Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ and may our Lord and Savior sanctify you in the truth, for His word is truth. Amen

The Transfiguration of Our Lord (2010)

Living under the Shadow of the Cross Rev. Toby Byrd

Luke 9:28-36 (ESV)

Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. [29] And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. [30] And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, [31] who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. [32] Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. [33] And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah"— not knowing what he said. [34] As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. [35] And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!" [36] And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.

The season of Epiphany culminates with the Gospel record of our Lord’s Transfiguration. Epiphany is that wonderful season of the church when everything is in abundance, and a new surprise is hidden behind every veil. Thus, the historical events we celebrate are the rays of God’s glory in history within which He reconciles Himself to us and us to Him. During Epiphany God appears to us mortal’s through the events of His Son’s life. His birth, His baptism, His miracle at Cana, His wonders and favors given at His expense, all these lift the veil of God’s appearance to His people in Christ. Then, on the Mount of Transfiguration, God lifts the veil entirely to display the full divinity of His Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Stripped of His humanity, we are awe struck to witness Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration as He speaks to Moses and Elijah about His departure, His exodus, His passover from earth to His heavenly kingdom. All this He must accomplish in Jerusalem. Those disciples which are part of His inner circle, Peter, John, and James are also privileged to witness this miracle and they are awed by the mighty figures from the past. Moreover, once again we hear His heavenly Father speak as He says, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” (v. 35). This the disciples did throughout our Lord’s ministry, they listened and they followed as He performed miracles of healing, raising the dead, and proclaiming the “Good News” of forgiveness and reconciliation. They also witnessed His passion, the final epiphany of God’s glory. Here, at last, they recognize the new Moses whose glory overshadows that of Moses, and whose signs and wonders brought God’s people into the greater Promised Land. In our Lord Jesus, God lets His light shine out so we may have knowledge of His glory. Although this glory is not apparent to those who are perishing, to those who cry out, “Kyrie Eleison,” “Let us see Your mercy, Lord,” God displays His power to redeem them.

The importance of the Transfiguration of our Lord is that in this brilliant display of Himself our Lord shows us our destiny as adopted children and coheirs with Him in heaven. However, before our Lord Jesus can obtain that to which He is destined, He must pass through the waters of death. He has His own baptism with which to be baptized.

We, who have been led to the waters of baptism, have been resurrected by our Lord from death and the darkness of sin to life in Christ. However, we are constantly tempted by the world and our flesh to fall away from Christ, to be buried once again in the darkness of hell. Thus, everyday we find ourselves at war against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (Eph. 6:12). Moreover, we cannot win this war by our own strength or force of will; we must be equipped with a spiritual strength stronger than that which would take our life. We must be equipped with God’s Word and Sacrament, for it is through these means of Grace that we are transformed into the image of Christ.

As we teeter on the edge of Lent we are reminded that Lent is a time in which God’s people prepare with joy for the paschal feast by being equipped through God’s Word and Sacrament. Lent is a forty-day journey toward the annual celebration of our Lord’s passover from death to life. Thus, Lent is a journey in which we seek to cleanse our hearts, renew our zeal in faith and life, and seek to come to the fullness of grace that belongs to the children of God. Lent is a time of deep repentance, sincere confession, and faithful attendance in God’s Word. Thus, in Lent, we take up the journey with our Savior to Jerusalem in spirit. However, Lent is not a season of gloom. On the contrary, our sins have been great, but the outcome of our Lenten preparation is not in doubt. God has called us His sons and daughters in Baptism. His promises are sure. Therefore, we prepare in confidence for the certain triumph of Christ in us. We know that through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus we are delivered from sin and death. Thus, in Lent, we prepare for the victory which our Lord secured for us on Calvary’s Cross. In Lent we live under the Shadow of the Cross.

Living under the Shadow of the Cross is first to recognize that your eternal future was secured for you by your Lord Jesus as He was nailed to the cross so your sins could be forgiven. The effort, the merit, these are His alone, not yours. Thus, it is not your seeking after Him, nor your acceptance of Him, or anything you do that earns one iota of salvation for yourself. All your works of righteousness are as filthy rags (Is. 64:6) compared to the gracious and loving work of your Lord Jesus who willing gave His life so you could live. Therefore, in the greatness of your sin you are brought to your knees under the Shadow of the Cross. Prostrate before your Lord, awed to be in His presence, you raise your eyes to your Savior praising Him and thanking Him for His unselfish labor of love to secure your forgiveness, making you right with His heavenly Father. Therefore, this is the position of every grateful sinner who has been brought to saving faith through the singular effort of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ; kneeling in the Shadow of our Lord’s Jesus’ Cross.

Living under the Shadow of the Cross is to seek the Lord’s help in living the baptized life of contrition and repentance. Thus, you take your petitions to Jesus through prayer. St. Paul tells us you should be, “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints” (Eph. 6:18 ESV). In the midst of His pain and suffering on Calvary’s Cross, your Lord still prayed that His heavenly Father would forgive those who crucified Him. Thus, you, too, offer prayers in the Shadow of the Cross, not only for yourselves, and those whom you love, but for those who disagree with you, who shun you, who want to inflict injury upon your person and character, for so your Lord prayed for those who hated and injured Him. As penitent sinners you base your prayers on the merit of Christ seeking good for others and forgiveness of your sins.

Living under the Shadow of the Cross means to turn to your Lord Jesus in repentance; seeking forgiveness of sin. Holy Scripture calls you to cleanse your hearts of anger, hate, and lust, avarice, pride, and all that is sin. However, you know you can’t do this on your own; it takes God’s power to accomplish this task. Yet, if you do not come to God in repentance, making a sincere confession, asking for His forgiveness and renewed heart, you only leave the door open for Satan to continue to affect his will in your life. Denying your need for repentance is in fact saying you are not guilty of sin. To which Holy Scripture replies, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” And again, “If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us” (1 John 1:8, 10 ESV). But thanks be to God, Holy Scripture also tells us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 ESV).

Living under the Shadow of the Cross means to desire to pattern your life after our Lord Jesus. It means to want to live a life of faith, guided by the Holy Spirit. However, Holy Scripture tells us, “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17 ESV). Thus, if you want to receive faith, to understand faith, to understand the will of God, you need to be immersed in God’s Word. Attending worship on the Sabbath to hear the Word of God preached from the pulpit, responding with the Word of God in the liturgy, studying the Word of God in Bible study, and reading the Word of God in the privacy of your homes. This is staying in God’s Word, learning His Will for you and learning of His love, grace, and mercy which He has poured out richly upon you through His Son, Jesus Christ.

God instructed Moses on Mount Sinai to construct a veil of blue, purple and scarlet yarn to be hung between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place, to separate the ark of the testimony from the rest of the tabernacle (Ex. 26:31, 33). Thus, God chose to hide His glory from the people so they would not be struck dead. Moreover, whenever Moses would come to the people after having been with God, he had to veil his face for his face would take on a brilliant sheen which caused fear in the hearts of the people (Ex. 34:29, 33). God veiled Himself in the humanity of His Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ so He could save His people from their sin. However, He revealed the brilliance of His full divinity to Peter, John, and James on the Mount of Transfiguration. So, too, God reveals Himself to us through Holy Scripture.

No longer does God require those who see Him, who listen to Him, and who proclaim His Holy Saving Word to be veiled from the world. No, today, through the saving Gospel we have been rescued from the threats of the Law and granted the freedom to be bold, “beholding the glory of the Lord, . . . . being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit” (2 Cor. 3:18 ESV). Yes, you are being transformed into His likeness, His image, His glory. What a wonderful truth to take into this Lenten season.

As Moses led God’s people to safety through the waters of the Red Sea; our Lord’s path also leads through mighty waters. Moses took the Hebrews with him to the promised land and Jesus shall take us with Him, leading us to the greater promised land; the resurrection. Therefore, today, we offer Him praise and thanksgiving for the final victory which He has won for us as He leads us from the Mount of Transfiguration to the valley of Lent; as He leads us from His glorious debut in all His brilliant splendor to His sorrowful death on the Cross of Calvary; a death that paid the ransom for our sins and shows us how to live under the Shadow of the Cross.

What a marvelous occurrence this Transfiguration; for in it we see what awaits our eyes in His heavenly kingdom. A day will come when we will see His face and His name will be on our foreheads. On that day there will be no more night and we will not need a light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be our light, and we will reign forever and ever (Rev. 22:4-5 ESV). His brilliance is from eternity to eternity and as He shines in our hearts today, He will shine in His kingdom forever.

Therefore, let us pray: “Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts” Amen.

May the Peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen