Worship Helps for Transfiguration

Artwork: Transfiguration of Christ

Artist: Giovanni Bellini

Worship Theme: Scripture says that Jesus only shone with glory once before his resurrection. That was on a high hill, where Peter, James and John had a terrifying look at Jesus’ perfect glory. One reason Jesus did it was to give his disciples a glimpse at what the future holds for all believers. The Twelve were about to enter a difficult time. They would see their Messiah crucified, but they would also see in the end that Jesus is our glorious Savior.

Old Testament: Exodus 34:29–35  

²⁹When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not realize that the skin of his face was shining because he had been speaking with the Lord. ³⁰When Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, they were amazed that the skin of his face was shining, so they were afraid to come close to him. ³¹Moses called to them, so Aaron and all the rulers of the community returned to him, and Moses spoke to them. ³²Afterward all the people of Israel came close to him, and he gave them all of the commands that the Lord had spoken to him on Mount Sinai. ³³When Moses was finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face. ³⁴But whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would take the veil off until he came out again. Then he would come out and tell the people of Israel what he had been commanded. ³⁵Whenever the people of Israel saw Moses’ face, they would see that the skin of Moses’ face was shining. Then Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with the Lord again.

1. What had happened to Moses’ face when he went to receive the two tablets of the Testimony on Mt. Sinai?

2. How did the people react?

3. What did Moses do to help relieve their anxiety?

Epistle: 2 Corinthians 1:18–22  

¹⁸As surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” ¹⁹For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us (by me, Silas, and Timothy), was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him the “Yes” stands firm. ²⁰In fact, as many promises as God has made, they have always been “Yes” in him. For that reason we also say “Amen” through him to the glory of God.

²¹God is the one who makes both us and you to be strong in Christ. He anointed us. ²²He sealed us as his own and gave us the Spirit as the down payment in our hearts.

4. Just as Moses covered his face with a veil, what problem did people of Paul’s day often face? (See 3:14-15)

5. How did being ministers of God’s new covenant make Paul and his companions feel? (See 4:1-2)

Gospel: Luke 9:28–36  

²⁸About eight days after he said these words, Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. ²⁹While he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothing became dazzling white. ³⁰Just then, two men, Moses and Elijah, were talking with him! ³¹They appeared in glory and were talking about his departure, which he was going to bring to fulfillment in Jerusalem.

³²Peter and those with him were weighed down with sleep, but when they were completely awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.

³³As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let’s make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He did not realize what he was saying.

³⁴While he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them. They were afraid as they went into the cloud. ³⁵Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” ³⁶After the voice had spoken, they found Jesus alone. They kept this secret and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen.

6. Who met Jesus and his disciples when they climbed this high mountain?

7. What happened to Jesus when they arrived?

8. What suggestion did Peter make in verse 33?

Answers:

1. Moses’ face began to reflect the glory of God.

2. Aaron and the people were afraid to come near Moses. Paul tells us that “the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory” (2 Corinthians 3:7). This is the natural reaction of sinful people to the glory of God (The disciples of Jesus would react the same way when he was transfigured before them [Mark 9:6]). Moses was eventually able to first coax the leaders back to him (Exodus 34:29) and then all the people (34:32).

3. Moses placed a veil over his face, which he took off whenever he went into the Lord’s presence.

4. People of Paul’s day who misunderstood God’s covenant to Israel through Moses had a “veil over their hearts.” They did not realize that the first covenant was temporary; it prepared for the permanent covenant in Christ’s blood.

5. Being ministers of God’s new covenant kept Paul and his companions from giving up, or from trying tricky ways to convert people. They simply set forth the truth about Christ plainly to people who would have to stand before God.

6. They met Moses and Elijah, who were generally considered by the Jews to be the two greatest prophets in the Old Testament.

7. Jesus was transfigured before their eyes. The Greek word is our English word: metamorphosis. This is what a caterpillar does when it changes into a beautiful butterfly. Its outward appearance changes dramatically. So also Jesus’ body underwent a metamorphosis, in which, while still being man, he shone with the glory of God.

8. Peter wanted to build shelters on the mountain for Jesus, Moses and Elijah, in order to preserve the glory of God for themselves. St. Luke suggests that Peter was speaking foolishly.

Putting your faith into action

Build a shelter for the God of the universe and for two men who already live in eternal paradise?  Peter’s idea came from a sleepy head. We know what that’s like, don’t we? Sometimes we get hair-brained ideas about how our church could do ministry. Now, it’s great to have ideas! But as we think them through, something important should emerge: What does this idea do for helping people listen to God’s Son? That, after all, is the Father’s main purpose for our ministry!

A reading from the Book of Concord for Transfiguration Sunday

So much depends upon God’s Word.  Without it, no holy day can be sanctified.  Therefore, we must know that God insists upon a strict observance of this command and will punish all who despise His Word and are not willing to hear and learn it, especially at the time appointed for the purpose.

It is not only the people who misuse and desecrate the holy day who sin against this commandment (those who neglect to hear God’s Word because of greed or frivolity or lie in taverns and are dead drunk like swine).  Even that other crowd sins [when] they listen to God’s Word like it was any other trifle and only come to preaching because of custom.  At the end of the year they know as little of God’s Word as at the beginning.  Up to now the opinion prevailed that you had properly hallowed Sunday when you had heard a Mass or the Gospel read.  But no one cared for God’s Word, and no one taught it.  Now that we have God’s Word, we fail to correct the abuse.  We allow ourselves to be preached to and admonished, but we do not listen seriously.

Know, therefore, that you must be concerned not only about hearing, but also about learning and retaining God’s Word in memory.  Do not think that this is optional for you or of no great importance.  Think that it is God’s commandment, who will require an account from you about how you have heard, learned, and honored His Word. – Large Catechism, Ten Commandments (paragraphs 95-98)

95  How Good, Lord, to Be Here

1  How good, Lord, to be here!

Your glory fills the night;

Your face and garments, like the sun,

Shine with unborrowed light.

2  How good, Lord, to be here

Your beauty to behold,

Where Moses and Elijah stand,

Your messengers of old.

3  Fulfiller of the past,

Promise of things to be,

We hail your body glorified

And our redemption see.

4  Before we taste of death,

We see your kingdom come;

We long to hold the vision bright

And make this hill our home.

5  How good, Lord, to be here!

Yet we may not remain;

But since you bid us leave the mount,

Come with us to the plain.

Text: Joseph A. Robinson, 1858–1933, alt.