Brothers and sisters, Grace, and peace to you in the name of Jesus. I encourage you to gather for worship this Sunday. In the third commandment God says, ‘Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy’. Martin Luther explained the commandment this way, ‘we should fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching and His Word, but gladly hear and learn it.’ So, come, listen, and learn of the forgiveness and eternal life Jesus has earned for you.
Sunday, February 15 is the last Sunday in this Epiphany season. Wednesday, February 18, is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of the season of Lent. I encourage you to attend the midweek services during Lent, each scheduled to begin at 6:30.
At Sunday’s service we will commemorate the Transfiguration of our Lord. We will follow the liturgy of Divine Service Setting One beginning on page 151 of the LSB hymnal. Hymns chosen for the day are #395 O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright; #416 Swiftly Pass the Clouds of Glory; #631 Here, O My Lord, I See Thee Face to Face; and #417 Alleluia Song of Gladness.
Scriptures assigned to the day are Psalm 99:1-5,9; Exodus 24:8-18; 2 Peter 1:16-21; and Matthew 17:1-9.
As we consider Jesus’ Transfiguration, it is helpful to first attempt the difficult task of trying to explain what God’s glory is. In the Old Testament, ‘glory’ is one translation of the Hebrew word ‘kavod’. It can also mean heavy, significant, or extremely important. We sometimes talk about “weighty” matters. In the case of God’s ‘glory’, it involves His divine nature and divine attributes such as perfection and holiness, but includes aspects of majesty, authority, and power. God’s glory seems to summarize His nature and attributes, and when it is revealed in His presence, it is often accompanied by brilliant radiant light, and clouds.
In the Old Testament lesson, Moses is invited by God to join Him on Mt. Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments and other instruction. God’s glory is described as a devouring fire. As Moses climbed the mountain, a cloud surrounded him and kept him from seeing God’s face. But that is a good thing, for God warns that no one can see Him and live. Moses spent 40 days in the near presence of God. When Moses came down from the mountain, he had what looked like a sunburn. He was radiating God’s glory.
In the epistle lesson, St. Peter gives an eyewitness account of what he saw and heard when Jesus was transfigured. The event was evidence that Jesus is the Son of God. Surprisingly, Peter tells us that we have been given something more sure than that experience. That is, we have the assurance given through the word of God, spoken by God’s spokesmen, the prophets. That Word tells us Jesus is God’s Son, the Messiah who came into the world to save you from God’s condemnation against sin. Peter urges us to pay attention to God’s Word. As it witnesses to Jesus, it is like a lamp leading through a dark world and on to heaven.
The gospel lesson is St. Matthew’ report of Jesus’ transfiguration. Jesus’ divine nature shines through His human nature, and God the Father’s voice confirms that Jesus is His beloved Son. Like Peter, we might be wowed by the lights of the transfiguration. But Jesus did not come to give His disciples spiritual experiences. He came to save the world from sin. So, Jesus came back down from the mountain, journeying to Jerusalem where He would endure the scandal of the cross. There would be dark days ahead for the disciples. The light of the transfiguration serves to assure us of Jesus’s identity, and gives Jesus’ disciples (including us) a glimpse of the glory that is awaiting us in heaven.
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.
