The Transfiguration of Our Lord
March 2, 2014 - Pastor Adam Moline
Exodus 24:8-18 2 Peter 1:16-21 Matthew 17:1-9
Grace, mercy and
peace to you from God the Father through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
Amen. Our text today is the Old
Testament lesson, especially these words, “Moses took the blood and threw it on
the people.” Thus far our text for
today.
Dear friends in
Christ. Today is Transfiguration Sunday,
the last Sunday before Lent. On this day
we celebrate the event recorded for us in our lessons for today. Peter, James and John went up with Jesus to
the top of a tall mountain. And while
they are there, Jesus changes, his clothes began glowing like the sun, his face
shone with the glory of God. And Moses
and Elijah appear, talking to Jesus about what must happen to Him, that he must
be crucified, that he must shed his blood and that he must die.
Peter, James and
John are amazed at what they see. Elijah was the great prophet of old, who on
the top of Mount Carmel built an altar to God, and after having shed the blood
of the sacrifice on the altar, the altar was consumed by fire from heaven,
proving to the Israelites that the True God was more powerful than Baal. For the Lord God could not stand the false
teachings of the prophets of Baal, and had them killed, for their unbelief. On that day, the blood of the unbelieving
prophets of Baal was required by God, and it was paid in full.
Moses too had a
mountain top experience, the one that we read about in our Old Testament
lesson. Moses made a sacrifice, and
capturing the blood in a bowl, he walked around the entire people of Israel,
and dipping his finger in the blood, he sprinkled it upon all the people. Why?
So that their sin might be forgiven, and being forgiven, that they might
see the God of Israel. For it was only
with the shedding and sprinkling of blood upon the people of Israel, that God
would allow them to be in His holy perfect presence.
And it is with
these events in their mind, that Peter gets nervous in our text. He sees the God-ness of Jesus shining
forth. He sees the holy prophets from of
old, standing with Jesus. It is at that
moment that things click for Peter, and he understands that Jesus is God in
human flesh. The fullness of who Jesus
is makes itself manifest. It is the most
clear epiphany – and Peter is scared to be in God’s presence, because He knows
God hates sin. That God hates
unrighteousness, so much so that he wants to destroy it from his presence. And Peter, knowing his own skin is terrified
of being with God.
There’s only one
thing to do, the same thing Israel did in the Old Testament. Build three tents
– tabernacles really. Places to hide God
away, so that they might know he’s present, but not have to be in his presence. A place where God might be contained, so that
sinners might stay safe in his presence.
But when Peter suggests this in our text, God appears in a glowing
cloud, and says clearly – This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased,
Listen to him. Now Peter, James and John
are truly terrified. And they have no
sacrifice to atone for their sins before God.
Dear friends. You too are guilty of sin. You too deserve punishment from God. You too have done wrong, and the only thing
that can cover your sin is blood. The
only thing that can forgive your sin is blood.
And like Peter you
ought to be terrified. One day your life
will end, and you, like Peter in our text, will stand before the God of heaven
and earth. He will call into account all
the deeds of your life. He will ask if
you’ve done good or if you’ve done evil.
And the truth is, because of sin you’ve done evil, time and time
again. You will not be able to plead
ignorance on that day. You will not be
able to pass the buck onto someone else.
You will stand condemned, and your blood will be required by God, just
as the prophets of Baal’s blood was required of them.
Except that you
have already been covered in blood. Your
sin has already be atoned for. Just as
Moses sprinkled blood on the people of Israel so that they could stand before
God, blood has been sprinkled on you.
Just as blood took away their evil and gross sin, so too your sin is
taken care of.
No it’s not your
blood, but it’s a sacrifice in your place.
The blood comes from Christ. It
was shed on a Friday we call good, many years ago. It was poured out generously, the skin of
Christ broken by whips and thorns. The
blood of Christ flowing quickly from his hands and feet, and finally the last
of it drained as the point of a spear pierced his dead body. Yes, it’s the blood of Jesus that was your
sacrifice. It was the blood of Jesus
that covers you.
It too was
sprinkled upon you, just as Moses did in our lesson, in a font, where water and
the Word of God combined to bring the forgiveness of Jesus to you. In baptism, you’ve washed your robe and made
it white in the blood of the lamb. Your
sin was taken away, because Jesus’ blood was shed in your place – just as it
was shed for Peter, and for James, and John, and for all who believe in the
name of Christ. Your sin washed in the
blood of the transfigured, and resurrected Lord Jesus Christ.
