Grace and Peace, from the One who is was and shall be, world without end.
Candy and I had an experience in St. Louis this past week. I want to thank Pastor Bob for preaching a Sunday ago so that we could attend all four days of the special called session of The General Conference of the United Methodist Church. The General Conference typically meets only once every four years. This special session was held to consider changes to our traditional stance of marriage being only between a man and a women in addition to allowing a person who is a self-avowed practicing homosexual be ordained.
The General Conference voted to uphold our current practices on both subjects. We passed the “traditional plan” meaning we will continue not performing same sex marriages and we will not ordain people who are self-avowed practicing homosexuals.
On both sides of the debate, many scripture filled speeches implored churches not use this vote as grounds to exclude any person from any church.
For you and I here in North Webster, Indiana, this means, nothing changes.
If you want to hear more about the decision, I invite you to listen to the live broadcast of our Bishop Julius Tremble talking about the decision today at 5:30 pm. I believe that the information is in your bulletin. If you want to watch the live feed on Facebook at home you can. If you would like to go to Mishawaka and listen to the live feed with our Conference Superintendent, Larry Whitehead, you may come to the church at 4:15 pm and we will car pool up to Coalbush United Methodist Church.
During our prayer time today, Pastor Candy will be reading a letter that the Council of Bishops requested to be read today in all of the United Methodist Churches.
Luke 9:28-43a
Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now 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. Just 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. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!" When 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.
On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. Just then a man from the crowd shouted, "Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It convulses him until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not." Jesus answered, "You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here." While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astounded at the greatness of God.
This morning I am going to push the concept of transformation. A very wise and faithful man once said, if fact he said it last week right here in this room, Bob Dailey preached, “But Jesus didn't come from heaven to earth to be reasonable. He came to be transformational. He came to make a difference. He came to change us and our world. And, to the extent that we follow his teachings, he does change us and our world.”
In the Gospel story from Luke that you heard read, Jesus – empowered by the knowledge that he is God’s beloved - is transformedand then becomes an agent of transformativelove in healing the boy. This is a story about transformationwhich is the hoped for outcome of the Church- the transformationof people into disciples and the transformationof the world into the Kingdom of God.
I would like to start with the ending of the sermon. Peter and the disciples are not transformed, they don’t “get it” (see Luke 9:43b-50). Therefore, because the good news has not changed them, they are unable to affect change in others.
So, I ask you a simple question, how has the good news changed you (and if it hasn’t-then perhaps we haven’t been sharing the good news)?
Another question to ask is how has this community of faith transformed the North Webster community?
How about a third question, what measurable ways will we transform our church and community in the future?
Eight days before Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” and disciples answered saying John the Baptist, Elijah, or another ancient prophet. Peter declares that Jesus is the Christ. Then Jesus warns of the rejection, death, and resurrection that is to come. Immediately before another warning about arrest and Luke writes to us that Jesus is “determined to go to Jerusalem.”
This story of transfiguration transitions us between Jesus’ Galilean ministry and journey to Jerusalem and Passion. This story transitions us from the birth narratives of Epiphany to Lent. The Transfiguration identifies one of five pivotal events of Jesus’ life: Baptism, Transfiguration, Crucifixion, Resurrection, Ascension.
We are told, “On the Eighth Day” Jesus went up the mountain to pray. ‘Eighth day’ could be allusion to Resurrection, which happened on the ‘eighth day’ – the day after the Sabbath. Also could be seen as the second ‘First Day.’ The start of a new week, a new creation. Fred Craddock points out that “As he was praying” confirms Jesus’ prayer life as an important part of his ministry. Linked to his baptism in Luke 3:21, where the Spirit comes “while he was praying.” For the Gospel of Luke think Spirit driven leadership through prayer. For the Book of Acts think Spirit driven community through prayer.
Linda Furtado[1]writes, that the disciples were not ready for what this time away with Jesus would bring, as he went for prayer. They knew they had journeyed up the mountain with Jesus. They had no expectation of seeing Jesus’ glory as he prayed. They lacked awareness and understanding of the mystery of Jesus’ chosenness. They could not comprehend that something was worthy of the wait on top of the mountain.
Peter, James and John, were overcome in their weariness. Then shock. Suddenly, they were shocked by the glory that shone brightly. The familiar experience of Jesus in prayer revealed a truth that they were too tired to process. Glory transformed the appearance of Jesus’ face. Glory transformed the appearance of Jesus’ cloths. Glory revealed the fulfillment of the Moses and Elijah in Jesus. Glory set the path Jesus would walk.
Peter is not sure what to do so he offers to build a booth for Jesus, for Moses, and for Elijah. Curiously, this glory is not bound to the persons of Jesus, Moses, and Elijah, and cannot be restricted to “dwell in houses made with hands” (see Acts 7:48-50). Jesus is the light of the world, the glory God.
After the shine dulls, Jesus remained. The disciples senses returned. The dulling may have been more then just the light having gone out. In Peter, we see how the disciples seemed to be dull, to have missed something. Proof of their lack of “getting it” comes as soon as they return to the crowds. Perhaps a lesson for Peter, James, John, you and I, is not so much about understanding. Perhaps it’s more about: Trust God. Look to Jesus. Bring the power.
Peter and the disciples are not transformed, they don’t “get it” (see Luke 9:43b-50). Therefore, because the good news has not changed them, they are unable to affect change in others. His disciples could not heal the son who was brought to Jesus from among the crowd, and Jesus did not mince words in his frustration.
Jesus does something his disciples should have been able to do. As a disciple of Jesus, we are to be faithful to God and committed to people, that we may “make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world” by God’s power. If we like the disciples remain dull, if we don’t get it, if we remain unchanged by the good news, we cannot affect change in others. We cannot make disciples of Jesus Christ. We are not a part of transforming the world.
The transfiguration of Jesus need not be left for the mountain-top experience. Disciples bring the transfiguration to people.
If we concern ourselves with following Christ, then we may live by faith and lead people to do the same.
By faith, we will be ready whenever God’s glory shines, no matter how sudden and no matter how brightly.
The disciples who could not heal the boy taught us that being present is not enough.
Knowing of the needs of the people we encounter is not enough.
We do more than look around for God’s glory to shine.
We are to bring the transforming power of Jesus to people.
Peter and the disciples are not transformed, they don’t “get it” (see Luke 9:43b-50). Therefore, because the good news has not changed them, they are unable to affect change in others. So, I ask you a simple question, how has the good news changed you?
How has this community of faith transformed the North Webster community?
What measurable ways will we transform our church and community in the future?
Eternal God,
you revealed to the disciples
the everlasting glory of Jesus Christ.
Grant us, who have not seen and yet believe,
the gift of your Holy Spirit,
that we may boldly live the gospel
and shine with your transforming glory,
as people changed and changing
through the redeeming presence of our Savior. Amen.
[1]Linda Furtado is the wife of Rev. Jefferson Furtado and mother of Sueli, Cintia, and Emma Furtado. She is a member of Belmont United Methodist Church, a United Methodist General Agency staff person, and a seminary student at Asbury Theological Seminary in the process to become ordained as an elder in The United Methodist Church. Learn more about Linda on her website www.MusicaLinda.net.
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