Glimpses of Glory

Scripture Reading: Luke 9: 28 - 36 (NIV)

About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. 31They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. 32Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)

34While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” 36When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.

Message: Glimpses of Glory: The Transfiguration and Our Call to Listen (Transfiguration Sunday)

Today, I want to invite you to go on a short disciple journey by using your imagination

Imagine you are part of the group of people that follows your Rabbi Jesus from place to place where He goes

Imagine you hear Him speaking about this journey of suffering that He is going to go on

Imagine you wandering what this is all about and discussing these words of the Rabbi with you friends, trying to make sense of it…

Imagine going up onto the mountain, perhaps being one of the three disciples Peter, John and James that went with your Rabbi to pray on the mountain…

Imagine being there, fully in the moment, praying with your Rabbi…

You see something happening with your Rabbi - his face is changing and His whole appearance changes - He is shining bright

And you see two men standing by Him - and, being in this holy moment, you just know who they are… they are Moses and Elijah

The three of them are having a conversation - like they have known each other for a long time…

This is a godly moment - you become aware of what God is showing you, right here in front of your eyes: Moses, the law, and Elijah, the prophecy, and you just know that the Law and the Prophesy have come here in this moment to show you something significant 

You are overwhelmed with what you see, and as the two men are leaving Jesus, you hear Peter saying that he wants to build three shelters (Peter never knows just to be in the moment, he just wants to something whenever he feels overwhelmed)

You wonder by yourself, what am I to make of all this that played out before my eyes?

You don’t like uncertainty - you want to know - this makes you uncomfortable 

And while Peter is mumbling on, a cloud appears and comes over your Rabbi

What is about to happen, you wonder

There is a voice caming from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”

And it hits you as you remember the words of Jesus in the past when He said He is the Son of God and when He talked about his Father…

You just realize why you have been brought to this mountain today, you needed to hear it from God, our Father:  My Rabbi, Jesus, is the Son of the living God!

And God is telling me to listen to what His Son is saying…

From now on, every word He says will be different…

I know He will show me the way through every word He says

I know everything will be ok, even though I have doubts and despite my uncertain heart

I will carry His words in my heart, and He will show me the way, always!

AMEN