Text: 2 Peter 1:16-21
Facebook live: We were eyewitnesses!
16b but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.
On Oct. 15, 1783, the Montgolfier brothers launched a balloon on a tether with Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier, a chemistry and physics teacher, aboard.
He stayed aloft for almost 4 minutes, according to Encyclopedia Britannica.
And about a month later, on Nov. 21, Pilâtre de Rozier and the Marquis d'Arlandes, a French military officer, made the first free ascent in a hot air balloon.
Remember this is 1783!
The pair flew from the center of Paris to the suburbs, about 5.5 miles, which took about 25 minutes.
Benjamin Franklin wrote in his journal about witnessing the balloon take off:
"We observed it lift off in the most majestic manner. When it reached around 250 feet [76 m] in altitude, the intrepid voyagers lowered their hats to salute the spectators. We could not help feeling a certain mixture of awe and admiration."
https://www.space.com/16595-montgolfiers-first-balloon-flight.html
St. Peter writes in our epistle for today:
16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
There is much to be considered here but also much that is said. The idea for many in our day and at the time of the apostles is that somehow these stories and accounts of Jesus were made up, didn’t happen, or were greatly exaggerated. Peter says a mouthful when he says,
,but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 2 Peter 16b
Today we celebrate the Transfiguration of our Lord or as our bulletin says :
“The dazzling array of light at the Lord’s transfiguration makes known that Jesus supersedes even Moses and Elijah … and all the prophets [who] were sent to point us to Jesus.”
17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.
Not a story you might hear or read about or speculate about without substance or evidence.
But Jesus … Transfigured … and Peter saw it with the others, and heard the very voice of God from heaven.
Now the word of the Lord in our Old Testament lesson for today coveys a powerful picture:
16 The glory of the LORD dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud.
17 Now the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel.
18 Moses entered the cloud and went up on the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights. Exodus 24:16-17
Here in the transfiguration, the convergence of the Old and New Testaments come together. Moses and the book of the Law and Elijah along with Jesus who is the fulfillment of the Law and the prophets … come together …
and Peter is an eyewitness … an eyewitness of his majesty transfigured.
Peter, as he is writing is an old man. Reasonable dating for this epistle is 68 AD. It has been almost 40 years since the crucifixion. Peter may be in his early 70s and he is preparing to depart this earthly tent saying just previously to our epistle:
13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, 14 since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.
It is Peter’s hope to leave a lasting impression for the church so that - after [his] departure - you may be able at any time to recall these things.
That is Peter’s focus here as he recounts his presence with the Lord.
17 For when [Jesus] received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.
This presence with Christ remained clear for Peter.
But Peter is clear here also, that he heard God’s Majestic voice and saw Jesus transfigured as his glory and honor were revealed because he along with the others [James and John] were with him on the holy mountain.
In Peter’s account the value of his eyewitness reporting is of much greater importance. He says in verse 15 one verse before our epistle for today:
15 And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.
He writes this so that when he is gone the value of his knowledge and witness might be made known then and now through his prophetic witness as he points us to the scriptures.
In our day questions arise about God.
Where is he?
Is he in the world?
Has he created this place and then departed to leave us to fend for ourselves?
If he is a loving God, why does he allow suffering?
What God created perfect has been broken and corrupted by the fall into sin.
Through sin, death has come.
It is written on the hearts of his creatures, and evident in His creation, but by the Law we only come to know sin and how far we fall short.
But, by God’s Holy Spirit bestowing faith through His means of word and sacrament, we know Him as a loving God and His saving love for you and for me which is given in his Son our Lord Jesus.
As we gather where he has promised to be, and His gifts are given, we receive the blessed forgiveness and know the Good News that you and I have the favor of God on account of Christ by faith in Him.
C.S. Lewis makes a wonderful point when he wrote:
Believing things 'on authority' only means believing them because you have been told them by someone you think trustworthy …
… Every historical statement is believed on authority. None of us has seen the Norman Conquest or the defeat of the Spanish Armada.
Or, I might add, the ascent of the first balloon ride in France.
But we believe them simply because people who did see them have left writings that tell us about them; in fact, on authority.
A person who balked at authority in other things, as some people do in religion, would have to be content to know nothing all his life.
C.S. Lewis.
19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,
Peter brings to his hearers and us what God’s means is … his holy and prophetic word.
Do you believe it?
Do you trust it?
Peter says this word was not something made up but was given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
20 knowing this first of all that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation.
21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
God’s word says Jesus was transfigured before them in our Gospel reading for today.
God’s voice says:
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”
6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” 8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
Friends,
God wants you to see no one but Jesus.
If you harbor doubt … let God lead you into His light by His word.
Trust the prophetic words of the eyewitnesses.
Do not live in unbelief anymore … but believe.
The word became flesh and dwelt among us.
Joy in the truth of the eyewitnesses, that your sins are forgiven by the one who was and is and is to come.
Through sin, death has come.
It is written on the hearts of his creatures, and evident in His creation, but by the Law we only come to know sin and how far we fall short.
But, by God’s Holy Spirit bestowing faith through His means of word and sacrament, we know Him as a loving God and His saving love for you and for me which is given in his Son our Lord Jesus.
As we gather where he has promised to be, and His gifts are given, we receive the blessed forgiveness and know the Good News that you and I have the favor of God on account of Christ by faith in Him.
C.S. Lewis makes a wonderful point when he wrote:
Believing things 'on authority' only means believing them because you have been told them by someone you think trustworthy …
… Every historical statement is believed on authority. None of us has seen the Norman Conquest or the defeat of the Spanish Armada.
Or, I might add, the ascent of the first balloon ride in France.
But we believe them simply because people who did see them have left writings that tell us about them; in fact, on authority.
A person who balked at authority in other things, as some people do in religion, would have to be content to know nothing all his life.
C.S. Lewis.
19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,
Peter brings to his hearers and us what God’s means is … his holy and prophetic word.
Do you believe it?
Do you trust it?
Peter says this word was not something made up but was given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
20 knowing this first of all that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation.
21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
God’s word says Jesus was transfigured before them in our Gospel reading for today.
God’s voice says:
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”
6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” 8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
Friends,
God wants you to see no one but Jesus.
If you harbor doubt … let God lead you into His light by His word.
Trust the prophetic words of the eyewitnesses.
Do not live in unbelief anymore … but believe.
The word became flesh and dwelt among us.
Joy in the truth of the eyewitnesses, that your sins are forgiven by the one who was and is and is to come.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit
Amen
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