Transfiguration Sermon: Exodus

Preached on Luke 9:28-36
The Last Sunday after the Epiphany, Series C
7 February AD 2016

Title: Exodus (MP3 Audio)

Summary: In earlier days, the Lord revealed His glory to Moses — and later to Elijah — on Mount Sinai. In the fulness of time, Jesus revealed His glory to Peter, James, and John as He conversed with His prophets on the Mount of Transfiguration.

He spoke with His forerunners about His impending departure — His exodus (v. 31). Unlike Moses, who led Israel from death at the hands of Pharaoh, or Elijah, who fled death at the hands of Ahab and Jezebel, Jesus was preparing to offer Himself up into death’s hands.

On the mountaintop, Christ manifested Himself as the Completion of the work of Moses and Elijah, the Fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets, and the final and greatest Redeemer. He would soon transfigure His own exodus from life into humanity’s exodus from death.

We often join with Moses and Elijah, with Peter, James, and John in confusing or abusing God’s commands and promises. Jesus, however, stayed true to His path. He kept the commands, bestowed the promises, and now credits us with His righteousness.

We participate in Christ’s exodus through Baptism. In it, we pass through watery death and are given new life in Him (see Romans 6:3-4). By water and the Word, we receive new citizenship, not in a land flowing with milk and honey but in the Lord’s eternal kingdom — the new heavens and new earth that will be ours in the Resurrection (see Philippians 3:20).

Text: Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray.

And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him.

And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah” — not knowing what he said.

As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!”

And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen. Luke 9:28-36

Scripture quoted from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Audio: Click to hear the MP3 of Exodus.

NB: For some reason, a few people have had problems trying to play the inline audio if Windows Media is their default MP3 player. If this occurs, you can either change to QuickTime or another default browser player, copy and paste the link directly into a selected player, or download it to your computer, where it seems to work regardless of which player. Several folks have suggested VLC Player from VideoLAN.

Other Readings: Psalm 99; Deuteronomy 34 or Exodus 34:29-35; Hebrews 3:1-6

Illustrations: The painting Exodus by Marc Chagall was begun in 1952 and completed in 1966. Line drawing from Art of the Church Year by Ed Riojas, available through Higher Things Store.