Sermon Tone Analysis

Series

Main Text

[Scripture Introduction]

Today we want to move from looking into the subject of God the Father into God the Son, in preparation for the coming series on #RememberingChrist leading to Easter.

For that purpose, we will be looking into “The Transfiguration.”

The word “transfiguration” could be a mouthful, but it’s really a struggle to translate into English to a more layman word.

The root “μεταμορφόω” literally means transform, transfigure, or a change of appearance from inside out (as MSG says).

We often hear about this story in the gospel, but have you ever wondered why is there a need for a “private retreat” that Jesus brought his disciples to this somewhat “cryptic” journey up and down the mountain, which they are supposed to keep it secret what they encountered until the resurrection?

Today’s message will help us understand how this story brings us gifts as heirs of God, as we journey on to Easter, and as we face our everyday living.

[creating a hook]

[Prayer for illumination] Pray with me.

[Introduction]

I recall the first time when we found out that my wife, Wendy was pregnant with our firstborn in 2013, we were so excited.

We started talking about the gender: Would it be a boy or a girl?

In our minds (not sure if that’s typically Chinese), we wished our first child was a boy, we started thinking of a boy’s name, we even looked at the tummy shape and convinced ourselves that…Oh it must be a boy!

But the 2nd trimester arrived, doctor told us from several scans that most probably is a girl, because there was no sign of a male child.

And so, we started to sit with and take in the news.

Our expectations had to be shifted.

We started preparing ourselves to welcome the arrival of our baby girl, Elize.

Now how many of us are familiar with that kind of situation or feeling, whereby a certain expectation had to be adjusted or even crushed, and we find it rather challenging to accept Plan B because Plan A meant so much to us?

And we often question God WHY? [FCF]

It was the same for Peter and the disciples.

Peter has just had that “eureka” moment of confessing Jesus as the Messiah!

It was that moment they thought they had just “leveled up.”

And just like a school teacher starting a new chapter, Jesus taught them a new lesson, except… the new lesson wasn’t just that there might be danger ahead; the new lesson was that Jesus had to walk straight into danger.

Mk 8:31

(NIV)

It wasn’t 50-50, it was a confirmed death!

Definitely, this wasn’t what Peter and the rest had in mind.

They may not have thought of Jesus as a military leader, but they certainly didn’t think of him heading straight to his death.

It was at this point that the 3 disciples followed Jesus up to the Mount of Transfiguration.

But what is it for?

[Scripture bond]

It wasn’t 50-50, it was a confirmed death!

It was as if Liverpool captain telling the team that he intended to let ManU score 10 goals right away.

Or vice versa.

This wasn’t what Peter and the rest had in mind.

They may not have thought of Jesus as a military leader, but they certainly didn’t think of him heading straight to his death.

It was at this point that the 3 disciples followed Jesus up to the Mount of Transfiguration.

But why? [Scripture bond]

You see [Proposition]

The transfiguration of Christ centred around his passion (=suffering) and his resurrection brings us gifts to live as heirs of God.

So let’s allow the transfiguration of Christ to help us see his glory, to hear his voice and to live his life.

[Main Point 1]

The transfiguration of Christ helps us SEE HIS GLORY.

The disciples’ expectation about their Master has just been shattered when Jesus talked about his passion.

Maybe they were confused, frustrated and perhaps thinking about giving up.

But at the Transfiguration, they saw the full extent of Jesus’ glory, that brings them a revelation of who Jesus really is, a reflection of how they have misunderstood him, and a rededication of their lives to follow him, however limited their minds were able to grasp.

Let me unpack a little.

[Subpoint 1]

Why do we need to see his glory?

Because it gives us a revelation of who Jesus really is.

If you were the disciples, who would you say Jesus is?

Up to this point, the best answer given by Peter was “You are the Messiah.”

But it is one thing to give the correct answer, it is quite another to have the right understanding in mind.

10 years ago, apple is a fruit.

10 years later, apple can be a device!

Cool (He’s so cool!) can mean hot, hot can mean cool.

Sick (This is so sick, man!) can mean not sick, not sick can mean quite sick.

Mark wrote that…

2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone.

There he was transfigured before them.

3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.

4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

Just as Moses brought his closest assistant, Joshua up to Mount Sinai, and after 6 days God called Moses into the clouds to give him the 10 Commandments (), here 6 days later, Jesus also led his 3 closest disciples up on the high mountain to show them a new perspective—his divine form.

This could not be a coincidence.

If Moses was the receiver of the old covenant at the formation of a new nation, called Israel, then Jesus is now the giver of the New Covenant at the formation of a new community of faith/a new Israel, called the Church.

So who is Jesus?

Jesus is “the Messiah, the Son of God” () As the Messiah, he is God’s Chosen One to establish the kingdom of God.

And as the Son of God, he is God’s only Son, who has now come to offer himself gladly and willingly to be sacrificed, for the sins of mankind.

Friends, the kingdom of God opens its chapter with the necessary removal of our sins through the death of Jesus Christ, the Son of God! Contrary to what most people think, God is not the great superhero Messiah who comes to kick off the evil villains to save the few, he is the Suffering Messiah who comes to die for his own creation, to save them all!

[Subpoint 2]

That deserves a reflection from the world—what have we been thinking?

Peter was so concerned about following the right guy so that he can be his right-hand man!

That is why when Jesus predicted about his death and suffering…He said, “Choi!!!

So not auspicious to talk about dying at this festive season!

Jesus you are the Messiah!

The Messiah doesn’t do dying and suffering.

The Messiah is supposed to kick out the Romans, silence them and show them who’s the real boss here!”

Jesus turned and looked at all his puzzled disciples and said, “Get behind me, Satan!

You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

()

So often we approach God with our certain expectation, but when our expectations are shaken, we become upset with God…But hey, it’s not about us, or how/what we want Jesus to do! It’s the opposite!

Eugene Peterson paraphrased one of Jesus’ words as this, “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead.

You’re not in the driver’s seat.”

(, MSG) So get back to your own seats and let the driver takes you.

[Subpoint 3]

When we see the glory of Jesus, we can press on in rededication of our motives to him.

You see, sometimes God has to bring us higher, in order to see things clearer.

We often hear this in our church lingo “let us encounter God in worship/in prayer/in the word.”

Why do we need that?

Not so that we feel more “levelled up” spiritually.

It’s so that we can trust him fuller + follow him tighter!

It’s to become more dedicated to Jesus.

[Illustration]

René Daumal once wrote about mountain-climbing:

“You cannot stay on the summit forever; you have to come down again.

So why bother in the first place?

Just this: What is above knows what is below, but what is below does not know what is above.

One climbs, one sees.

One descends, one sees no longer, but one has seen.