March 2, 2003
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Mindekirken Listen to Him! March 9:2-9 Life has its highlights. For some it may be becoming a father or mother for the first time. To others, a chance to meet special people may be the greatest experience. For some, a highlight may be an experience in nature, maybe a hike. For others, it may be at a concert hall, or gallery. We need these special moments in life – the joy, the inspiration and the challenge of the totally extraordinary. Also, in one’s faith, it’s good to have highlights. For some, the greatest experience is to be converted, to receive Christ as one’s personal savior. Others may have feel that their prayers have been heard in a special way, or felt God in the sound of sheer silence, like Elijah. I Kings 19:12. From where I’m standing in the pulpit of Mindekirken, I can see the beautiful stained glass window of Hans Nielsen Hauge in the back of the church. I think of a spring day in 1796. Hauge was plowing his field at Rolvsøy, Norway. He sang the hymn: Jesus, to feel your sweet fellowship, my soul and heart long for. Then all of a sudden it was like God came near in a way he had never experienced before. He felt the grief of sin, and the joy of salvation in a way he had never felt before. Life with God changed, and he felt God as near as never before. Hauge started to preach the word of God, and everywhere he went, people were touched by his message. Even today, 200 years later, the heritage of Hauge is still alive both in Norway and here in the Midwest. In today’s text, we join in with three of Jesus’ disciples in what would literally be one of their highlights in the wanderings with Jesus. The experiences on the mountain of transfiguration were so strong that Jesus ordered them not to tell about it before the resurrection. It was so unreal that Peter, in his letter, almost had to pinch himself in the arm and ask if he was dreaming. But no, he says: We were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 2 Peter 1:16-18. And the vision of the transfigured Lord became an important part of the great story of Jesus when the gospels were written. What did they experience there on the mountain with Jesus? I think they might have been brought behind the scene of history. Time and space were limitless for a while. They saw connections and explanations which were not obvious to the bare eye. The celebrities of the OT showed up. Moses and Elijah. They had been dead for hundreds of years. But now they suddenly stood there, speaking with Jesus. In the presence of Jesus, death doesn’t divide people any more. Therefore, we confess every Sunday, the belief in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Death will be extinguished. The one who believes in me will live even if he dies. John 11:25. The mountain of transfiguration is a sign that tells us we’ll meet in another life. Moses and Elijah were great personalities in the old covenant. About both of them, it is said that they spoke with the Lord. Exodus 34:34 and 1 Kings 19:14. Now they were speaking with the Son of God. It’s as if they were giving him some advice. Yes, this is the one we predicted, the law and the prophets looked forward to this Jesus. For as many as God’s promises are, in him they have got their Yes and their Amen. 2 Kor. 1:20. It was a wonderful moment. Think of seeing the fulfillment of what God’s people had longed to see for more than a thousand years. Peter wanted to freeze the situation, to keep this wonder forever. Let’s make three dwellings… Maybe he was inspired by the Arbor Festival. But that won’t happen. Moses and Elijah are not there to stay, but to confirm. Jesus is on the right track. Which way? Down from the mountain and towards Jerusalem. There, not a King’s crown was waiting, but a crown of thorns, and suffering and death. A cloud came and hid everything from their sight. A cloud is used many times in the Bible as a symbol of God himself. And now his presence is made clear by the voice saying: This is my Son the Beloved; listen to him! Wasn’t that the same as what was said when he was baptized? Yes: You are my Son, is quoted from Psalm 2:7. It’s about the Messiah. Jesus is, with other words, the promised King of Salvation. But his power would be shown in impotence. The Beloved, is quoted from Isaiah 42:1, where it’s sung about the suffering servant of the Lord. The text culminates in Isaiah 53 with the words about him who is wounded, punished and crushed, and dies on behalf of this own people. With other words, it’s the suffering Messiah we are introduced to here. Listen to him! The voice from heaven said. We may trace a repetition of the old Israeli creed: Listen, Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one. Deut. 6:4 The American Constitution has many amendments which are part of the constitution. Listen to him! Sounds like an amendment to the old creed. It’s not longer only the law and the prophets who speak the word of the Lord, but the Son himself. Listen to him! There’s never indifference about who we listen to. There are voices which will tell us that we’re worth nothing. There are voices telling us to do the wrong things. In the Bible, the devil is recognized as the father of lies. John 8:44. Has God really said…? The serpent said to Eve in the Garden of Eden. He sowed doubt about the goodness of God and lied about Gods intentions. Don’t listen to such talk. Listen to the one who says you are unique, created in the image of God and endlessly full of worth. Listen to him who reveals sin, but at the same time is capable of forgiving and restoring. It’s not without reason that Jesus himself is called the Word. John 1:1. The good shepherd is recognized by his voice. John 10;3. Listen to him! Became even stronger when the cloud disappeared. Then Moses and Elijah were gone and they saw Jesus alone. It must have been a fantastic experience for the three disciples. Afterwards, they must have known more about who Jesus really was, even though it was first after Jesus’ resurrection they fully realized what this was all about. The way led down from the mountain. The demands of every day life met them again. Such if life. You can’t keep the glory. God doesn’t solve all mysteries at once. But we need the highlights of life. We need holy days to help us face the workdays. We need inspiration to be confident when life is rough. We meet at church to be met by the Lord, in order to bring something good to others. We need to be served in order to serve…
Glory be to God, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever. Amen. |
The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church · 924 E. 21st St, Minneapolis, MN 55404-2952 · (612)874-0716 |