Matthew 17,1-9 1123
Letzter Sonntag nach Epiphanias 18
Valerius, Bishop of Trier, Germany. Disciple of Peter
Francis of Sales, Bishop of Geneva, Switzerland, ✠ 1622
29. Januar 2023
1. ℣ Thy lightnings lightened the world:
℟ The earth trembled and shook (Psalm 97,18).
O Christ Jesus, You are the most handsome of the sons of men; pour out Your grace upon us, so that we may recline at Your feet in eternal bliss. Amen. (Psalm 107,20-21 Gradual).
2. »And after 6 days Jesus took with Him Peter, James and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with Him. And Peter said to Jesus: „Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for You and one for Moses and one for Elijah.“ He was still speaking when, behold, a Bright Cloud overshadowed them, and a Voice from the Cloud said: „This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.“ When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. 7But Jesus went and touched them, saying: „Rise, and have no fear.“ And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. And as they were walking down the mountain, Jesus commanded them: „Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.“«
3. In Exodus 33,18 Moses asked Yahweh to show him His Glory. Yahweh gave Moses a backside glimpse of His Glory. In today’s Gospel pericope Jesus shows His Glory to Peter, James and Joh. The event is bookended by 2 teachings:
A »From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests and scribes and be killed, and on the third day be raised« (16,21).
B Transfiguration
A' »As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them: „The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day“« (17,22-23).
4. Jesus’ Glory is His suffering, death and resurrection. Moses and Elijah appear to discuss with Jesus His upcoming Passion (Luke 9,30-31). Luke tells us they were discussing Jesus’ exodus. That connects with Moses, for the first exodus involved suffering and death leading to new life for freed Israel. Jesus’ exodus would be a more glorious exodus than the one from Egypt.
5. Moses and Elijah personify the Law and the Prophets. They give as an answer to the question „Who is Jesus?“ That Jesus is what the Law and Prophets were all leading toward (Nagel 67). The Law and the Prophets lead to the Lamb on the cross; the Lamb who fulfills the Sinai covenant is the revealing of God in all His Glory. Do you want to see Yahweh’s Glory? You find it at full display on the cross.
6. Isaiah speaks verbosely about this Glory. »Adonai Yahweh has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning He awakens; He awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. Adonai Yahweh has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward. I gave my back to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting. But Adonai Yahweh helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. He who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me. Behold, Adonai Yahweh helps me; who will declare me guilty? Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up. Who among you fears Yahweh and obeys the voice of His servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the Name of Yahweh and rely on his God« (Isaiah 50,4-10).
7. The Scriptures attach to God’s Glory help and vindication. Isaiah proclaims: »Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous hand« (Isaiah 41,10). »Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, My servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities«. (Isaiah 53,11).
8. Jesus has told His apostles these things—that His Glory is tied to His suffering, but they have not grasped it yet. Moses and Elijah depart; the heavenly Voice is silent. Only Jesus remains. But the Glory has not really gone, for where Jesus is, there is that Glory, whether hidden or shining forth (Nagel 69).
9. After the Transfiguration, Jesus continues to teach and perform miracles. He sets His eyes to Calvary and He directs His apostles and disciples to focus on the hill outside Jerusalem. After His resurrection He told 2 of His disciples: »O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the Prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into His Glory?« (Luke 24,25-26). He tells His disciples that the Scriptures speak of these things (Luke 24,27).
10. Jesus’ path takes Him to the cross and the grave. He exhorts you to travel this path with Him. Focus on the cross, the crucified Christ and the risen Savior, for He has redeemed the world; He has ransomed you. Jesus can and will sustain His disciples as they deny themselves, take up their cross and continue to follow Him (Gibbs 861). This is still true today, for Jesus can and will sustain you as you suffer and walk the way of the cross as His lowly disciple, because Jesus has named you co-heirs in His Glory.
11. In this world, shine upon us,
You transfigured Sun of mercy;
Through the field of tears for us
In the land of the sweet felicity,
Where the pleasure, that us elevates
Never fades. (Morgenglanz der Ewigkeit elkg 693,5 2021 Christian Knorr von Rosenroth 1684).
This is most certainly true.
12. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4,7). Amen.
13. Let us pray. O God, who on the mount didst reveal to chosen witnesses Thine only-begotten Son wonderfully transfigured, in raiment white and glistening, mercifully grant that we, being delivered from the disquietude of this world, may be permitted to behold the King in His beauty. Amen. (The Last Sunday after Epiphany, Vespers Collect 2. The Daily Office.)
To God alone be the Glory
Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm
✠
All Scriptural quotations are translations done by The Rev. Peter A. Bauernfeind using the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, 4. Edition © 1990 Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart, Septuaginta, Vol. I and II 2. Revised Edition © 2006 Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart and the Novum Testamentum Graece, Nestle-Aland 28. Revised Edition © 2012 Deutsch Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart.
Evangelisch-Lutherisches Kirchengesangbuch. Copyright © 2021 Selbständige Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche, Hannover.
The Daily Office. Copyright © 1965 Concordia Publishing House.
Gibbs, Jeffrey A. Matthew 11:2 – 20:34. Copyright © 2010 Concordia Publishing House.
Nagel, Norman. Selected Sermons of Norman Nagel: From Valparaiso to St. Louis. Frederick W. Baue, Ed. Copyright © 2004 Concordia Publishing House.
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