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How do we react when we are told something that we do
not want to hear? We are told to do something, we would
rather not. We may use the excuse that we did not
understand the instructions, or did not think the
message was for us. Perhaps we would shy away from the
task at hand by simply walking away. We might disagree;
a good argument has a way of stopping any potential
action dead in its tracks. Politicians use the term
filibuster, which means that they talk and talk and talk
for hours so that no action can be taken. Dragging our
feet is another way to stop any action. What do you do
when you are told something you would rather not hear?
One reason we might be hesitant to
try something new is our fear of the unknown. We are
pretty much set in our ways; it is hard to try something
new. “You cannot teach old dogs new tricks” we say in
our defense. There are times when we have to literally
be forced out of our comfort zones, sometimes kicking
and screaming, “I do not want to go.” Remember our
discipleship is measured by our obedience. Are we able
to follow Jesus’ instructions or not?
The disciples had been following
Jesus for quite sometime. Simply by spending so much
time with Jesus they were gaining a better
understanding. Along the way Jesus did not always fit
into their preconceived notions of what the Messiah
should be and do. Even though they did not totally
understand they stuck with Jesus, nonetheless.
For the disciples, it was time to
step up, to go to the next level. The same is true for
us. Sometimes we get stuck in the same place in our
spiritual lives. We are stuck in a rut. The longer we
are stuck the more comfortable we become. “It feels
right” we say in our defense. At one point on their
journey Jesus asked the disciples, “Who do people say
that the Son of Man is?” This was a fair question, as
they traveled they must have heard people talking about
Jesus. The disciples had no problem telling Jesus what
people thought about him. Jesus’ next question was more
personal, “who do you say that I am?” The other
disciples might have very well looked to Peter; he was
after all their leader. Peter gave the right answer,
“You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” No
one had told Peter the correct answer it was a divine
revelation.
Have you ever noticed that Jesus
does not allow us to remain in one place for too long?
The disciples might have had a celebration party, after
months of following Jesus and not always on the right
track Peter came up with the right answer. For the
first time Jesus shared his mission with them, how he
must go to Jerusalem “and undergo great suffering at the
hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and
be killed, and on the third day be raised.” As you
would imagine what Jesus told them did not sit well.
These words made the disciples feel uncomfortable
perhaps even angry. Peter blurts out, “God forbid it,
Lord! This must never happen to you.” The rest of the
disciples nodded in agreement.
Jesus then taught about
discipleship, about the cross and denying themselves.
Probably not what they wanted to hear at that moment.
Our lesson from Matthew’s gospel
takes place six days later. Six days after Jesus shared
with them that he would suffer, die and be raised
again. Six days of thinking about what Jesus told
them. Six days of wondering if they might have been
better off had they remained fishermen. Six days of
silence, afraid to ask Jesus any additional questions.
Given the situation six days can be a long time.
Six days later, Jesus along with
three of his disciples, “Peter and James and his brother
John” went up a “high mountain, by themselves.” Maybe
the change of scenery would be just the think to snap
them out of their funk.
It was while they were on the
mountain that something extraordinary took place. Jesus
was “transfigured” or changed before them. For the
first time they had a glimpse of Jesus’ true identity as
the Son of God. As if that were not enough, Moses and
Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus. Moses the
lawgiver who led the people out of Egypt to the Promised
Land and Elijah the prophet who was taken up into heaven
on a chariot of fire were conversing with Jesus. It
must have been an awe-inspiring moment for Peter, James
and John.
“Lord, it is good for us to be
here,” Peter states. Indeed, it was good to experience
this holy moment. Peter was still talking when a cloud
overshadowed them and then the voice of God thundered,
“This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well
pleased; listen to him!” At Jesus’ baptism the voice of
God affirmed Jesus but here on the mountain God spoke
for the benefit of the disciples confirming what Jesus
told them and instructing them to “listen to him!”
As you might imagine the three
disciples were frightened and “fell to the ground.”
Notice that Jesus went to the disciples and touched
them, telling them, “Get up and do not be afraid.”
Throughout the gospel people approached Jesus with a
variety of concerns. People sought out Jesus. But here
on the mountain Jesus went to the disciples. Jesus
comes to us as well. At those moments when nothing
seems to make sense Jesus comes to us.
When the disciples looked up they
only saw Jesus “alone.” Just as quickly as the cloud
overshadowed them and they saw Moses and Elijah, it was
gone. Only Jesus stood before them. The three
disciples were privileged to see Jesus’ true identity.
However, it was just a brief glimpse.
On their way down from the mountain
Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until
after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
The people the disciples would meet were not yet ready
to hear of this experience. That is no longer true for
us we are sent out to share the good news of our faith
with other people. We are no longer to remain silent
but tell others of our experiences with Jesus.
For the past several weeks we have
been examining our Mission statement, “To experience and
share God’s love.” We come to worship where we
experience the love of God in our lives, this is our
mountaintop experience. We leave this time of worship
to share what we have experienced with others outside of
our church.
This raises the question, why are
more people not here in church this morning? You
probably have heard all the excuses that I have over the
years. People say they can’t sing the old hymns. Or
they claim that they do not understand why we rely so
much on the past. Or some say that they have found the
church unfriendly, citing a specific incident when
someone did not personally greet them. They do not
understand that the mission of the church is more than
being a country club. Or they claim that we use words
they do not understand, words that are outdated. Some
claim that the Bible hard to understand—they do not
comprehend that discipleship takes time, a lifetime of
training and formation.
On this Transfiguration Sunday,
with the image of Jesus standing on the mountaintop, I
would like to suggest that maybe people avoid church not
because they misunderstand what we are about, but
because they understand all too much. Church is about
God. Church is about the possibility of a threatening,
life changing encounter with Christ. Church is about
seeing God’s way noting that God’s way is not always our
way. At those times when we feel threatened or confused
or even a bit rebellious, know that Jesus comes to us
like Jesus went to the three disciples on the
mountaintop. Jesus says to each one of us, “Get up and
do not be afraid,” Jesus needs us and promises to be
with us always.
Amen.
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