Sermons

The Transfiguration
Sunday 6th August at 8am and 6.30pm

Kathryn Elliott
Readings: Daniel 7 9-10,13-14, Luke 9 28- 36

'Suddenly blinding, white lightning flashed across my eyes. It appeared as if the entire air sparked. Through my closed eyes I saw an intensely shining white colour… a jolt of clapping thunder came…
A fantastic mushroom cloud rose before us…its colour changed from grey to black to purple to white to rose. Glittering white steam, fumes, black smoke belched out like a volcano craze' (Kahchi Akira, Sunday Times 19. 12. 99)

That description is not one of Daniel's visions in the Old Testa-ment. It is a detailed account of an actual event- the first use of an atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima exactly 61 years ago.

Tragically despite the horrific effects and loss of life, nuclear weapons continue to be made and war is daily on our news.

Martin Luther King once said. 'There is so much frustration in the world because we have relied on gods rather than God. We have genuflected before the god of science only to find that it has given us the atomic bomb, producing fears and anxieties that science can never mitigate. We have worshipped the god of pleasure, we have bowed to the gods of money… these transitory gods are not able to save or truly bring happiness to the human heart. Only God is able. It is faith in him that we must rediscover…'

Who is this God who Martin Luther King wants us to put our faith in? The fact that you and I are here in church today suggests that we do believe in God and we shall voice our belief when we say our affirmation of faith during this service.

We have each experienced something of God's presence in our lives- but there is so much more of God's character and personhood to discover, to be thrilled by and to respond to. A prayful study of today's Bible readings will help us to do that, to gain more insight into how glorious our God is.

The book of Daniel was written to encourage God's people during the years 539-530 BC when they were attacked and persecuted by successive empires. God's sovereignty is, despite the upheavals of oppression a recurring theme and Daniel's visions show God as triumphant.

The images in Daniel 7 depict a majestic God: He's the Ancient of Days, that is, 'one who had been living forever.' His throne is mounted on fiery wheels, light and fire surrounds him. He has authority over millions of people and it appeared to Daniel that a judgement was about to take place. What a majestic awesome God.

Another figure emerges in Daniel's vision- ' One who looked like a human being; and certainly one worthy to be entrusted with unimaginable responsibility because ' he was given authority, honour and royal power' and people of all nations, races and languages would serve and worship him (v.14). The crucial point is that he brings God's justice decisively and forever. This would have greatly encouraged God's people at their time of suffering and bewilderment.

These images in Daniel's vision are part of the Old Testament backdrop to our understanding of the transfiguration of Jesus for it is in Jesus that the complex array of Old Testament prophecies find fulfilment. Jesus is God's response to his people's hopes and fears over the centuries and today. In Luke's account of the transfiguration we are given at least three indications of Jesus' identity and importance:-

1. Jesus is the royal Son of God.
2. Jesus is the chosen one of God.
3. Jesus is the prophet of God.

Dazzling white clothing is the feature of heavenly figures in scripture so this transformation of Jesus would have brought to mind references like Daniel 7 and affirmed Jesus' unique relationship with God. Notice that God's very voice affirmed who Jesus is 'This is my son'

Jesus is further affirmed with the words 'whom I have chosen.' So Jesus is the one anointed by God to save his people. The words are reminiscent of the description in Isaiah 42v.1

'Here is my servant, whom I uphold
My chosen one in whom I delight
I will put my spirit on him
And he will bring justice to the nations.'

Like the servant in Isaiah Jesus will suffer humiliation and death before vindication.

We read of Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus- like them he is a prophet: as Moses led God's people out of the bondage in Egypt Jesus is about to accomplish another 'Exodus'- namely our salvation and freedom from the bondage of our human sin and frailty. So Jesus is the one who has lived among us given himself for us and saved us.

Let's recap the aspects of God we've covered: -
He's surrounded by light and glory, he has majesty and sovereignty, he responds to his people. He's given Jesus power and authority. He commands us to listen to Jesus who is our prophet, God's Royal Son and his Chosen One.

We learn that Peter was overwhelmed as he witnessed Jesus' transfiguration and responded with the desire to capture the experience by building shrines as the Israelites had done in the wilderness to celebrate the glory of God. But there was no need of 3 shrines because the divine glory rested in Jesus; 'Listen to him,' is the response called for from the disciples and in Daniel we read of all people responding in worship.

May we also rejoice and carry the words of Charles Wesley with us into the coming week: -
Thee we would be always blessing
Save thee as thy hosts above
Pray and praise thee without ceasing
Glory in thy perfect love.

© St Edmund's Church, Roundhay