Grace Lutheran Church

+ In Nomine Jesu +

The Rev. Evan Gaertner

The Transfiguration of our Lord

February 3, 2008

“What are we supposed to do?”

 

 

1 – Proud. Selected. Chosen.

2 – Have everything figured out.

3 – Confusion. What does this all mean? Can see straight. What do we do?

4 – Voice from heaven, “this is my beloved son, listen to him.”

5 – First response to be terrified, second response is to listen and follow.

6 – This only makes sense through the lens of the cross of Jesus Christ

 

1 – Proud. Selected. Chosen.

Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.

 

2 – Have everything figured out.

Peter saw Moses and Elijah with Jesus and thought he had everything figured out. Moses was the person through whom God gave the law to the Israelites on Mount Sinai. Elijah, the prophet was a spokesperson, telling the people to obey the law or face the consequences, and he saw Jesus like Moses and Elijah. He saw Jesus as a part of God revealing the Law. This made sense to Peter.

 

Jesus as a law giver makes sense to a lot of people. Tell people what to do, how they are to live, good morals and values. Come to church to make sure your kids get good values.

 

 

3 – Confusion. What does this all mean? Can see straight. What do we do?

But is that what Jesus is primarily about? Is Jesus another lawgiver? Are Moses and Elijah and Jesus three of a kind?

What are we supposed to do?

This is a question that we will ask ourselves because we believe it has an answer. If we can find the answer to the question (what are we supposed to do), if we find the secret then we can have everything figured out. Many world religions are about the search for the answer to the question, “What are we supposed to do?”

 

4 – Voice from heaven, “this is my beloved son, listen to him.”

While Peter was still speaking about building the three tents, one for Moses, one for Elijah and one for Jesus, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!:

 

Peter and all of us are pointed to the truth of who Jesus is. Jesus is not another spokesperson for God’s law like Elijah. Jesus is not another lawgiver on the Mountain like Moses.

 

Jesus is the very son of God who has come to be our redeemer. The voice points us to see only Christ as our answer. We are saved by the faith of Christ, who was obedient to the will of the Father, even to the point of the cross, dying to sin and rising to life.

 

By our faith in Jesus Christ we find salvation through the work of Christ. Our life lived now is not lived in obligation to some debt. You do not have to try to be perfect and live under the burden/weight of failure. Jesus has been perfect for you. You do not have to save the world, Jesus has already saved the world. You do not have to be the answer to your families problems, because Jesus has come to be the way, the truth, and the life.

 

We ask so much of ourselves and with pride like Peter we go forward foolishly into the deadend of trying to be lawgivers and obeyers. Do this, do that, be this, be that. Religion so quickly turns into a matter of obligation. And most teenagers can tell you obligation, as a motivator, is pretty lame.

 

So what happens when we listen to Jesus instead of everybody who is trying to tell us how to live our lives?

 

5 – First response to be terrified, second response is to listen and follow.

Well at first it is a little terrifying to realize that we are running towards a deadend if we keep trying to live our lives one way or another. We might have a feeling of being lost or confused. But listen to Jesus and you will find your path.

 

6 – This only makes sense through the lens of the cross of Jesus Christ

It is the path he has walked for you. It is goes to the cross. Jesus dies on the cross. He died to sin, with suffering and shame. Jesus trusts mercy and grace to be victorious.

 

The path of Jesus continues to the tomb. There are moments when it seems like living in faith is just another deadend. But three days later Jesus rose from the dead and his glorious body came as a witness to victory.

 

We live free and bold, trusting in the life of Jesus Christ. Where Jesus has gone, we can go. He has gone to death and is alive.

 

Soli Deo Gloria