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Transfiguration Sunday – January 21^st, 2024 Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church, Block, Kansas Rev. Joshua Woelmer Text: Matthew 17:1–9 “Transfigured” Theme: Jesus discloses his true nature to his disciples and us, that we would listen to him. Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. One thing that many people aspire to be nowadays is authentic. It sounds great, right? You want to be yourself and not be constrained by societal expectations. After all, there are plenty of times when we may not like someone telling us what to do or how to act. Sometimes it seems hypocritical of people to act in a certain way, and we don’t want to follow in their footsteps. Or, we just don’t like social pressure to keep up with the Joneses. If your neighbor gets a new truck, it doesn’t mean that you have to if that’s not actually what you value or need. Being authentic to yourself can mean that you know what you want and don’t want, and you aren’t living just to fit in with what everyone else is doing. That can be a good sort of authenticity. The other sort of authenticity that I’ve noticed is not a good kind. Instead of pushing back against peer pressure, it’s tempting to push back against basic society norms. Imagine a kid saying, “I don’t want to dress up for that wedding. I want to just wear normal clothes.” They might go on and on about why it’s unfair to wear fancy clothes. But at the end of the day, even though they want to be authentic to themselves, sometimes it’s good to suppress that part of our mind. When it comes to claims of authenticity, it’s good to pay attention to what people say and match it up with their actions. If someone claims to be authentic, but then breaks social norms or even commits sinful actions using that word, is it really good to be authentic? Are you really being authentic by saying bad words, or are you just seeing how much you can get away with? At the same time, it’s true that there is also a lot of hypocrisy in the world. Christians don’t always act or speak like Christians. We give into our sinful nature from time to time. The word “hypocrisy” comes from the masks that Greek actors would wear. Being a hypocrite is putting a mask on in public but acting differently in private. But what makes someone a Christian is that God has claimed them to be his own. He is working in them to turn them away from their authentic selves to be more like His Son. We will not be perfect, but it is God’s work in us. One interesting thing about Jesus to consider is that He was not always His authentic self, but in the opposite way. Jesus wasn’t a sinner. He didn’t have any sins to hypocritically hide. But Jesus also didn’t show forth his divinity each and every day to everyone. In fact, sometimes he hid his divinity on purpose. If you pay close attention while you’re reading the Gospels, sometimes Jesus tells those he has healed, “See that you say nothing to anyone” (Mark 1:44). They do the opposite, of course. Jesus had two reasons for hiding his divinity. First, he didn’t want to be known only as a miracle worker or a magician. That is not why he came. Jesus came to preach the kingdom of God. His miracles serve that message. Second, the divinity of God would overwhelm us. Every time God shows even a glimpse of his divinity to people in the Old Testament, like Moses and Elijah, they fall on their faces. Speaking of Moses and Elijah, there was one time when Jesus fully displayed his divinity. Note that he didn’t even bring all the disciples to the top of the mountain—only the inner circle of three: Peter, James, and John. Also, his transfiguration is not something external to him. It’s not like a spotlight from heaven was beaming on him. No, the light came from within him. “His face shone like the sun” (3). Jesus was being his authentic self. The rest of the story is somewhat comical. Peter asks about setting up three tents. God the Father shoots that idea down. They see Jesus only. They go back down the mountain. Jesus commands them to “Tell no one the vision” (9). It is good that Jesus displayed himself in this way for several reasons: First, it gives us the knowledge that Jesus indeed was the Son of God, not just on display at his resurrection from the dead, but even during his ministry. Second, it strengthened the disciples for what would come. The transfiguration serves as a high point in Jesus ministry. From here on out, it’s a downward track to Jerusalem and the cross. You can notice this if you’re reading the Gospels. The transfiguration gives the disciples hope. Sometimes we humans need a glimpse of hope before doing something hard. Maybe this is why Psalm 23 starts with God feeding us before getting to the valley of the shadow of death. In just a little time, James would flee the Garden of Gethsemane. Peter would deny Jesus during his trial. John would see Jesus die on the cross. Perhaps they needed this glimpse of light, this reminder of Jesus’s divine glory before enduring the utter darkness. John remind us in his Gospel that he was one of the first to believe the resurrection. Perhaps this transfiguration helped his faith. Do you need this glimpse too? I’d like to hope that Sundays are a time for Christians to find hope and comfort for the week to come. I know we don’t have screens and lights like other churches, but there is a light that is more effective than the lights of this world. Note what God the Father says: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him” (5). The Words of Jesus are lights for your soul that will get you through another week, another month, another year. No matter the darkness that you see in your life or in the world, Jesus shines brighter. Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). God loves you and forgives you. He sent his Son to demonstrate that for you. Jesus lived perfectly and demonstrated authenticity throughout his life, showing God’s mercy on the poor, sick, and sinners. He shows that mercy for you as well. Your authentic self may not be your best self. In fact, God knows that you are a sinner in need of salvation. But despite that, God loves you and works in you to create a better self by the power of the Holy Spirit. Living in the Spirit and striving always against our sinful nature, we will one day see Jesus glorified, shining as the sun. Now may the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Amen. Return to Top \| Return to Sermons \| Home \| Email Church Office

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Transfiguration Sunday – January 21^st, 2024

Trinity Ev. Lutheran Church, Block, Kansas

Rev. Joshua Woelmer

Text: Matthew 17:1–9

“Transfigured”

Theme: Jesus discloses his true nature to his disciples and us, that we would listen to him.

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

One thing that many people aspire to be nowadays is authentic. It sounds great, right? You want to be yourself and not be constrained by societal expectations. After all, there are plenty of times when we may not like someone telling us what to do or how to act. Sometimes it seems hypocritical of people to act in a certain way, and we don’t want to follow in their footsteps.

Or, we just don’t like social pressure to keep up with the Joneses. If your neighbor gets a new truck, it doesn’t mean that you have to if that’s not actually what you value or need. Being authentic to yourself can mean that you know what you want and don’t want, and you aren’t living just to fit in with what everyone else is doing. That can be a good sort of authenticity.

The other sort of authenticity that I’ve noticed is not a good kind. Instead of pushing back against peer pressure, it’s tempting to push back against basic society norms. Imagine a kid saying, “I don’t want to dress up for that wedding. I want to just wear normal clothes.” They might go on and on about why it’s unfair to wear fancy clothes. But at the end of the day, even though they want to be authentic to themselves, sometimes it’s good to suppress that part of our mind.

When it comes to claims of authenticity, it’s good to pay attention to what people say and match it up with their actions. If someone claims to be authentic, but then breaks social norms or even commits sinful actions using that word, is it really good to be authentic? Are you really being authentic by saying bad words, or are you just seeing how much you can get away with?

At the same time, it’s true that there is also a lot of hypocrisy in the world. Christians don’t always act or speak like Christians. We give into our sinful nature from time to time. The word “hypocrisy” comes from the masks that Greek actors would wear. Being a hypocrite is putting a mask on in public but acting differently in private.

But what makes someone a Christian is that God has claimed them to be his own. He is working in them to turn them away from their authentic selves to be more like His Son. We will not be perfect, but it is God’s work in us.

One interesting thing about Jesus to consider is that He was not always His authentic self, but in the opposite way. Jesus wasn’t a sinner. He didn’t have any sins to hypocritically hide. But Jesus also didn’t show forth his divinity each and every day to everyone. In fact, sometimes he hid his divinity on purpose. If you pay close attention while you’re reading the Gospels, sometimes Jesus tells those he has healed, “See that you say nothing to anyone” (Mark 1:44). They do the opposite, of course.

Jesus had two reasons for hiding his divinity. First, he didn’t want to be known only as a miracle worker or a magician. That is not why he came. Jesus came to preach the kingdom of God. His miracles serve that message.

Second, the divinity of God would overwhelm us. Every time God shows even a glimpse of his divinity to people in the Old Testament, like Moses and Elijah, they fall on their faces.

Speaking of Moses and Elijah, there was one time when Jesus fully displayed his divinity. Note that he didn’t even bring all the disciples to the top of the mountain—only the inner circle of three: Peter, James, and John. Also, his transfiguration is not something external to him. It’s not like a spotlight from heaven was beaming on him. No, the light came from within him. “His face shone like the sun” (3). Jesus was being his authentic self.

The rest of the story is somewhat comical. Peter asks about setting up three tents. God the Father shoots that idea down. They see Jesus only. They go back down the mountain. Jesus commands them to “Tell no one the vision” (9).

It is good that Jesus displayed himself in this way for several reasons: First, it gives us the knowledge that Jesus indeed was the Son of God, not just on display at his resurrection from the dead, but even during his ministry.

Second, it strengthened the disciples for what would come. The transfiguration serves as a high point in Jesus ministry. From here on out, it’s a downward track to Jerusalem and the cross. You can notice this if you’re reading the Gospels.

The transfiguration gives the disciples hope. Sometimes we humans need a glimpse of hope before doing something hard. Maybe this is why Psalm 23 starts with God feeding us before getting to the valley of the shadow of death. In just a little time, James would flee the Garden of Gethsemane. Peter would deny Jesus during his trial. John would see Jesus die on the cross.

Perhaps they needed this glimpse of light, this reminder of Jesus’s divine glory before enduring the utter darkness. John remind us in his Gospel that he was one of the first to believe the resurrection. Perhaps this transfiguration helped his faith.

Do you need this glimpse too? I’d like to hope that Sundays are a time for Christians to find hope and comfort for the week to come. I know we don’t have screens and lights like other churches, but there is a light that is more effective than the lights of this world. Note what God the Father says: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him” (5).

The Words of Jesus are lights for your soul that will get you through another week, another month, another year. No matter the darkness that you see in your life or in the world, Jesus shines brighter. Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

God loves you and forgives you. He sent his Son to demonstrate that for you. Jesus lived perfectly and demonstrated authenticity throughout his life, showing God’s mercy on the poor, sick, and sinners. He shows that mercy for you as well. Your authentic self may not be your best self. In fact, God knows that you are a sinner in need of salvation. But despite that, God loves you and works in you to create a better self by the power of the Holy Spirit. Living in the Spirit and striving always against our sinful nature, we will one day see Jesus glorified, shining as the sun.

Now may the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Amen.

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