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 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai
with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his
face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD. 30 When Aaron
and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to
come near him. 31 But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the
leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them. 32
Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands
the LORD had given him on Mount Sinai . 33
When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. 34
But whenever he entered the LORD's presence to speak with him, he removed the
veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he
had been commanded, 35 they saw that his face was radiant. Then
Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the
LORD.
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 4:3-6 And even
if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot
see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves
as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said, "Let
light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give
us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
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 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with
him and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the
appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of
lightning. 30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, 31 appeared in
glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he
was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem .
32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully
awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As
the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, "Master, it is good for us
to be here. Let us put up three shelters-- one for you, one for Moses and one
for Elijah." (He did not know what he was saying.) 34 While he
was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they
entered the cloud. 35 A voice came from the cloud, saying,
"This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him." 36
When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept
this to themselves, and told no one at that time what 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!
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)
Hymns for this Sunday: 712, 97, 95, 96, 369
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.
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