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Exodus 24:12-18
Psalm 2:1-11
2 Peter 1:16-21
Matthew 17:1-9
We hear today of two “mountain top experiences” both unique but also have common threads to each other and to us today. Both not just for the humans directly involved but for all of God’s people. Both to transform God’s people, to know God and follow God.
How often I fail to keep in the forefront in my daily life, what God does for each and everyone of us. Oh don’t get me wrong, I acknowledge God and I pray, not as often as I should but I do. But I just don’t always keep my focus on the light of God, the face of God in Jesus, the God who is with us today. I have faith issues, discipleship issues, ……I might as well face it, I have issues.
I wonder if you all sometimes have the same experiences, or am I unique. Where is your faith today, where was it yesterday and where will your faith be in three days? Does your faith stay constant? Oh and by the way, is that good? A constant faith, is that another way of saying, my faith is stagnant? If it is stagnant, then how does that contribute to not fulfilling the commitment to God through our baptism and/or our confirmation?
Last week when the reading said that we are to be perfect as our father in heaven is (Matthew 5:48), Lisa said that perfection is being more of, completeness. Are you and I complete? Is our faith complete or does it ever change, sometimes two steps forward and sometimes a step or two back? How does this then relate to the Israelites as we heard in the reading from Exodus?
In Biblical times it was thought that the mountains was where heavenly realm and earthly realm would meet. When the Lord told Moses to come up to the mountain, a cloud covered it. This cloud, concealing the mountaintop was not for God but part of the signs, revelations for the start of a transformation of the Israelites. When God called Moses out of the cloud, all the Israelites could see the glory of the Lord form the mountaintop. It “…was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel.”[1]
God gives Moses instructions about the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant. This is where God will be present, where God will be with the people in their travels. God also gives the original two tablets of the Covenant, written in stone by God. When Moses came down after 40 days, things changed.
Even though the people saw the glory of the Lord upon the mountain, God revealed God’s self to the people, they received a “mountaintop” type of experience, the Israelites forgot who it was that made it possible to leave Egypt, who their God was and what God did for them. The people faltered in their faith, they failed to listen to their God and follow the ordinances given to them. They took several steps back in their faith. God however wants so much more for God’s people. We know the story, and the 40 years in the wilderness. Now fast forward to the time of Jesus.
In the text of Matthew today, we hear of this transfiguration of Jesus upon a high mountain. What we did not hear, was the scripture proceeding that has Peter declaring Jesus to be the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. Jesus foretells of his death and resurrection and tells the disciples that if they want to follow him, they have to pick up their cross and lose their life to gain life. The foretelling of the death and resurrection and picking up the cross was only six days before the transfiguration of Jesus.
Peter, John and James go with Jesus and witness the glowing bright light of Jesus, they are so struck by what they see, Peter offers to build shelters. While speaking, God speaks and tells them who Jesus is and gives them a command. God, speaks, God is there and says, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” [2] What Peter had said earlier about Jesus is confirmed, just as it was during the baptism of Jesus. They are told to listen to Jesus, but not just listen but, LISTEN! Then suddenly they were alone with Jesus. Jesus/God touches them and instead of using His power, gently touches them and tells them not to be afraid.
Peter’s faith has been transformed but all that he has encountered. Peter we know, later denies even knowing Jesus. Peter’s faith, a disciple and apostle of Jesus, has a faith crisis. Peter, who declared Jesus to be the Messiah and witnesses the transfiguration, hears God and is told to Listen, took several steps back in his faith. Even though we see all that God does, we to have times when our actions do not represent all that we know and have seen.
Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us, the powerful and almighty God, the same one that the Israelites witnessed the Glory of in Exodus, is again with the people and is instructing the people of how to be, how to engage God, and one another. As it will be told in Matthew 22, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the greatest and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” [3]
Listen to Him God says;
To gain our life, we must loose it. To follow Jesus, to become his disciple, we must pick up our cross. It is when we take this to heart, live as Jesus teaches, and love God with all our hearts, and love our neighbor as ourselves, our faith no longer is stagnant. Faith keeps moving forward. Faith moving forwards is active and leads to discipleship in Jesus.
All that God does is not for God but for us. The God we heard about in Exodus, did not do what God did for God but for God’s people. God in Christ Jesus walked the earth not for God but for God’s People. God the Father did not send the Spirit for Himself, but for His people. All that God does is for God’s people, done in Love for them, for their faith, for their transformation, for them.
We may not, but then of course we may, be able today to see the face of God in Jesus today but either way we know that God is always with us. Jesus tells us that the Father, will send another, the Sprit, who is among us always. How will you respond to God’s Love for you, in faith and discipleship each and every day?
[1] The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), Ex 24:17.
[2] The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), Mt 17:5.
[3] The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), Mt 22:37–40.