The Transfiguration (Luke 9:28-36)

Sunday Next Before Lent (14^th February 2010)

Theme: The Transfiguration (Luke 9: 28-36)

 

 

Usually when we talk about Transfiguration, we usually think about Jesus being glorified or Jesus in his glorious majesty.  There is something that I want to share with you with regards to this story this morning – something we don’t usually talk about.  It is about being alone in your pain.  

When I talk about being alone in your pain, I am not talking about the feeling of loneliness, nor am I talking about the experience of being in the midst of strangers, or in a foreign land, or being lost in a jungle.  What I am talking about here is being alone in your pain or hurt or worries because other people do not seem to understand or care about the hurt and pain inside you. You cannot talk to your friends or even members of your family because they will not understand or sympathise.  Or it may be a problem that is too embarrassing to talk about with anybody.  And because of that you are left alone to struggle with that pain and hurt.

These are real experiences and I don’t mind saying that I have gone through it many times and they can hurt badly.  I understand that it can be very lonely for many of us at the top of any organisation – the presidents, chairmen, executives, managers, directors, or heads of departments or schools.  Very often people at the top do not get the sympathy of those people under them.  If those under you come to you with their problems, where do you go for counsel, if you are at the top?

There is no doubt that there are many people who suffer in silence.  If you read the leisure pages of the Sunday newspapers or magazines, you will often find a section where readers can seek advice from counsellors about their problems.  They have resorted to asking for advice anonymously through newspapers or magazines because it is easier that way.  But this is only practical for some human problems. There are problems that are too difficult to be shared with friends and to be understood by anybody – thus leaving us to suffer with our hurt and predicament all alone, or even making us do crazy things like talking to dog and cat.

It is with this understanding that we read the story of this Transfiguration of Jesus in Luke 9: 28-36.  If you have never experienced or understood what it meant to be all alone in your pain and hurt, it may be difficult to understand the feeling of Jesus as he climbed up the mountain with his disciples.  Physically he was accompanied by his three friends, but internally he was all alone with a great burden in his mind and hearts.  None of them would have understood if he were to tell them what was in his mind. 

What was it that troubled Jesus?  It was the thought of the oncoming crucifixion – the pain of torture and death on the cross. Jesus knew what it must be like to be crucified on the cross, because crucifixion was quite a common form of punishment meted by the Roman government. Jesus knew the brutality of the Roman treatment of prisoners and that thought must be really agonising. He tried to share that with the disciples, but they could not understand (e.g. Luke 18: 31-34).  Jesus was perhaps almost at breaking point when he was praying at the mountain.

It was here that the Transfiguration came.  It came to reassure Jesus and to give him the strength to go on, and to have courage to take the terrible road to Jerusalem and face the waiting cross.  The Transfiguration was a foretaste of glory of heaven.  The Transfiguration showed what was beyond the pain and death on the cross – there would be resurrection, victory over death, ascension to heaven and glory.

This was confirmed by the presence of Moses and Elijah –two of the greatest Old Testament figures.  The Bible tells us that both Moses and Elijah left this world in a mysterious way.  Moses died at Mount Nebo, on the other side of the Jordan and looking across the Promised Land.  Deuteronomy 34:6 says this, “To this day nobody knows where his grave is.” 

The departure of Elijah recorded in 2 Kings 2: 1-12 was even more dramatic.  Elijah crossed the Jordan with his assistant Elisha, and as they walked a chariot and horses of fire came down from heaven and took Elijah away.  The vision at the mountain assured Jesus that what happened to the Moses and Elijah would also happen to him.  Jesus would die in a mysterious way, and he would rise and ascend into heaven.

Another thing that we note at the Transfiguration was a voice from heaven that says, “This is my Son, my chosen; listen to him.” That was the same voice repeating the same words at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan.  What better assurance would Jesus need as he advanced towards that terrible suffering and death on the cross?  He wouldn’t need further assurance.  What he had experienced, seen and heard on that mountain was enough to give him the courage and strength to go through the coming suffering and death.   And that was what Transfiguration meant to Jesus.

I began this sermon just now by talking about the problems and pain that we have to endure all alone.  Transfiguration meant a lot for Jesus. But can it be of any meaning for people who are suffering in silence? Can this story be the source of our encouragement when we are bogged down with problems?  And what assurance can we find in it? 

There are still a lot of things that I have not understood in this story, but allow me to share some insights that I (and many other people) have gained from it.  The story of the Transfiguration is, first of all, an assurance for a believer with minor or great personal problems and struggles.  It tells us that when life gets tough and when the burden becomes heavy, God is always there to help us if we come to him. 

Many of us, in time of crisis, tend to seek logical, earthly and human solution to our problems.  When we do that we overlook the heavenly wisdom.  We do things as if we believe that our problems and difficulties can be overcome with anger, confrontation, revenge, or by running away.  Jesus did none of these.   Instead, he went to God in prayer and as he prayed he was made to see, to understand and to foretaste the glory that was yet to come.  I believe if we come to God in similar spirit and with the same attitude, God may have some answers for us.  I do not mean that we shall experience transfiguration as Jesus did.  But certainly we can experience that love, comfort and the mercy of God in our lives, and even a way out.

In my line of work I deal a lot with people with personal needs, problems, pain, anxieties, and fear. From what I have seen, virtually anything in life can cause any of these, even good things like getting married, receiving promotions, moving houses, or taking up further studies. Some of us may have long-term illnesses that seem to have no cure.  We may be worried about our jobs, businesses or our future in general.  The Bible tells us when we are faced with all these difficulties and struggles; we can bring them before God and cast them at the cross of Christ.  However, we need to remember that God does not always take away all problems.  He did not take away the suffering that Jesus was to undergo at the cross.  But he gave him assurance, strength and courage to face it. 

Sometimes God will do the same with us.  The glory we experience does not mean that we shall avoid suffering and the inconveniences of life.  God may not take away our illness, our pain or difficulties but he is going to give us strength, courage and patience to go through them.

One other thing that this Transfiguration story tells us is that when we come to God with our burdens, he makes us see them in a different light.  And he will make us see other people and ourselves in a different light.   When Jesus went up the mountain, he encountered Moses and Elijah, and they talked with him about his departure – meaning his death.   And in that moment of glory Jesus saw something different, which became the source of his strength.    

A few things may happen when we come to God in prayer: (i) he will use other people to minister to us; (ii) he will enable us to see things that we otherwise won’t see.  

That is why the most important thing to do when we are in crisis is to pray and hand over what we are going through into the hand of God.  I have said in the past that if the problem or crisis that we are in is surrendered to God, he can turn it into a blessing.   But if we do not, Satan is going to take it and use it as a curse against us.   Jesus went up the mountain with a heavy heart – knowing that a painful death is coming.   The Transfiguration experience would not take away the fact that a painful death is coming, but as Jesus came down the mountain he knew fully well that this was the will of the heavenly Father.  And when you know the will and purpose of God, it can really make a difference on how you handle crisis and pain.