Worship Service – February 14, 2021

Sunday February 14,2021

Welcome our scriptures readings this week we find in; 2Kings 2:1-12 and 2 Corinthians 4:3-6. Our message today is based on the gospel of Mark 9:2-9.

I invite you to read, pray and meditate on our scriptures so that God’s word may transform your heart and soul.

Please read with me the gospel of Mark 9:2-9.

Mark 9:2-9

Transfiguration of the Lord.

(2) After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. (3) His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. (4) And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

(5) Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters–one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (6) (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)

(7) Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

(8) Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

(9) As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

This is the word of God. For the people of God. Thanks be to God.

A little boy asked his mother, “Marriage makes you have babies, doesn’t it, Mom?” The mother reluctantly answered her son, “Well, not exactly. Just because you are married does not mean that you have a baby.” The boy continued his inquiry: “Then how do you have babies?” His mother, not very enthusiastic about continuing, answered, “It’s kind of hard to explain.” The boy paused and thought for a moment. He then moved closer to Mom, looked her right in eye, and carefully said, “You don’t really know how it works, do you, Mom?”

Believe it our not, this is one of the most dreaded Sundays in the Christian year for folks who use the Lectionary for their preaching. Why? Because it deals with the Transfiguration of Jesus. Generally, this is one of those “What does that mean and how am I supposed to explain that?”, sort of passages. It’s difficult because, like the little boy told his mother, we “don’t really know how it works.” And when you don’t know how something works, it’s hard to explain.

I’ve titled this weeks message;

“Transformation!”

Just look at this passage. Jesus invites Peter, James and John to go up on the mountain to pray. Jesus takes sort of a midweek mini retreat and invites three of the four original disciples to go with him. I’m almost sure they were excited. Then up on the mountain top they’re praying up a storm, (according to Luke 9:28), when all of a sudden Jesus flips open his communicator and says, “Two to beam down Mr. Scott.” And then there’s Moses and Elijah standing with Jesus. Like an episode of Star Trek, Moses and Elijah are suddenly standing there like two ghosts from the past. They appear right out of thin air.

Well that’s not the way it really happened. But in the light of today’s readings, I hoped and prayed that it would get your attention.

Scripture says the disciples were terrified. I’ve always wanted to tell the author, “No fooling?” We would have been terrified. Out of the clear blue the guy we’ve been traveling with for the past two or three years starts to glow and shine like some special effect in a science fiction movie. And then ghosts of two of Israel’s most powerful and beloved ancestors are standing with him. You bet we’d be terrified. Then just as suddenly as they appeared, Moses and Elijah are gone and Jesus is back to normal. But not before we hear from God. And not before Peter sticks his foot in his mouth. Talk about a strange passage.

What are we supposed to make of this passage? And how does it fit into our daily lives?

One thing is clear, the disciples witnessed Jesus like they’d never seen him before. On this day, they saw him as Moses & Elijah always see him. As God always sees him. They saw him as we will all see him when he returns. They saw Jesus in his full glory. It wasn’t Hollywood special effects or some kind of trick.

We’re often to much like the parrot in the story of a brilliant magician who was performing on an ocean liner. But every time he did a trick, the Captain’s parrot would yell, “It’s a trick”. “He’s a phony. That’s not magic.” Then one evening during a storm, the ship sank while the magician was performing. The parrot and the magician ended up in the same lifeboat. For several days they just glared at each other, neither saying a word to the other. Finally the parrot said, “Ok, I give up. What did you do with the ship?”

Contrast that with what we see taking place on the mountain. Jesus took Peter, James and John to the mountain top so they might renew their spirits and gain some spiritual insight.

But Peter didn’t get it, right then. And you can’t really blame him. Talk about a Kodak moment. All those Biblical figures gathered in one place. Once he got over his fear of the unknown and recognized the glory of the moment, Peter went into action. He wanted to memorialize the event. He wanted to build three shelters in which to worship. He basically put his foot in his mouth, by saying : “Rabbi, it is good…Let us put up three shelters.” (9:5) Peter instantly returned to Jesus as his “rabbi”, and by saying that this is a “good” thing he emphasizes his lack of his understanding. The “three shelters” or “tabernacles”, I believe, are not meant to represent the Mosaic tabernacle but more likely stem from the Feast of Tabernacles, (Leviticus 23:33-44) when many Jews built shelters out of branches and dwelled in them for the seven-day festival.

Verse 6 tells us, ”He did not know what to say,”. Peter may have simply wanted to prolong the experience, but he was quite mistaken. His error is pretty clear. He has made Elijah and Moses equal to Jesus, and that will be corrected by God himself. They are God’s messengers; Jesus is His Son! Mark makes it clear that Peter just blurts out the first thing that pops into his mind. The disciples are terrified and nearly speechless.

I can almost imagine seeing Jesus give Peter the eye. As if to say, “No. Our work isn’t on the mountain, it’s back down in the valley.” And that’s when God got Peter’s attention by speaking up.

Basically God said, “Be quiet and listen.” Mark’s Gospel puts it this way: God said, “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” So, one of the things we can learn from this passage is to listen. To listen to God and to listen to Jesus, the Son of God. This reminds me of what the psalmist wrote: ”Be still, and know that I am God;”(Ps.46:10)

What are we supposed to make of this passage? And how does it fit into our daily lives? We need to; Learn to Listen.

Mark’s Gospel also tells us: Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus. We’re invited to listen to God. And we’re invited to see and focus only on Jesus. That’s hard to do. It was hard for Peter. It’s equally as difficult if not harder, for us. Look at all of the things we have to distract us, especially during this pandemic. School, family, career, politics; all of those things can get in the way of our relationship with Jesus. Not to mention other things like computers, video games, TV, radio, music, sports, career, movies, etc. They can all cause us to lose our focus on Jesus.

To often we’re like the very nervous airline passenger who began pacing the terminal when bad weather delayed his flight. During his walk he ran across one of those life insurance machines. It offered $100,000 in the event of an untimely death aboard his flight. The policy was just $3. He looked out the window at the threatening clouds and thought about his family at home. For that price it was foolish not to buy, so he took out the coverage. He then looked for a place to eat. It was one of the larger airports, so it had a pretty good variety of eateries, so he settled on his favorite – Chinese. He had a very relaxing and calming meal until he opened his fortune cookie. It read: “Your recent investment will pay big dividends.” He took a different flight.

The poor guy lost his focus. He let little things get in the way and distract him from his purpose: to get home and from the knowledge that flying is the safest form of transportation.

We do the same with our relationship with God. We let other things, less important things, less meaningful things, sometimes even trivial things distract us from our purpose which is to love and serve God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. We let other things get in the way of our relationship with God. When what we are called to do is stay focused.

We’re called to stay focused and we’re called to help others stay focused, too.

A few years ago there was an article in the “Faith and Inspiration” section of the Star Telegram one Saturday titled, “Impress a teen….go to church.” According to the Princeton Religion Research Center publication, Emerging Trends, a survey conducted with teenagers shows that teenagers are impressed by adults who go to church or other places of worship. 81% of the youth polled said that “With all the talk of the need to instill a sense of values in young people and for positive role models, there is one simple positive step adults can take – go to church or another place of worship.”

Our best influence is our own action and our own personal relationship with God. It helps us stay focused and live a faithful life. And it helps others stay focused as well.

So, what are we supposed to make of this passage? And how does it fit into our daily lives? We need to; Learn to stay Focused!

We’re called to listen to God and to focus on Jesus only. And when that happens we will be transformed. You see I don’t think this passage is so much about Jesus being transformed right before their very eyes. As it is a transforming moment for Peter, James and John. In this moment of transfiguration, it’s not just Jesus’ appearance that changes. Peter, James, and John’s perception of Jesus changes, too. Until this moment, they suspected some things but they weren’t positive about who Jesus was. But from this moment on there could be no doubt. God had spoken and all three of them had heard it. All three of them witnessed the transfiguration. All three of them saw Moses and Elijah standing with the one whom God called “His Beloved Son.”

They were transformed by this experience. But it wasn’t an instant transformation. it was on ongoing, slow, day by day process. If it had been instant, Peter wouldn’t have run away at the crucifixion or doubted prior to Pentecost. For some, like the Apostle Paul, transformation happens overnight. But most of us get transformed a little at a time, like building up your savings. We are transformed gradually by a faith relationship with Jesus and with others who love and serve Jesus. We’re transformed through the guidance and presence of God’s Holy Spirit in our daily lives.

And that’s good because Christianity is not in the business of “information about God” but “Transformation by God.”

As Paul reminded us in our scripture reading in 1Corinthians. We’re not the light, just the bearers of the light. And the world needs the light we bear so much. The Light we bear and the Good News we share have the power to transform lives, to transform the world, one life at a time.

So, what are we supposed to make of this passage? And how does it fit into our daily lives? Be Transformed!

God is working a work of ”Transformation” in our Church, during this pandemic. God is working a work of “Transformation” through each of us. Our challenge it to continue to listen to God and to stay focused on Jesus only. We may not “really know how it works” but when we listen to God and focus on Jesus only, God’s work of “Transformation” continues. And lives are changed.

In His Service,

Pastor Joe