02 Mar Sermon – SUNDAY, MARCH 2, 2025
Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God’s word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God.
Let’s put this scene in context with the start of chapter nine in the Book of Luke. “And Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.” They were to take nothing with them and only stay in homes that put out the Jesus’ disciples’ welcome mat.
In verses 7-9, the Tetrarch Herod heard about all that was happening concerning Jesus including rumors that “John the Baptist had been raised from the dead,” another that said “Elijah had appeared,” and one other that said, “one of the prophets of old has risen.” Knowing this makes the appearance of Moses and Elijah together with Jesus all the more significant. God is making a clear demonstration to Jesus’ followers.
“Look. See. Prophets of old like Elijah and the patriarch of your faith, Moses are these guys. These two over here. They are not the same as my son, this guy here. See him. He is unique all unto himself and goes by the name of Jesus. Tell Herod he’s not John the Baptist raised from the dead, but obviously that’s a real thing since Elijah and Moses are obviously raised from the dead so believe that that’s a thing.”
In verses 18-20, the disciples had confirmed the same rumors to Jesus when he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” They answered, “John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the prophets of old.” You see, God doesn’t do things just for show or for fun. God does things to try and dispel rumors and to clarify things because God doesn’t want people distracted by things that aren’t true. God knows that knowing what’s what and who’s who is very important.
Peter had answered Jesus by saying, “You are The Christ of God,” to which Jesus replied a strict charge and command to tell no one of this since he must “suffer many things, be rejected by the elders, chief priests and scribes, be killed and on the third day be raised.” He spoke more to his disciples about taking up their cross and following him, about not being ashamed of him and his words, about some of them not tasting death until they see the kingdom of God which scholars believe “refers to Peter, John, and James who will witness the transfiguration.”
Some other things worth noting concern prayer. Jesus and a few of his followers are going up a mountain to pray. This suggests that prayer is an intentional act which involves setting aside designated time and sometimes also going to a particular place that is more conducive to prayer than your everyday surroundings.
Elsewhere in the Bible it’s suggested that a person go into a closet to pray. In other words, at least sometimes, pray without distraction. This may be why, at a minimum, when we teach children to pray we say, “Fold your hands, bow your heads and close your eyes.” We don’t want little eyes to be looking around or in the case of adults, for them to be multitasking while praying. The idea is to focus.
From today’s passage, we see that prayer itself can be transforming. While praying, the appearance of Jesus’ face changes. His clothes become dazzling white. Prayer can change the atmosphere, the mood, the look on people’s faces, and the contents of their hearts. I frequently see this phenomenon happen during my shifts at the hospital. Immediately after a brief time of prayer, faces in the room appear changed.
When doctors have done all they can and can do no more, they are relieved by the presence of a chaplain. For the moment, the atmosphere shifts, room in the air seems breathable and slightly different from what was only moments before, a stifling heaviness filled with concern and desperation. A cloud of peace and a gentle calm enter like a breeze through one simple act: prayer.
Think about this scene logically. If Moses and Elijah are talking to Jesus, they can’t be Jesus, right? “They appear in glory and speak of Jesus’ departure and of what he’s about to accomplish at Jerusalem.” This suggests that Elijah and Moses understand God’s plan. What’s about to happen to Jesus is not a surprise or news to them. They already know.
Perhaps they appear in order to encourage Jesus, after all they themselves are like him, men who once answered God’s call to give their lives in God’s service. They themselves were raised after death to appear in glory.
Moses and Elijah are not quoted in this passage as saying, “God wants you to do what? Well, that’s above and beyond the call, Jesus, don’t you think? Are you sure that’s what God has planned for you? To be rejected and die on a cross? That can’t be.” Instead their attitude is more like, “Well, I guess you better go do what you came for.”
The huddle on the mountaintop does not end in a consultation with God to clarify things, dispel doubts or ask questions like, “Uh, God? Are you there? What gives? Please explain. We’re all confused.”
Instead, something else phenomenal occurs. Peter and his companions, though weighed down with sleep, stay awake and see everything. They shouldn’t have been awake to witness these things firsthand but somehow they were. And of course, Peter wants to capture the moment by building three dwellings. In today’s world he’d be the guy recording everything on his cell phone and posting a video immediately to social media.
But, God intervenes. Peter loses cell reception; his video ends abruptly as God sends a cloud to overshadow the bystanders like a snow-white misty fog which instantly blinds them. They are like drivers who realize that they can no longer see a thing. Visibility has become nil. They must brake to try and avoid collision, or in this case, falling off the mountain peak.
Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.” It all makes sense now, right?
“On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. Just then a man from the crowd shouted, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, my only child. Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It convulses him until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him.”
Then the father states, “I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.” Why could they not? Jesus says it is because the people would not cooperate. “As many therapists, politicians and revolutionaries have discovered, identifying the problem is not enough, knowing how to fix it is not enough. People will consciously or unconsciously sabotage whom they vote for, what they pay for, and what problems they say they want fixed. They do what they can to prevent the very one they employ to succeed at their given task.
It is human nature to interfere and resist even the best of intentions. Jesus answers, “You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.
What’s the last line in today’s gospel story? Read it aloud for me. “And all were astounded at the greatness of God.” That’s really the point of whatever happens in any story. The goal of experiencing transformation or of being a witness to something like that is for all to become astounded at the greatness of God.
You are about to hear one more account where a person’s life was changed in an instant, where in one moment the present and future became clearly uncertain. And yet, one thing remained astounding. And that thing was the greatness of God.
From John Pellman: For the past 18 months, Pastor Brody has asked me to share my experience following my heart attack in August of 2023. If you want to talk about being astounded by the greatness of God, to me this was about as great as it gets. Not that I wasn’t a firm believer before this because as a child my brother and I were drug to church and Sunday school almost every Sunday as were most of my friends and all of my cousins. We lived with my grandfather until he died sitting in his recliner, smoking a cigar, and watching TV. At 11 years old, it made no sense to me why God could take him from us. That’s when my family explained to me it’s all part of God’s plan and it made it easier to accept.
Then again at age 23 I had a very close friend who we spent alot of our free time together killed almost in front of me at the car races when a car crashed into the pits where we were. Again, I had to reassure myself that was the way it was planned.
Now to my heart attack, that is something that is hard to describe. After reassuring Dawn I wasn’t having a heart attack for 6 months everytime I would need to take a break because I was out of breath. I had to admit that day that I think I was actually having one. I’d had a stress test done, a pulmonary function test and was assured I was fine. After a wonderful experience with the ambulance personnel I was taken to Chambersburg Hospital Cath lab where a whole team was waiting. The EMT assured me I was having a heart attack and at that time I was more concerned for Dawn than myself. He became another angel as he took Dawn aside and stayed with her through the process.
As for me, I awakened to a nurse screaming in my ear to talk to her. After she explained to me I hadn’t just dozed off but had a heart attack. How long was that “nap?” Who knows. I sure don’t. When I was told what had happened and I tried remembering what happened, there was nothing but a void in time. Nothing but a song playing in my head.” When peace like a River” or “It is well with my soul,” whichever you call it.
To finish I just want to reassure you that when our time is up on this earth, it will be a pleasant experience and won’t happen until the time when God sees fit. Still has plans for me I guess!!