Transfiguration 2007

Todd A. Peperkorn, STM
Messiah Lutheran Church
Kenosha, Wisconsin
Transfiguration (January 28, 2007)
Matthew 17:1-9
For an audio MP3 of this sermon, please CLICK HERE

TITLE: “Some Things Never Change, and Some Things Do”

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text for today is the Transfiguration of our Lord from St. Matthew chapter seventeen.

“Some things in this world never change, but some things do.” So it goes in the movie.1 So it goes, also, with our Lord and with us. Some things never change, but some things do. Today we reflect upon the mountain of Transfiguration with our Lord, the day when He changed before the disciples very eyes, what this means for Him and what it means for us today.

Some things in this world never change. That is certainly true. Taxes, old age, growing up and growing out, all of these things and more may define our existence here. It is very easy to look at the world and believe that things don’t change, that they can’t change. Things can never be better than they are right now.

For of course, there is one thing that truly never changes. Sin. Sin permeates our bodies, minds and souls. It corrupts us. It defines us. We can’t escape it. It makes us want and do things we know we should not want. The changelessness of sin can actually wear you down. Give in. You know that it is still coming, and that the temptation will be the same tomorrow as it is today.

This changelessness of sin, this ever present force in our lives today can drive us to despair of our very futures. Where can I go from here? How can I get out of this pit which I have dug with my own hands? For sin, of course, always comes back to you. It is very predictable. ...Punishing the children for the sins of the fathers to the third and fourth generations of them that hate me, as the Scriptures say in the Close of the Commandments.2

Peter, James and John of course know all this. They know the Law. They were good Jews. The Jews of Jesus day were always plagued by the sins of the past, as it probably is today for them and for us. So when Peter, James and John, Jesus’ closest disciples, see him transfigured, or changed, on the mountain, what is their reaction? It shouldn’t surprise us too much. They don’t want to leave.

“Let’s setup camp right here, Lord! We’ll build three tents, one for each of you. And we’ll bask in your glorified presence forever.” No sins to deal with, no troubles with life, no sorrow or pain. They were willing to give it all up so that they could be freed from these things.

Now to be fair, can we really blame them? Who among us would like to be freed of all troubles, sorrows and heartaches, diseases and trials of every kind? It sounded like a dream come true. No more talk of the cross or death. ‘Tis Good, Lord, to be here, as the hymn echos the words of Peter.3 But right when Peter is pitching his deal to our Lord, something else happens. A bright cloud overshadows them, and a voice from the cloud says, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” (Matthew 17:5b)

Now where have we heard almost these exact same words before? Do you remember? At our Lord’s baptism as the Messiah of the entire world, the Holy Spirit came down in the form of a dove and alighted upon Him, and the Heavenly Father spoke from a cloud and said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17b) So the Baptism of our Lord and His Transfiguration are connected. Perhaps Peter, James and John didn’t make that connection. They were probably present at our Lord’s Baptism in the crowd, but they had forgotten the Father’s words, just as we so often do ourselves.

Jesus is Baptized the Messiah to take away the sins of the world. He is transfigured on the mountain to give them and us a glimpse of what the point of all of this is. For you remember, “Some things never change in this world, but some things do.” Our Lord’s purpose in drawing us to Him, embracing us with His love, and baptizing us is for a holy purpose. Our Lord wants to change us. He forgives your sins and draws you into His embrace so that the vision the disciples had on the mountain becomes a reality for you and I on the Last Day.

Our Lord’s love for you never changes, never wavers, doesn’t ebb and flow like the emotions we have or the circumstances of our lives. He loves you, and just as our heavenly Father is pleased with Him, in the very same way, our Father in heaven is pleased with you. Why? Because of the journey that Jesus’ took from the cradle to the font in the river to the mount of Transfiguration to Mount Calvary, to the empty tomb and back into heaven. That journey, you see, is our journey in Christ. We are changed by Him. It is true, we don’t see it or feel it. We are just as much sinners today as the day we were baptized. Yet at the same time we are saints, holy in His sight and beloved.

The trials of this day will end. From this mountain of transfiguration we can see Mount Calvary coming. Moses and Elijah came to speak with Jesus of this exodus, of this departure He would take. But there is a light at the end of that tunnel of darkness. The brightness of heaven awaits. Eternity with our Lord and with all those who die in the faith is on the way. “Rise, and have no fear,” Jesus says. You have nothing to fear. Yours sins are washed away and gone. Jesus has given you a glimpse of your future today. On the mountain, Mount Zion, with Him, forever. So come, eat His body and drink His blood, and live forever. “Some things never change in this world, but somethings do.” Thank God. In His name. Amen.

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in true faith, unto life everlasting. Amen.

1 The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions. Morpheus and Niobi.
2 Lutheran Service Book, p. 322.
3 Lutheran Service Book, 414, stanza 1.

[ top ]

Return to Transfiguration
This page was created on 01/28/2007 and last edited on: 01/28/2007

Main Menu

This Section

Transfiguration 2007


Main Menu Sitemap Recent Home Beliefs Liturgy and Preaching Parish Education Articles History Links Contact Pastor * Pastor's Blog Calendar Directions Photobook This Section Transfiguration 2007 Transfiguration - 2003 Transfiguration - 2002	Transfiguration 2007 Todd A. Peperkorn, STM Messiah Lutheran Church Kenosha, Wisconsin Transfiguration (January 28, 2007) Matthew 17:1-9 For an audio MP3 of this sermon, please CLICK HERE TITLE: “Some Things Never Change, and Some Things Do” Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text for today is the Transfiguration of our Lord from St. Matthew chapter seventeen. “Some things in this world never change, but some things do.” So it goes in the movie.1 So it goes, also, with our Lord and with us. Some things never change, but some things do. Today we reflect upon the mountain of Transfiguration with our Lord, the day when He changed before the disciples very eyes, what this means for Him and what it means for us today. Some things in this world never change. That is certainly true. Taxes, old age, growing up and growing out, all of these things and more may define our existence here. It is very easy to look at the world and believe that things don’t change, that they can’t change. Things can never be better than they are right now. For of course, there is one thing that truly never changes. Sin. Sin permeates our bodies, minds and souls. It corrupts us. It defines us. We can’t escape it. It makes us want and do things we know we should not want. The changelessness of sin can actually wear you down. Give in. You know that it is still coming, and that the temptation will be the same tomorrow as it is today. This changelessness of sin, this ever present force in our lives today can drive us to despair of our very futures. Where can I go from here? How can I get out of this pit which I have dug with my own hands? For sin, of course, always comes back to you. It is very predictable. ...Punishing the children for the sins of the fathers to the third and fourth generations of them that hate me, as the Scriptures say in the Close of the Commandments.2 Peter, James and John of course know all this. They know the Law. They were good Jews. The Jews of Jesus day were always plagued by the sins of the past, as it probably is today for them and for us. So when Peter, James and John, Jesus’ closest disciples, see him transfigured, or changed, on the mountain, what is their reaction? It shouldn’t surprise us too much. They don’t want to leave. “Let’s setup camp right here, Lord! We’ll build three tents, one for each of you. And we’ll bask in your glorified presence forever.” No sins to deal with, no troubles with life, no sorrow or pain. They were willing to give it all up so that they could be freed from these things. Now to be fair, can we really blame them? Who among us would like to be freed of all troubles, sorrows and heartaches, diseases and trials of every kind? It sounded like a dream come true. No more talk of the cross or death. ‘Tis Good, Lord, to be here, as the hymn echos the words of Peter.3 But right when Peter is pitching his deal to our Lord, something else happens. A bright cloud overshadows them, and a voice from the cloud says, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” (Matthew 17:5b) Now where have we heard almost these exact same words before? Do you remember? At our Lord’s baptism as the Messiah of the entire world, the Holy Spirit came down in the form of a dove and alighted upon Him, and the Heavenly Father spoke from a cloud and said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17b) So the Baptism of our Lord and His Transfiguration are connected. Perhaps Peter, James and John didn’t make that connection. They were probably present at our Lord’s Baptism in the crowd, but they had forgotten the Father’s words, just as we so often do ourselves. Jesus is Baptized the Messiah to take away the sins of the world. He is transfigured on the mountain to give them and us a glimpse of what the point of all of this is. For you remember, “Some things never change in this world, but some things do.” Our Lord’s purpose in drawing us to Him, embracing us with His love, and baptizing us is for a holy purpose. Our Lord wants to change us. He forgives your sins and draws you into His embrace so that the vision the disciples had on the mountain becomes a reality for you and I on the Last Day. Our Lord’s love for you never changes, never wavers, doesn’t ebb and flow like the emotions we have or the circumstances of our lives. He loves you, and just as our heavenly Father is pleased with Him, in the very same way, our Father in heaven is pleased with you. Why? Because of the journey that Jesus’ took from the cradle to the font in the river to the mount of Transfiguration to Mount Calvary, to the empty tomb and back into heaven. That journey, you see, is our journey in Christ. We are changed by Him. It is true, we don’t see it or feel it. We are just as much sinners today as the day we were baptized. Yet at the same time we are saints, holy in His sight and beloved. The trials of this day will end. From this mountain of transfiguration we can see Mount Calvary coming. Moses and Elijah came to speak with Jesus of this exodus, of this departure He would take. But there is a light at the end of that tunnel of darkness. The brightness of heaven awaits. Eternity with our Lord and with all those who die in the faith is on the way. “Rise, and have no fear,” Jesus says. You have nothing to fear. Yours sins are washed away and gone. Jesus has given you a glimpse of your future today. On the mountain, Mount Zion, with Him, forever. So come, eat His body and drink His blood, and live forever. “Some things never change in this world, but somethings do.” Thank God. In His name. Amen. The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in true faith, unto life everlasting. Amen. 1 The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions. Morpheus and Niobi. 2 Lutheran Service Book, p. 322. 3 Lutheran Service Book, 414, stanza 1.
	[ top ] Return to Transfiguration This page was created on 01/28/2007 and last edited on: 01/28/2007
	Username: Password: