Listen!

Exodus 34: 29 - 35

Luke 9: 28 – 36

March 2, 2025

Have you ever said something that you immediately regretted saying? Sometimes those sayings are unexpected unvarnished statements of truth that your listeners are not ready to hear. Sometimes those utterances are so inane, so childish, so stupid that you can just hear the brain cells of your listeners screaming in protest as they die. Sometimes those words spring from an enthusiasm, from an impetuousness that has you speaking before you are thinking.

C’mon, in a spirit of humility and transparency, how many of us are guilty of saying things that we wished we hadn’t said? Hands up! I certainly have been guilty of this many times.

Peter is at it again.

Our story from Luke takes place late in the ministry of Jesus. From a larger group of followers that routinely traveled with this rabbi from Nazareth, Jesus has selected 12 men who would become members of his inner circle and later – after his death and resurrection – be known as the Apostles. Well….. at least 11 of them!

This group has seen Jesus feed thousands, heal the sick, raise the dead, and walk on water. They have listened to teachings that redefined what it meant to be active citizens in the kingdom of God. They have often been confused as Jesus gave them new insights on the Old Testament. They have also become fearful at times as they watched their master do battle with the professionally religious.

These disciples were trying actively, faithfully to put it all together. They were struggling with what all of this meant for Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of Man, the Christ. But now, as Jerusalem and the events of Holy Week loom on the horizon; as a final meal, arrest, trials, suffering and death begin to take shape; Jesus begins to clarify everything that he has been about in a simple question that he has just posed to Peter.

“Who do you say that I am.” Peter has responded – rightly, faithfully – “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

And the text tells us that Jesus, for the first time in explicit fashion, then begins to tell his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, suffer, experience an horrific death, and then be raised from the dead. Peter doesn’t get it. Peter doesn’t want it, and in a stunning display of arrogance we are told that Peter pulls Jesus aside and rebukes Jesus – REBUKES JESUS! – for telling his disciples of his upcoming Passion.

Oh Peter. Impetuous Peter. Sometimes so faithful and yet sometimes so dense.

A few days later Jesus takes Peter, James, and John – his inner council – with him up to a high mountain. Tradition has this high mountain as Mount Tabor and, indeed, since the 4th century there have been churches and monasteries on the top of Tabor commemorating this Transfiguration story.

But in the first century, Mount Tabor was the site of Roman military encampments and settlements. It was hardly the place of isolation described in our text. Far more likely, Jesus has taken them up Mount Hermon – a massive mountain that ascends to over 9200 feet and sits at a connecting point for Israel, Jordan, and Syria.

There, on this mountaintop, Peter, James, and John encounter a transfigured Jesus, surrounded by Moses and Elijah, and are enveloped by a cloud out of which they hear God saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen, listen to him.” The disciples are terrified, Jesus ministers to them, and down the mountain they come.

A few things to let this story shine in its full glory.

First, it is no coincidence that Moses and Elijah are connected with a story about the Messiah on a mountaintop. Both Moses and Elijah have significant, consequential encounters with God on a mountaintop. Moses receives the law from God on Mount Sinai and is himself reflecting the glory of God on his face as he comes down to encounter the tribes of Israel. Elijah is called by God to meet with him on Mount Horeb and there hears the “still, small voice” of God speaking to him.

Both Moses and Elijah are connected with the coming Messiah in Jewish tradition. Moses is revered as the one who brought the Law. Elijah is promised to appear at the coming of the long-awaited Messiah, is celebrated as greatest of the Prophets and as one who did not experience death himself.

In a stunning display of continuity with the Old Testament, the disciples awaken to find Jesus speaking with these messianic, Old Testament giants about the events that awaited Jesus in Jerusalem.

Peter, impetuous, speak-before-you-think, foot firmly in mouth Peter applauds the wisdom of Jesus in bringing the disciples to witness this Transfiguration event: “Master, it is good for us to be here.” If he would have stopped there, he only would have gained the new title of “Captain Obvious.” But he doesn’t.

“Let us put up three shelters – one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” Doh! Now to be fair, Peter is only continuing in the Jewish tradition of building shelters, booths, and tabernacles to commemorate significant religious events. The constructions were places for people to visit, remember, and celebrate. Particularly, the Tabernacle was a place that housed the presence of the Lord as Israel wandered in the wilderness.

Peter wanted to commemorate. Peter wanted to celebrate. Peter wanted an institutional structure that could serve a religious purpose. Sounds a lot like the institutional response of building churches across our landscape. These places serve an institutional, religious purpose. They may or may not be fully serving a set of faith purposes.

But Jesus isn’t looking for institutions or buildings – places of remembrance. No, he is looking for something much more dynamic. The story continues.

A cloud envelopes the mountaintop. Just as a cloud signified the presence of God in the Tabernacle that accompanied Israel in the desert (Exodus 40); just as the cloud signaled the presence of God as the dedication of the first Temple (1 Kings 8); so now this cloud signals that God is present and for the second time in the New Testament (first at his Baptism and now at the Transfiguration of Jesus) the disciples hear the voice of God. God speaks!

“This is my Son.” In Luke God says, “whom I have chosen;” in Mark, “whom I love;” in Matthew, “whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Put the Greek words together that we are reading, and we get that God is affirming the unique, intentional, much beloved place of Jesus in the Godhead. Jesus shines with the brilliance of his own deity and glory. God his placing his affirming, stamp of approval on the personage of Jesus. Jesus is unique – divinely unique, and this reality pleases God to no end.

For a moment, Peter, James, and John get a glimpse of the divine Jesus in his full, eternal glory. Like at his baptism, a voice – this time from the cloud instead of the heavens – says this is my Son. And then a line that is included in all three Gospels, “Listen to Him!”

Jesus is turning his face towards Jerusalem. Jesus has told his disciples clearly and plainly that he is going to suffer, die, and be raised again. These disciples who have been watching Jesus do battle with the professionally religious time and time again….and win, now they are clearly expecting a triumphant, a conquering Messiah to go south to Jerusalem and reinstitute the glory of Israel!

Christus Victor, the victorious Jesus, the triumphant Messiah! The anointed conqueror of God!

But Jesus has just said that the faithful disciple must deny himself, pick up his own Cross, and walk that path of obedience, of service, of sacrifice. Faithful followers of Jesus must be willing to give up their own prerogatives, their own prestige, their own pretensions to power and instead find life in the humble pilgrimage of faith and obedience.

Friends, that is a hard message, isn’t it? We were all aboard, flags waving, fan boys and girls for Jesus when we think we are on the triumphant, conquering, victorious Jesus train. But sacrifice? Denial? Suffering?

And to this God says, “Listen to him! Listen to Him!” Pay attention. Yes, this will be on the test! Get this down!!! We must set our minds on the things of God – not the pretensions of humanity. We must set our feet on the path of Jesus wherever it might take us. We must set on hearts on obedience - not triumph, sacrifice – not accomplishment, faithfulness – not power, prestige, or self-aggrandizement.

The way of Jesus is not an easy path. The way of Jesus is not for the faint of heart but is, instead, for the convicted. Today we turn our face towards Jerusalem, we turn our face towards Lent. It will be a season to reflect, to repent, to embrace, and to LISTEN. Amen.