Sermon

February 10, 2002
The Transfiguration of our Lord
2 Peter 1:16-21
Pastor Joel Zank

SEE THE GLORY OF OUR TRANSFIGURED LORD

(2 Peter 1:16-21) We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

In the name of Jesus who is worthy to receive all honor and glory, dear fellow redeemed,

Have you ever noticed how a little altitude can change your perspective on things? I was a college student on a class trip the first time I visited downtown Chicago. I remember getting off the bus and immediately feeling closed-in. It was early afternoon but the city's tall buildings produced such dark shadows that it felt like nightfall. I looked up hoping to catch a glimpse of the city's skyline, but it was like trying to see the forest through the trees. Fortunately a couple of my classmates were familiar enough with the city to lead us to our destination-the famous Sears Tower. Once there we boarded the express elevator and within moments my perspective changed completely. From a quarter-mile high, the city no longer appeared dark and dreary. There was sunlight everywhere. The buildings that had once blocked my view now seemed small and insignificant; and I could see, not just up and down a narrow street-but for miles and miles in every direction.

I don't know about you, but there are many days when I would welcome a similar perspective on life. How quickly our troubles can rise up like skyscrapers, casting dreary shadows over our hearts and minds. We try to get our bearings and head for daylight, but nothing seems familiar. What should we do? Stay where we are-lost and alone or wander about aimlessly? Neither! Instead lets go with the Apostle Peter up the Mount of Transfiguration. Let's gain some altitude and with it a fresh perspective on life. Let's look at Jesus and see him as Peter saw him on that mountain in all his divine splendor an majesty. Let's SEE THE GLORY OF OUR TRANSFIGURED LORD as proof that God's Word is true; and as evidence that God's promises are sure!

Peter has so much to tell us, but so little time in which say it. He writes in the verses just prior to our text: "I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things" (2 Peter 1:13-15).

What is it that compels a man near death to spend his last days on earth cheering the hearts of his fellow Christians? It's not that he has something new to tell us. He writes, as he says, to help us remember what we already know. Is this really necessary? Oh yes! As a fellow sinner Peter is painfully aware of how forgetful we Christians are. One moment we are confessing Jesus to be the Christ the Son of the living God and in the very next moment the pressures and troubles of life have us acting as if we never knew the man.

Peter writes as one who knows the unbearable guilt of such sin. We who read his words today know that guilt too. We know how many times during this last week alone we took advantage of God's forgiveness, treating it as a license to sin. There were times this week when we knew what we were doing was wrong, but we did it anyway, figuring God would forgive us like he always does. It was only after we sinned that our conscience called to mind the truth of Paul's words in Galatians 6:7 "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows." How true. Here we sit today, reaping the just desserts of this past week's bitterness, impatience, sarcasm and anger. We've said and done sinful things. We've hurt others and in the process we've done injury to our relationship with God. We've treated his forgiveness so cheaply that now when we are sorry, we're not sure he forgives us. What is more, we're not at all sure that we won't go out and do all the same sinful things this week again.

So what can Peter tell us today that will change such a dismal perspective on life? Should he invent some clever story telling us there's something we can do to make things right with God? Should he fill us with some humanistic garbage, telling us that we're responsible to no one but ourselves; and that the concept of sin is nothing more than an attempt on the part of others to control and manipulate us? Such fiction doesn't quiet the human conscience. It doesn't change hearts and lives for the better. It doesn't heal the sinner's soul. It only brings damnation.

Peter has a better message. He writes, "We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ..." (vv.16). Peter's message to God's people is reliable. It is as old as time itself. It is the same message that has been proclaimed by men like Moses, Elijah and David. Those prophets of old claimed to speak for God. Peter knew this and their prophesies. For instance he was familiar with the words of Psalm 2 in which God says to the promised Savior, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession" (Psalm 2:7-8). Peter had always trusted that the prophets' words were not a work of fiction-not the wishful thinking of men long dead. He had always been certain that their written words were nothing less than the living Word of the living God. With deepest conviction Peter says to us, "Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation.21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit" (vv. 20-21).

It is God himself who put into the minds of his prophets the very words he wanted them to write in Holy Scripture. Peter knew this because God had taken the sure prophecies of the Bible and had made them even more certain in Peter's heart by fulfilling those prophecies before Peter's very eyes in the person of Jesus Christ. Peter writes: "we were eyewitnesses of [Jesus'] majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain. And we have the word of the prophets made more certain..." (Vv.16-19).

Peter would have us see the glory of our Transfigured Lord as proof that God's Word is true. He wants us to know that through his eyewitness account of Jesus' life and work we have the word of the prophets made more certain. We know that in Psalm 2 God invited his Son to claim the world as his possession. We also know that on the Mount of Transfiguration God proclaims Jesus to be that beloved Son and in the next breath announces how pleased he is to have Jesus share his love for sinners, love that would soon send Jesus to another mountain, Calvary, where Jesus would reclaim all sinners for himself by taking ownership of their guilt and paying for their sins in hell. With that saving mission accomplished the Father would once again show his good pleasure toward the Son, this time by raising him from the dead and seating him on heaven's glorious throne to rule the nations as his inheritance-just as it says in Psalm 2.

This is the truth of God's Word. This is the truth that gives us a new perspective on life, because this truth lifts us high above our sin and states that no matter what we have been, no matter what we have done, no matter how many times we have done it, God's forgiveness is ours, not because we deserve it, but because Jesus earned it for us. He's our substitute, and since he is, when the Father says he's pleased with Jesus it means he's pleased with us who believe in Jesus. We, like the Savior, are all God's beloved sons and daughters through faith in Jesus.

You realize what else this means don't you? As you stare at Christ's glory today here in the pages of Scripture, you're looking at your future. So take a good look and see the glory of our transfigured Lord as evidence that God's promises are sure.

Peter knew that he was looking at his future as he stood gazing at Jesus' glory. Peter liked the view, so much so he didn't want to leave. Perhaps he feared that once he left the mountain the image of Jesus' glory might fade from his mind and with it the peace and security it brought him. But Jesus soon taught Peter that it doesn't have to be that way for God's people. A short time later, on the night of his arrest, Jesus told Peter and the other apostles, "The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you" (John 14:26).

What God had done for his prophets of old, he has also done for the apostles. He gave them his Holy Spirit and with him every world to write in the New Testament Scriptures. God caused Peter to remember everything Jesus said and did. God did this for Peter's sake and for ours too. That's why Peter tells us, "we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts" (v.19).

The same Word that assures us we are God's forgiven children, promises that our God is with us to help us in every way. In his Word he promises us strength to withstand temptation. In his Word he promises us power to put away sin with daily repentance and live new lives of thanks. In his Word he promises to make all things serve our good. In his Word he invites us to pray and promises he will answer. In his Word he promises us confidence that dismisses doubt, hope that does away with despair and comfort that consoles us in times of grief. If we are lacking any of these blessings, it can be for no other reason than our failure to pay attention to his Word.

Today God pardons this sin too and with his pardon renews our desire to spend more time with him in his Word this week. Opportunities abound! Join us for Bible study. Be with us for Lenten worship. Read the Scriptures at home. "Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him" (Psalms 34:8).

God's powerful Word will transform our lives as surely as it brought glory to Jesus on the holy mountain. But best of all God's Word will keep the light of faith shining in our hearts until that day dawns when Jesus our bright Morning Star returns in all his glory to take us home to heaven. On that day we will be eyewitnesses of Christ's majesty. It will be our turn to hear God's voice as he welcomes us into the mansions prepared for us by Jesus. In the meantime don't let the image of that glory fade from your mind's eye. Don't let the sound of God's voice grow faint. Whenever sin and the cares of this world cast their shadows of gloom on your heart, be sure to gain some altitude. Journey through the Scriptures back to the mountain and see the glory of our transfigured Lord as proof that God's Word is true and as evidence that God's promises are sure for Jesus' sake. Amen.

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