Brothers and sisters, I encourage you to attend the service tomorrow February 19 as we commemorate the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus. It is the last Sunday before we begin the season of Lent with an Ash Wednesday service 6:30 on Wednesday the 22nd. You are encouraged to attend midweek services Wednesdays at 6:30 throughout the six week season of Lent.
On Sunday we will follow the liturgy of Divine Service setting One starting on page 151 in the Lutheran Service Book. Hymns chosen for the day are #395 O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright; #417 Alleluia, Song of Gladness; #414 Tis Good Lord to Be Here; and those present to receive communion will sing#631 Here, O My Lord, I See Thee Face to Face.
Scripture texts for the day are Psalm 119:1-5,9; Exodus 24:8-18; 2 Peter 1:16-21; and Matthew 17:1-9
Some of God’s most important revelations take place on mountains. Two of those events are included in the readings for Sunday.
Beginning with Exodus 19, Moses reports on events at Mt. Sinai. There God restated His covenant, and gave Moses and the tribes of Israel the Ten Commandments and other instruction as to how they were to worship Him and how they were to relate to each other. Then God invites Moses to come up on the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments inscribed on stone. It was a terrifying several day climb for Moses as the mountain shook and lightning struck and thunder rumbled, and God remained hidden in the thick cloud. The cloud was actually beneficial to Moses and the people. It prevented them from seeing God in His full power and glory. As God warns, He is a devouring fire. Sinful man cannot come into the presence of His holy perfection. No one can see Him and live.
In Sunday’s Old Testament lesson, in Exodus 24, Moses sprinkles the people with the blood of sacrificed oxen, to cleanse and sanctify them that they might come near to “God’s mountain.” The leaders of Israel were then able to see God, though evidently obscured. God is not described, but the place where He stood is described by referring to brilliant gems. And the leaders were able to commune with Him and not be destroyed. This peaceful gathering of people to God is a foretaste of the forgiveness and reconciliation Jesus earned for us by the shedding of His blood in His suffering and death on the cross. Jesus gives us access to God and our sin won’t be held against us, for Jesus has paid for it. (Note, later at Sinai, God also allowed Moses a view of His back, a moment that caused Moses a long-term glowing sunburn. See Exodus 33 and 34).
In the epistle lesson 2 Peter 1, St. Peter recounts what he saw when they were with Jesus on a mountain and He was transfigured, His clothes glowing like the brightest light. So when Peter speaks about Jesus, he doesn’t tell fables to make his point. He can talk about the things he actually witnessed. Wouldn’t it be great if we had been there too? Peter urges us to remember that to see Jesus we have something even better than our eyes. We have the Word of God spoken through Moses, the prophets, and the apostles. Our eyes will lie to us sometimes—things aren’t always what they appear. The devil will even use our eyes to deceive and mislead us. But God’s Word is true. It comes to you through the work of the Holy Spirit. And as it points us to Jesus it has the power to transform our hearts from unbelief to saving faith.
The Gospel reading Matthew 17 is Matthew’s report of the Transfiguration. Though Matthew was not an eye witness, we can be sure Peter, James, and John who were there on the mountain told him and the other disciples all about the awesome amazing event. A week earlier Jesus had announced that they would be going to Jerusalem so He could be arrested and put to death—a very grim forecast. But the Transfiguration should have given hope to the disciples. The Transfiguration of Jesus gives us a glimpse of His divine identity. He will overcome death. And the Transfiguration also gives us a glimpse of our future life in heaven. As St. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15, the Christian body of natural flesh will be buried perishable, corrupt, mortal, weak, and in dishonor, but on the day of Jesus’ return it will be raised as a spiritual body, imperishable, immortal, and in glory and power.
Psalm 99 was chosen for this week’s psalm because it describes the praise due our glorious Lord Jesus who reigns over all things. Let us gather together to listen to His Word, to receive His gifts, and to worship Him. Eye has not seen, and no mind can imagine all the wonderful things God has in store for those who trust His Son.
COLLECT: O Father God, in the glorious transfiguration of Your beloved Son You confirmed the mysteries of the faith by the testimony of Moses and Elijah. In the voice that came from the bright cloud You wonderfully foreshadowed our adoption by grace. Mercifully make us co-heirs with the King in His glory and bring us to the fullness of our inheritance in heaven; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord and Savior, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
