Feburary 14, 2010

How Do you See Jesus?

Scripture Psalm 99 read responsively and Luke 9:28-36

Preached by Linda Jo Peters ~ February 14, 2010

TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD

INTRODUCTION TO SCRIPTURE
Psalm 99 read responsively

Today we remember Jesus’ transfiguration on the mountain top. This is a song of praise filed with mountain top images of God which also affirms God’s intimate relationship with people. God is indeed awesome. God is also loving and forgiving. Join me in reading responsively this great hymn of praise.

1The Lord is king; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!
2The Lord is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples.
3Let them praise your great and awesome name. Holy is he!
4Mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.
5Extol the Lord our God; worship at his footstool. Holy is he!
6Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called on his name. They cried to the Lord, and he answered them.
7He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud; they kept his decrees, and the statutes that he gave them.
8O Lord our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings.
9Extol the Lord our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the Lord our God is holy.

Luke 9:28-36
Much of the imagery of Moses’ encounter on Mt Sinai is repeated here in the story of Jesus’ transfiguration. On Mt. Sinai Moses sees the back of God and his face shines. On this mountain the disciples see Jesus as the son of God and his face and garments glow. The purpose of the climb is a time of prayer. Prayer can open our eyes to see this transfigured God.

28Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. 29And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. 30Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. 31They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” —not knowing what he said. 34While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. 35Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” 36When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.

SERMON
Recently we re-watched the movie “Sixth Sense.” Over and over when the ghosts got Cole into trouble he would ask his mother, “Are you angry with me?” or “Are you disappointed in me?” His mother would reply, “Look at my face.” There in her face he could see she still loved him and was concerned for him. It was an assurance. The transfiguration of Jesus is an assurance for the disciples that Jesus really is the Messiah. Just eight days before Peter had confessed this to Jesus, that he believed him to be the Messiah. Now he sees Jesus transfigured and he wants to make three abodes for worshipping Moses, Elijah and Jesus. Oops! Peter gets it and then he doesn’t get it. Such is true for many believers. We see Jesus in a powerful moment of revelation and time seems to stand still. Then life kicks back in, and we are left wondering “Where is Jesus?” It is sort of like those puzzles where is Waldo. It helps to know what Waldo looks like but still it is hard to find him. Is Jesus just another puzzle we have to figure out.

I belong to a small group of Presbyterian clergy who meet for breakfast once a month. We have a question we ask each other, “How have you seen Jesus/God since we last met?” This question makes us attentive to God’s activity in our lives. The cover of the bulletin is how I most often see Jesus –laughing with children around him. Perhaps you see him in prayer or healing or on he cross or on the throne of heaven. But where do you see him in your everyday life? As we head into lent this might be a question you could ask yourself. Have I seen Jesus today? Have I felt the hand on God on me? Pay attention to how God is moving in your life.

Rick Kohr sent me this email about on a cold January morning in 2007 at a Washington, DC Metro Station a man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about an hour. During that time it is estimated that approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. Very few people stopped to listen. Children were more interested than adults. Several put money in his hat. In an hour he had $32 dollars in his hat. Then he stopped and still no one noticed. No one applauded.

• The violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world,
• He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written,
• With a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.
• Two days before Joshua Bell sold out in Boston where the seats averaged $100 each.

The email wonders: If we do not take a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made... How many other things are we missing?

What would you pay to see and touch Jesus? He’s always there, giving his very best. We just need to practice looking for him. Amen.