The sermon for January 20 was based on Matthew 17:1-9.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Soon after St. Peter gave his good confession, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God," Jesus took him and James and John up on a mountain where they would have a tremendous revelation of the Christ, the Son of the living God. How blessed they were to be there on the Mount of Transfiguration! It is no wonder that Peter said, "How good, Lord, to be here!" The Lord Jesus - the Son of God from eternity and the Son of Man born of Mary - was transfigured, showing the Glory that was His from all eternity. These three disciples gained a glimpse of that Glory while they were still in this world. In the midst of this world's life, Peter, James and John had a mountaintop experience.

That's all fine and good for them, but what about you? Where do you get a mountaintop glimpse of the Glory of God? You know the answer; that is why you are here today. This sanctuary is the mountain that Jesus has invited you to ascend with Him today. This room is where you hear the voice of the Father's beloved Son. This sacred place has been set aside as a place where God's people are invited to gather and hear of hope despite all the valleys of darkness in life and in death.

Here is where you enter into the presence of the living Lord simply by gathering in the Name of the Triune God Who came into your life through Baptism and Who graciously reveals Himself wherever His people have gathered in His Name. When you say your "amen" to the Invocation, you are simply saying, "How good, Lord, to be here!"

Then you confess that such a poor, miserable, wretched sinner is not worthy to be in the presence of the holy, perfect, righteous, sin-hating God. The disciples did the same when they fell on their faces in fear. Therefore you stand outside the holy of holies and confess your sinful condition. Then you receive God's complete, total, gracious, free forgiveness in Christ, proclaimed by the called undershepherd and steward of the mysteries of God. With that Absolution, you are invited to enter His gates with thanksgiving by the words of the Introit, "How amiable are Thy tabernacles: my soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord. Ah, it is most certainly true to say, "How good, Lord, to be here!"

Following the words of entrance, the singing of all glory to the Holy Trinity, the three-fold petition of mercy, the singing of glory to God on high, you hear the Word of God. The Old Testament is read and the people of God hear from Moses and the prophets - listening to what the Lord did through Elijah and others.

Jesus said to Peter, James and John, "Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead." Following the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus, these apostles proclaimed that this Jesus is the Christ, crucified for the sins of all people of all times and risen from the dead. They did so by word of mouth and also by the written Word. These apostolic writings the New Testament Scriptures and portions of their correspondence are read in the Epistle Reading every Sunday. Thus, you are able and privileged to hear the very Word of God. Truly you join with Peter in confessing, "How good, Lord, to be here!"

While the disciple was still speaking a bright cloud overshadowed them and a Voice from the cloud said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces, and were filled with fear. Listening to Jesus is a blessed directive given to the Church by God the Father. Therefore, at the reading of the Holy Gospel, you stand to listen to the Savior and to hear of Him Who came into the world to suffer in your stead and to die in your place. Listening to the Incarnate Word, you ought to be filled with awe and wonder, for these writings are the very Word of God scribed with His finger through the hands of the four Evangelists.

Is it any wonder that the Church, following these Words from the Holy Scriptures, remains standing to declare what She believes, teaches and confesses? - to state, in the words of the Creed, what the Bride of Christ declares to be Her life, Her hope, Her peace, Her comfort, and Her Lord? Is it so surprising for the individual Christian to stand and say, "This is what I believe and I will suffer all things, even death, rather than fall away from the Lord God Almighty Who has done great things for me!"?

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead." The message of the resurrection of Jesus has gone forth from the empty tomb and has been proclaimed to the ends of the earth and throughout the centuries. The announcement, "Christ is risen!" has gone forth and been received in the hearts of people when and where the Holy Spirit wills. People have been brought into the Church and have, from pulpits of all kinds, sizes and types - from pulpits in caves, cabins and cathedrals - the people of God have heard the Good News of Christ incarnate, transfigured, crucified, risen and ascended. Faithful undershepherds of Jesus and apostolic pastors have declared to people the Law that accuses and condemns, and the Gospel that comforts and consoles - that the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal Life in Jesus Christ our Lord.

That is what you hear every Sunday from this pulpit. Whether from Pastor Varsogea's lips, or from mine, you hear just enough Law to frighten you and scare your heart because of God's wrath against sin, and then you hear more than enough Gospel to comfort and quiet your soul because of God's love for you.

When on that holy mountain, immersed in the holy cloud and having heard the Voice of the Father, the disciples fell on their faces, and were filled with fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Arise, and do not be afraid." To you also, the Father has said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" And what does the Son's Voice say? "This is My Body, given for you; This is My Blood, shed for you for the forgiveness of all your sins." Here, kneeling before this holy altar and having been touched by Jesus, even upon your mouth, you are hearing Him say, "Arise, and do not be afraid." Finally, as this Divine Service ends, you stand before this baptismal font and receive the Benediction, where the Lord's face shines on you and the Lord is gracious to you and grants you peace. And so you add your "amen" and say, "How good, Lord, to be here!"

Peter, James, and John were given this special revelation because there was much ahead for them. They could not stay on the mountain forever. The Transfiguration vision was a good thing for them as they were going down into the valleys of the shadow of death. The Lord was preparing them for what was ahead. All three of these men who witnessed the height of the Transfiguration also were witnesses in the Garden of Gethsemane. They didn't go out alone against the world. Jesus would be with them later, following His Death and Resurrection and said in His promise, "Lo, I am with you always to the very end of the age." Even after His Ascension, He is still with them, and with you, not just in spirit, but in His Body and Blood, to strengthen and preserve you in the one, true Faith, even unto life everlasting.

When you ascend this holy mountain in the Name of the Lord who comes to you through Word and Sacrament, it is good to do so. You are forgiven of your sins, assured of that forgiveness, reassured of your Lord's love, and strengthened in the Faith. You declare your confession of that Faith before God and your neighbors, and proclaim Christ's Name as you await His return. When you rise from these pews and exit this holy place, your steps do not take you immediately to eternal glory, but rather back to your station in life - mother, father, son, daughter, student, worker, or whatever. You have loved ones to care for and often they have to care for you. There are diseases to suffer and burdens to bear. You do not pitch your tent here on the mount; rather, you live your life out there on the plain.

But having heard your Lord here, having been touched by Him and filled with Him, He is with you in no matter what situation you find yourself, no matter where you are. You will walk through valleys of the shadow of death. Satan will accuse you and try to snatch you away from Christ. There will be troubles and disappointments and challenges. In the face of such battles on the plains, such war in the trenches and valleys where the forces of darkness overshadow you, know that you can be a frequent traveler to this mountain where you have ascended today in the Name of the Lord. Then, having been forgiven and strengthened by Christ, you will sing with St. Peter, "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." Amen.

The Peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Last Updated: 7/15/2008