Jesus Only

Sunday will be Transfiguration Sunday 2011. As I have Children's Church duties I will not be sharing the sermon/teaching this week. I will share it here instead.

The Transfiguration according to St. Matthew (17.1-9, NIV)

¹ After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. ² There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. ³ Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. ⁴ Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” ⁵ While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” ⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” ⁸ When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. ⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

This episode in the life of our Lord involves the inner circle of Christ-followers: Peter, James and John. They experience a clear revelation of Jesus. During the vision, Moses and Elijah appear and talk with Jesus.

Moses and Elijah. Two icons of the Jewish faith.

Moses the law-giver, the writer of the the Pentateuch. He promised another prophet like himself would "be raised up" from among the people. He lead the people from slavery to the promised land. He was a deliverer.

Elijah was the prophet's prophet. He called fired down, prayed the rain to dry up and raised the dead to life again. He lead the people to worship the One, True God. He was caught up in a fiery chariot.

These two together might represent the Law and the Prophets, a first-century short-hand for the Hebrew Scriptures.

The inner circle saw them with Jesus. Then they heard the Divine Voice cry, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased. Listen to him!" They fainted in ecstasy and fear.

When they revived they saw JESUS ONLY. Only Jesus can help us. Only Jesus is declared God's Son and worthy to hear. We need to center our lives on JESUS ONLY. He will help us understand the Law and Prophets. He will guide us.