about choices we make in either taking either the easy or comfortable paths laid before us or remaining “out of tune” with God.  The question is simple?  Do we want to attuned to God’s will and plan for us?  Or will we let the world of temptations rule over us?

The second temptation for Jesus was to throw himself off the highest point of the temple to let God’s angels save him.  This was a temptation to become like the “Jesus Christ Superstar” in doing spectacular things – like a king – assuming things will automatically work for good.  It’s kind of like assuming the organ is going to always be in tune.  Discipleship, like organ tuning, doesn’t just happen.  Like Jesus, we are called to live as servants of God. 

The third temptation of Jesus was to set aside his mission in order to conform to the standards of the world.  Are we going to let the pressures of the world define who we are?  Is the music we produce going to have sacred meaning?  Are we going to live our lives as noise-makers making sounds that don’t have value or meaning in building up God’s Kingdom here on earth?

III.  When things get Out-of-Tune

As we enter this 40 day season of Lent in preparing for Easter, let’s remember that Jesus had to face numerous challenges in staying in tune with God.  We will face temptations just as Jesus faced temptations.  Life is never going to be perfect.  Life is never going to be perfectly in tune with God.  That shouldn't keep us from trying.

But we can try!  We can travel with Jesus into the wilderness and try.  We can make a regular appointment with God, every Sunday morning, to get ourselves tuned so we can live in harmony not only with each other but also God.  In tune with God, we can make beautiful music with our lives and various ministries.  

We must enter this season of Lent remembering the world isn’t perfect.  It takes a lot of hard work to say in tune with God’s purpose for us.  

OH YES!  We must also remember we are not a new organ.  Some of us have been working to stay in tune with God fifty, sixty, eighty and ninety years.  Other parts of this body are newer than others. 

Finally, let’s remember we have a lot of tools and resources to help us stay in tune with God.  Scripture, prayer, music, private meditation come to mind.  

We take communion or order to keep up our strength.  Fed in Christ’s spirit, communion gives us the sustenance we need to progress forward in positive ways in serving our lord in this community.  The bread of life and cup of salvation feed our souls in helping us do Christ’s work so others around us can hear the music God calls us to produce. 

May God bless us as we receive communion – traveling together with Christ by our side always striving to be in tune with God.

AMEN

Ash Wednesday-Spiritual Spring Cleaning

“Spiritual Spring Cleaning”

 ASH WEDNESDAY

February 13, 2013

Thomas B. Cundiff

 

Joel 2: 1-17

Matthew 6: 1-18 (selected)

INTRODUCTION:

Spring Cleaning.  We all think about it.  Some or us actually do it.  What do we need to do to clean and clear our homes and yards after a long winter of collecting all sorts of things…..even some of the old Christmas boxes still sitting around. 

Lent is also about cleaning – Spring Cleaning – our spiritual homes and yards.  This image of cleaning up our lives in preparation for Easter has been around for a long time.  What needs to be polished, cleaned – even tossed in making more room for God in our spiriutal house?  What negative attitudes or bad habits need to be thrown away.  What cob webs need to be cleared from our minds and hearts.  What good habits need some on-going polish.  To use the words of another preacher, Fred Anderson, how do we remove the “incrustations in our lives which occlude God’s presence”?^[1]   Sounds like he is using a different image, like that of clearing cholesterol from our arteries….incrustations and occlusions that block the smooth flow of God’s spirit through our spiritual veins.

 

Spiritual Spring Cleaning for the Christian has traditionally involved three spiritual disciplines.  (1) almsgiving (acts of charity), (2) prayer, (2) and fasting.   Straight from scripture, we will spend the next few minutes looking at these lenten disciplines:

The first Lenten Discipline:  Almsgiving/Charity (vs. 1-4)

6SCRIPTURE:  “Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven….2 So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. ³But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”^*

MEDITATION:

Almsgiving is the same as talking about charity or caring for the poor.   One of the best ways to clear the dust and cobwebs and clutter out of our lives is in taking the focus off of our personal needs and redirecting our thoughts and prayers toward those who are less fortunate.

Almsgiving or giving to the poor is through intentional, but hidden acts of charity.  Why hidden?  Jesus is clear that ALMS are given for their own sake rather than for acclaim or good favor.  We don’t give to charity so others will say applaud us or bestow upon us acclaim.  That’s not what being a Christian is about.  Care for the poor among us is the bed-rock to being a part of the church. 

Scripture mandates that we respond to one another with charitable care.  What we do with our charity is personal and private.  As we have seen with special offerings to the church in the past, our collective contributions to help the poor us substantial.  May God, this season of Lent, help us grow in our charity.

 

The second Lenten Discipline:  Prayer (5-6)

5SCRIPTURE:  ‘And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. ⁶But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.^*

MEDITATION:

Prayer is another personal discipline in our cleaning our spirtual lives.    Prayer is our drawing near to God with our deepest thoughts, hopes, dreams and concerns.  Prayer it the time we invest immersing oursevles in God’s presence. 

What do we need to clear away?  Those things in our schedules that keep us from focusing 100% on God.  This is easier said than done.  If you have not already been practicing this discipline of daily prayer, consider finding some time first thing in the morning to ask:  GOD:  WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO WITH MY LIFE TODAY?

If morning doesn’t work for you consider adding to your lunch break some prayers of intercession.   List in your mind those people you know who are hurting.  This is also a good time to think about those people you need to see, call or write.  A good question to ask as we begin these prayers:  I WONDER HOW THESE PEOPLE ARE DOING?   WHO NEEDS MY PRAYERS WHO ARE SICK OR GRIEVING OR STUGGLING WITH ISSUES IN THEIR LIVES? 

Then pray for them. 

Another guide to prayer:  SCRIPTURE.  Perhaps, before bed, we can read some scripture before prayer.  The Psalms are a great place to start.   Praying through the Psalms can help us shake some of the bad habits that normally occupy our thoughts.  Instead of sitting in front of the television or computer consider reading and reflecting on the psalms….If you are married or have children, this time of reading and reflection and prayer can be done as a family. 

At the heart of spiritual disciplines is cleaning some of the “junk” out of our lives so we can spend some time with God in prayer.

The third Lenten Discipline:  Fasting  (16-18)

16 SCRIPTURE:  ‘And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. ¹⁷But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, ¹⁸so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

MEDITATION:^*

Fasting is an ancient discipline. Traditionally, fasting is an expression of submission to God.  What does this mean?  We need to recognize, through fasting, that we are not in this world alone.  We are dependent on the blessings of God in order to live.  When we are hungry, we realize quickly how much we depend on the food and water (sustenance) God provides.   

There are many kinds of fasts. We do not need to participate in the complete fast of no intake of food or drink. In fact, most clergy and spiritual directors insist that, if you are going to fast by giving up food for a day, you quite intentionally increase you drinking water and juices.  We don’t want anyone to get sick because they are not eating properly. 

Some in Lent give up meat for the entire season. Others take a day or even two a week, as was the custom in Israel, giving up all food, taking only liquid. It has been found to be physically as well as spiritually beneficial -- cleansing to the system.

But more than anything else, fasting clears the mind, cleans up our spirit, and draws us back into intentional dependence on God.   Remember how Jesus faced his own temptations in the wildernes?  Fasting was an intentional way of experiencing hunger. It is a way of understanding emptiness.  It is in this emptiness we long for the food that God provides through Jesus, the Bread of Life!

Conclusion:  Concerning Treasures  (19-21)

19 SCRIPTURE:  ‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust^* consume and where thieves break in and steal; ²⁰but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust^* consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

MEDITATION:

Jesus' words about alms (charity), prayer and fasting have been misinterpreted over the years.  One would think in reading this scripture that everything we do do is to be done in private.  What scripture really  suggests is that we don’t just go through the public motions of practicing these lenten disciplines without also doing some things personally and privately. 

 As we push the dust out of our lives this lent, we need to look for ways we can make a difference in our lives and the lives of others so we feel “good” about ourselves and our relationship with God.  These disciplines are not about public acclaim.  They are about our making important and positive changes in our lives.

 

Conclusion:

 One final point:  We are invited to begin this season of spiritual housekeeping by marking ourselfs with the sign of mortality – the imparting of ashes.  Ashes have been, since earliest biblical times, a sign that we are human, dependent beings who live by the breath and the grace of God.  So as we do our spiritual houskeeping,  

"Remember you are dust,

from dust you have come and to dust you will return.

Repent and believe the gospel."

This evening, we mark ourselves for this time of house-cleaning because we want to intentionally grow in our relationship with God.  Let us grow personally and as a church….in the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Amen                                                                                                    

---

[1] Ash Wednesday: Holy Dusting

The Madison Avenue Pulpit, February 25, 1998
The Rev. Dr. Fred R. Anderson, Pastor, Copyright 1998.

 

TRANSFIGURATION

 

CLOUDS OF GLORY FEBRUARY 10, 2013 Transfiguration Sunday ©Thomas B. Cundiff     II Kings 2: 1-12a

 

who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the LORD will take your master away from you?” And he answered, “Yes, I know; be silent.”

⁶Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; for the LORD has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. ⁷Fifty men of the company of prophets^£ also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. ⁸Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground.

⁹When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.” ¹⁰He responded, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.” ¹¹As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. ¹²Elisha kept watching and crying out, “Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” ¹Now when the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. ²Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; for the LORD has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the LORD  lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. ³The company of prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the LORD will take your master away from you?” And he said, “Yes, I know; keep silent.”

 

⁴Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here; for the LORD has sent me to Jericho.”  But he said, “As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.”   So they came to Jericho. ⁵The company of prophets who were at Jericho drew  near to Elisha, and said to him, “Do you know that today the LORD will take your master away from you?” And he answered, “Yes, I know; be silent.”   ⁶Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; for the LORD has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. ⁷Fifty men of the company of prophets  also went, and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. ⁸Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground.  

 

⁹When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.” ¹⁰He responded, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you  see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you; if not, it will not.”  ¹¹As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven.  ¹²Elisha kept watching and crying out, “Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!”

 

Matthew 17: 1-9

¹Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. ²And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white.   ³Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. ⁴Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” ⁵While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” ⁶When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. ⁷But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” ⁸And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself  alone.

 

⁹As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” 

I.  INTRODUCTION

Jesus’ TRANSFIGURATION!   What?  A man being TRANSFIGURED?   I’ve never seen anything like this.  How can this be?

The reference in today’s scripture to Jesus’ TRANSFIGURATION is but one of several examples of God in all of God’s Glory being revealed to humanity—and to each of us who read and study scripture.   At the heart of this story (this account) of Jesus’ TRANSFIGURATION is the belief:  Jesus is both human and divine.  

Even as a pastor I struggle with understanding Jesus as man and God.  Even more challenging is figuring out how to preach about Jesus whom we believe to be “truly human and truly divine”!

One of the best ways I have found to describe these difficult concepts is to think of scripture like a fine painting or sculpture or portrait.  In looking at scripture like a magnificent painting, the great preacher and teacher David Buttrick has said we need to get beyond the words and ‘this is what happened’ type of historical account.^[1]  As art, what images come to mind?   What thoughts are stimulated when we see a lovely picture?  This is where we truly grasp Jesus as man and God. 

To give you an example:  the gospel of John writing like a master poet gives us this beautiful word-portrait:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God….the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” John 1: 2,5

Beautiful scripture that helps us capture intellectually and in our imaginations a picture of God!

To break things down in hopefully helping to make this scripture today easier to understand…..

II. Three Epiphanies

There are three major epiphanies or manifestations of the presence of God -- “word-portraits” found in ancient scriptural stories.

1.     First, there is the glory of God revealed at the time of the birth of Jesus when the Magi followed the eastern star to visit the Bethlehem location of his birth.  The epiphany is the manifestation of God in the light of the star that guides the magi to the baby.     

2.     The second epiphany is one we talk about often—the baptism of Jesus.  In this scriptural story the heavens open and the Spirit of God descends upon Jesus like a dove. 

3.     Today's scripture gives us the third epiphany or manifestation or glimpse of God’s glory -- Jesus' Transfiguration -- the likeness of God revealed through images of Elijah and Moses and Jesus & God's glory revealed to James and Peter and John!  

This is truly a complicated story!  There are a lot of characters involved in this story.  It’s a mental portrait hard to describe with words–mostly because this visual/physical changing of Jesus’ appearance is so far beyond anything we can comprehend. 

Honestly, Jesus’ transfiguration is as hard to describe as Jesus’ resurrection.  That is why I like to approach this text – not logically but experientially!

III.  EXPERIENTIAL APPOACH

Think for a moment about the weird changes in weather we have experienced this winter.  To wait until early February to get significant snow?  Warm days in the 50’s and 60’s followed by several days of temperatures in the single digits…..rain and snow and sleet combinations…..seems like a lot of ice this year.  And then the thunder and lightening of two weeks ago—a cold front colliding with warm air moving north – weather we don’t usually experience in the winter.  

The point:  We often experience God, like changing seasons and weather, in ways never imagined or ever thought possible. 

Scripture attests to the visual experience of God – perhaps in our taking time to gaze upon the beauty of snow covered fields, or some deer leaping cross the fields…..or a blanket of fog on top of a stream or river…..lots of examples. 

I was just looking at the pictures of some natural giant ice-sculptures made from waves of water up along the shores of Lake Superior…truly God’s hand in painting these beautiful pictures.  The challenge:  How often do we take time to gaze upon all that is majestic and given to us directly from the hand of God?

Something else that still totally amazes me, so many high-energy birds flying against sub-zero temperatures in unbelievable winds…always reminding me there is so much to reach for and grasp and enjoy in understanding God’s magnificent yet mysterious glory.

Preach:  So perhaps we can we envision or try to at least capture in our minds the image of what Peter and James and John experienced with Jesus being transfigured into something beyond explanation?  Incomprehensible?  Illogical?  Something as real as our believing God is with us in our lives right now?  Jesus amidst the high clouds with his face shining like the sun and wearing dazzling white clothes?   And Jesus was not alone but with Moses and Elijah.  Is this not an epiphany?  An experience?  A mind-word-portrait of the Glory of God?

With scripture in hand, knowing that God’s light can shine in the darkest corners of life, can we get beyond the question:  How could this have possibly happened?  Can we accept in faith the testimony of Peter and James and John?  They put aside their fears!  This experience for them was real!   We are called to do the same.  We are called, through faith, to experience the good and glorious things God puts before us each and every day!  We are also called to accept the testimony of others that comes to us through scripture.  The smile on the face of the stranger; the birth of a child (or grandchild);  the laughter and tears of a child;  an unexpected hug….any number of emotions we experience that cannot be explained away.

Back to the testimony of Peter and James and John:  They asked how all of this could this happen?  How are we going to explain what we have seen?  They actually heard the voice of God.  They experienced God.  Peter’s testimony we need to (are called to) hear and accept in faith—the voice of God that clearly says: 

 

“This is my Son….this is Jesus…

I am pleased with him…..listen to him.”

 

Words and a powerful image directly from God!   An Epiphany.  And what does Jesus say to his disciples and to each of us who hear this testimony:  Jesus says, “Do not be afraid!”   Our challenge is to look for the experiences of God in the world around us….the people who are close to us….the blessings God has given us ….. through eyes of faith in listening to God’s Son Jesus.   When fear and doubts and frustrations and pain envelope us – Jesus says to us:  “Do not be afraid!” 

IV.

This is appropriate scripture for the Sunday before the beginning of Lent as we prepare to travel with Jesus on his pilgrimage to suffer and die.  The journey is one of rediscovering in our lives the many varied ways God walks with us and touches us personally through every day experiences. 

God puts before us an opportunity to work through transformations, changes in our lives.  The journey is one of working to alter or make changes in our lives so we can be happier, healthier, people of God experiencing with each other….God’s Glory!

The climax of Jesus' Epiphanal revelation to the disciples through his transfiguration is lodged in Peter's confession found in chapter 16 of the gospel of Matthew when he acclaims to Jesus: “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!”  (Matt 16: 16)   When Peter makes this heart-felt confession we must think of the profession of faith we make when we proclaim in faith:  “Jesus is my Lord and Savior”.   Can we/will we also proclaim along with Peter:  “Jesus, you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God”?

Regardless where we are in our lives, with personal issues or challenges converging upon us:  will we travel with Jesus to the top of the mountain to experience the living Christ, as Peter and James and John experienced the living Christ? 

The foundation of my journey with you and with Christ:  JESUS IS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD!    There is no reason to be afraid.  God is with us.  Jesus is with us.  Human and divine, Jesus our Lord and our Savior is always with us.

Amen.

 

 

 

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^[1]  Proclamation 3, Fortress Press, Series C, Epiphany pg 59