A Window of Hope
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Matthew 17:1-9
I. A Dark Time of Confusion
The Transfiguration came at a very dark time for the disciples – a time of confusion and discouragement.
They had seen Jesus walk on water. They’d seen his incredible power to heal people of every disease. They saw Jesus lead crowds with wisdom and mercy – thousands of people. The disciples have been “on fire” with enthusiasm… and they believed Jesus was ready to overthrow the Roman Empire and replace it with the goodness and justice of the Kingdom of God.
Only a few verses before today’s reading, we saw the lights go on for Peter. It was the first moment that Peter confessed, Jesus, “you are the Messiah, the Son of living God” (MT 16:16).
But, then Jesus started teaching the disciples about what was coming next. Here’s why the disciples were in a dark moment. Jesus was explaining that he was going to be beaten and killed in Jerusalem.
Now, that really didn’t add up for the disciples. Peter actually pulls Jesus aside to talk some sense into Jesus. The Gospel describes it, kind of that way. It says that Peter “rebuked” Jesus!
Whoa!…What’s going on here? One minute Peter says that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, in charge of all things! Yet a moment later Peter is telling Jesus, ‘Hey wait a minute, your mixed up, Jesus, I know better than you…
It’s not that Peter was evil, somehow. He loved Jesus and didn’t think anyone should mistreat Jesus. Besides, how practical is it to let the leader of your movement die? Not a good strategy Jesus.
Peter was using common sense, you might say. But Jesus turns and says, “Get behind me Satan!... you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” (MT 16:23)
I think it happens to all of us sooner or later. We want to follow Jesus, but it’s easy to allow our feelings, our ideas, our goals, and our comfort to blind us to Jesus’ way.
Have you ever done that? Have you ever told God, “No Lord,…this is the way things ought to be…I know better than you.” Looking back on this day, Peter, in a letter to the early church (2 Peter 1:9) warned that if they lose sight of trusting and being shaped by Jesus they will become “nearsighted and blind”.
But that whole experience of Jesus saying that he was going to suffer and die, and Peter being so off-base, that Jesus says, “Get behind me Satan.”… it was like dropping an emotional bomb on the disciples.
That’s the context for the Transfiguration. The disciples were confused, discouraged, and trying to process all of this. Instead of success, their leader (and maybe they too) were facing suffering and the threat of death at the hands of an evil government.
…People in power were wining against everything they thought was good!
…It was a dark time for the disciples.
Oh, but there’s one more bit about the context. Even in the midst of Jesus teaching them about suffering and dying…he gave this word of encouragement. The very last verse before today’s reading, Jesus looked at his discouraged disciples and said these words:
“Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death
before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” (MT !6:28)
Then six days pass….and three of those standing there witness the Transfiguration.
II. A Window of Hope
Peter, James, and John are all invited to go up a mountain with Jesus. There on that mountain, they get a glimpse of “the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” It’s like a window, that looks beyond the chaos of this world….to look beyond the triumph of evil, which is happening all around them. What they see is beyond anything they could have ever imagined. Jesus’ face and clothing begin to shine, to glow, to radiate like the sun. Then, in a moment, Moses and Elijah are there speaking with Him. And ultimately, a cloud surrounds them and they hear the voice of God saying:
“This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
This is quite literally a window into heaven…filled with purpose, and filled with meaning. First, we see Jesus is not only a human being, but far beyond that. Then Moses, the one that God gave the Law (10 Commandments and more) to for God’s people…and Elijah, a great prophet sent by God. These two, certainly represent all the Law and the prophets. But, seeing them means even more. The Old Testament teaches that, before the Messiah comes, Elijah, who was taken alive into heaven, will return. And there he is! And, God also promised through Moses, to provide another Moses - a new Moses, who would come to teach God’s people everything that God wills. Both Elijah and the New Moses would come to announce the Messiah and the end of the world! Their presence points to Jesus as ushering in the end times, the final chapter of the world.
And then, the presence of God, covers them all as a cloud, and the disciples hear God’s voice say,
“This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
Peter, James, and John bowed down in worship. Jesus touched them and said, “Do not be afraid.” And when they raised their faces – all they could see was Jesus. They needed hope, and they found it through knowing who Jesus truly is. They needed direction, and they found it through a faith and focus on Christ.
The Transfiguration was God’s message to the first disciples: look to Jesus, trust in Him, follow Him, put your hope in Him, and do not be afraid.
I believe the Transfiguration speaks the same message to you and me today.
III. Looking Beyond the Chaos
It’s this focus on Jesus,
His teaching – by His example and His Word,
His call to love all people – this what Paul calls the “Law of Christ,” (Gal 6:2)
His Spirit – that meets us in prayer, and even prays for us when we can’t find words.
This is where the good news is found – by a focus on and faith in Jesus.
You and I may not understand how the King of Kings is shaping the world. As we watch war break out in Iran and so many places around the globe, as our immigrant neighbors are hunted and terrorized, as sickness and loneliness rock our own souls ans frighten our loved ones…Like Peter, we may think we know better than God. “God, listen to my advice and DO THIS!”. But remember, our hope is not built on our advice for God…our hope is built on nothing less than Jesus Christ. As we focus our eyes on Jesus, we need not understand all things, but we need to believe that Jesus IS over all.
I love the words of one pastor that I read recently, Rev. Moya Harris stated:
“It might not look like God is in control, with evil ever present. Some may doubt that God is making all things new.
[But] God is still moving, quietly, steadily, relentlessly beneath the noise of empire and the clamor of greed. While headlines shout of decay, God is planting seeds. In neighborhoods written off as hopeless, new leaders are rising. In communities pressed down, mutual aid is blooming. In sanctuaries and on sidewalks, people are choosing courage over fear, truth over propaganda and love over cruelty…The work is not always loud, but it is alive. It is not finished. And neither are we.”
Let us focus on Jesus, people of God…with our prayer, our actions that reflect Jesus, and our faith…God Almighty is at work through Jesus AND through you. Amen.
Pastor Doug Cox