Title: Jesus only!
Text: Mark 9:2-9
7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” 8 And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.
Dear friends in Christ,
St Francis had this to say about the pride of man:
“Some men become proud and insolent because they ride a fine horse, wear a feather in their hat or are dressed in a fine suit of clothes. Who does not see the folly of this? If there be any glory in such things, the glory belongs to the horse, the bird and the tailor.”
St. Francis de Sales.
Jesus took Peter, John and James and went up on a mountain. In other accounts of the transfiguration we are told that Jesus went up to pray. Not an unusual thing for our Lord to do. However, on this trip up the mountain the crowds that would have usually been following Him would be nowhere to be found.
You know the crowds; the ones who had followed Jesus; the ones who had sought healing and to have demons cast out. There were also the thousands, who had been fed by the loaves and a few fish.
These crowds were nowhere to be found. It was just Jesus and three of His closest disciples, Peter, John and James who went up on the mountain … but as it had been many times before it was Jesus only who was praying. The others it appears were asleep. How do we know this? Well, Luke in his transfiguration account tells us:
29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, (Luke 9:29a)
And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.
The Jews had been released from bondage in Egypt; being led by Moses for forty years, in the desert, before entering the Promised Land. This same Moses is now speaking with a glorified Jesus who will soon take His own Exodus (ἔξοδος) heading towards Jerusalem, the Cross and death - a death that will ultimately lead to freedom from sin, death and the power of the Devil for you and me all who are brought to faith by the power of the Holy Spirit’s work and believe. This reconciliation of God and man is only made possible by the once and for all atoning sacrifice of the God/man himself Jesus Christ.
It is Jesus only … who brings this peace to you!
Moses, the Law giver who carried the tablets of stone, etched by the finger of God and the requirements that God has set … all of which we are unable to keep fully… is now in the presence of the disciples Jesus has brought with Him, standing with Elijah the prophet, who pointed towards the coming Messiah - Jesus Christ himself - now transfigured on the mountain … and we read:
5 And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here.
St. Francis pointed out that men become prideful of themselves because of the things that they have, the clothes they wear or the horse they ride that are not of themselves, but are added to them to give an appearance of glory.
Jesus Christ, on the other hand, has to remove the cover of His humanity to reveal the true glory that is His and his alone … but has now been veiled for a time from the eyes of the world. Though Jesus is fully God and fully man he reveals this truth to these disciples as he is transfigured before them.
Peter continues …
Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified.
To be there in the presence of a glorified Jesus; a preview of the resurrected Christ … drawing both the Old and New Testament focus together upon Himself … both the Law and the Prophets, here fulfilled, in Jesus only.
We all fail to recognize the true glory of Jesus, at times seeing only a good man who can be an example for us to follow. But what did Peter say, just a few short paragraphs earlier in Mark’s gospel in chapter 8 when Jesus asked the disciples:
“Who do people say that I am?” 28 And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” 29 And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.”
Peter’s confession that Jesus is “the Christ” didn't help him understand fully what our Lord had to do in turning his face toward Jerusalem; knowing all too well that what awaited Him was the Chief Priests and Scribes, rejection by the people, a trial, guilty verdict and death on a Cross – and all this for you.
As Jesus is transfigured, Peter is thinking about building tents - building tents? It could be that Peter was just very confused by what was happening or in some way wanted to preserve what was happening and contain the glory of God as the children of Israel desired to do in the wilderness. Tents or no tents, Peter concludes, “It is good that we are here.”
7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” 8 And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.
As they were standing in the presence of our Holy Lord, covered in their sin, they were terrified … and who wouldn't be, for anyone who relies upon themselves and their own righteousness would be a fool.
But many play the fool, trusting in themselves, or listening to the ways of the world that lead away from the glory of Jesus and his gift of faith and life in him which is promised for you.
9 And as they were coming down the mountain, [Jesus] charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
… until the proper time …
Many times we all fall silent. We miss the mark and opportunity to share the Good News with others and to joyfully compel, Friend, neighbor, relative, Co-worker, and all who are in need of the same forgiveness that you and I have received from Jesus only, crucified for you with the blessed assurance of eternity in Heaven with Him forever.
Thank and praise God daily that Jesus didn't miss His mark! Thank and praise Him that you can listen to Him in His word proclaimed and His word preserved in the writings of Holy Scripture. Thank God you can partake of His body and Blood given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. Thank and praise God that the Cross was His mark and His destination. Thank Him that he fulfilled his goal as He resolutely headed towards Jerusalem, the Cross and death where He received the full wrath of God poured out upon Jesus and only Jesus as He suffered and died on this Cross of redemption for you!
His crucifixion and death satisfied God’s justice for the sins of the world and his death brought freedom for you and all who by faith trust in his saving work. His death released you from the guilt of your sin, even though you may at times still carry those burdens failing to cast all your cares upon Him.
His death on Calvary accomplishes all of this because on the third day … He rose … in the glory of His resurrected body, transfigured, and incorruptible for you. And so will you - and so will all who name the name of Jesus Christ having been brought to faith by the power of the Holy Spirit, knowing that in your Baptism you were washed clean in the blood of the Lamb given and shed for you!
“It is good that we are here.” It is truly good, that through Jesus only and his suffering and death at the Cross and glorious resurrection on the third day that we can be made sons and daughters of our heavenly Father by faith … in him.
Johann Sebastian Bach the great composer once said, "All music should have no other end and aim than the glory of God and the soul's refreshment; where this is not remembered there is no real music but only a devilish hub-bub."
At the beginning of his compositions he wrote:
"Jesus help me."
He ended them "S.D.G."
"To God alone the praise."
Kingdom Conflict, J. Stowell, Victor, 1985, p. 77ff.
May our Lord and savior Jesus Christ who has redeemed you, through the power of the Holy Spirit calling you to faith, comfort you with this blessed Good News now and forever!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit
Amen
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