There’s No Doubt! Jesus Is the One!

Last Sunday after Epiphany, The Transfiguration of Our Lord, 2/10/13
Luke 9:26-38

There’s No Doubt! Jesus Is the One!
I. See his glory.
II. Hear his Father.
III. Listen to his word.

We romantically think that there was a time when we could take a person at his or her word. We could trust what they say to be the truth. That might have been true on the surface of things, but if you drill down deep enough in any era of history, you’ll find the opposite. Ever since the fall into sin, people have had trouble telling the truth. Because of that fact, we have trouble trusting what we see and hear.

Perhaps due to instant worldwide communication, that’s never been more true. We instantly see and hear what a person does and says. That means we also hear them affirm or deny what they said and did. More than a decade ago I was glued to the home-run derby being waged by Major League Baseball’s Mark McGuire and Sammy Sosa. For years they denied using any banned substance. Now their “records” are marred by an asterisk, indicating the steroid era. Most recently we heard the same from Lance Armstrong. And denials of the truth aren’t limited to the world of sports. National and international leaders have repeatedly stated something to be true, only to have them confess they were lying some time later, particularly when the evidence could no longer be denied.

In our personal lives, we’re told something in our place of employment, but we go away wondering if that’s the truth or not.

We have trouble trusting what we see and hear.

That’s bad enough when it involves people we should be able to trust. But it becomes absolutely critical when it comes to spiritual matters. When it comes to truths on which we are basing our eternal life, we need to know that we, indeed, have the truth, that we have no reason to doubt.

That’s what the Transfiguration of our Lord is all about. It’s about erasing any doubts. It’s about filling us with confidence before we begin walking with our Savior into the darkest and most dreadful moments and events of his work as our Savior. His transfiguration proclaims with confidence, “There is no doubt! Jesus Is the One!” May that saving truth fill you with confidence this morning as we make our annual review of his transfiguration.

Part I.

Luke begins his account of the transfiguration with a time reference. He writes, “About eight days after Jesus said this.” Said what? Eight days earlier Jesus had asked his disciples for their opinion about him. Peter answered for them all when he said, “The Christ of God.” The disciples believed that Jesus was the One chosen by God to be their Savior. Jesus then informed his disciples that he was going to suffer, and be killed and on the third day rise again. We know that when these things actually took place just a few weeks later, the disciples didn’t fare well. They deserted him in his greatest hour of need.

To help them, Jesus took Peter, James and John with him up a mountain. Luke tells us they went up that mountain to pray. This journey started out as another one of Jesus’ prayer retreats. He had often taken them during his 3-year ministry. Surely the disciples were accustomed to this activity.

But it quickly turned into something far different, one of the most memorable events of his life on earth. “As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.” Not only was his body shining with divine glory, but so were his clothes. They disciples were witnessing the glory that Jesus possessed from all eternity. It was a glory he had kept hidden since his conception and birth. But here it was! What a heavenly sight!

And then another amazing thing occurred. Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared. During his ministry Jesus often referred to the Old Testament as the law and the prophets. Here was Moses, the great representative of God’s law, and Elijah, the great representative of God’s prophets. Their presence here with Jesus gave the rock-solid testimony that Jesus was the One.

Luke adds the detail that Moses and Elijah spoke to Jesus “about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment in Jerusalem.” Jesus had told his disciples he was going there to suffer, die and rise again. Perhaps he spoke with Moses and Elijah regarding the details of those events. No doubt Moses and Elijah reassured Jesus that these things must take place to accomplish his saving mission. As terrible as his sufferings and death would be, what a glorious event for Jesus to be discussing them with these men while shining in heavenly glory.

There’s no doubt! Jesus is the One! See his glory.

When asked about how it is that we are saved from the punishment of our sins, we rightly point to the sufferings and death of Jesus. That’s how he paid the price for us. But we also dare never forget his glory as true God, for therein lies our confidence that he paid for the sins of all. The fact that he died not only as man but also as God assures us that we are justified, declared not guilty before God. When doubts about your forgiveness arise, as they do in all of us, then look at the cross of Christ from the Mount of Transfiguration and know for certain that forgiveness is yours. When your life seems like an unbroken string of failures and losses, look at the glory of Christ and know that’s the glory he has in store for you in heaven where you win eternally with him. There’s no doubt! Jesus is the One, the glorious One!

Part II.

If you’ve attended the athletic events of your child or grandchild, you’ve probably experienced the parent that’s a little over the edge when it comes to cheering their child on. In fact, you wish they would be silent. How much more you appreciate the parent that offers their occasional, positive encouragement!

We know of three times during the ministry of Jesus that the Father gave his divine encouragement to his Son. We heard one just a few weeks ago when we celebrated the baptism of Jesus. After his baptism and after the Holy Spirit anointed him, the Father’s voice came from heaven and announced that Jesus was his Son in whom he was pleased. In other words, Jesus was the One chosen by the Father. The Father said essentially the same thing just days before Jesus died on the cross while Jesus was in Jerusalem with his disciples. And he speaks that approval or encouragement here at the Mount of Transfiguration.

He did so because Jesus needed it. Recall how Jesus always relied on his heavenly Father for strength and direction as he carried out the most important work ever. The religious leaders of the day, the masses of Jews to whom he preached and, at times, even his own family members, loudly declared that he wasn’t doing the work of the promised Messiah. His own disciples tried to convince him that the cross was the wrong way to go. These attacks on his work had to wear him out. How much he needed to hear his Father’s approval!

And so do we. Our world mocks Jesus of Nazareth. It abuses his holy word. It loudly declares that no such Savior is needed. All such attacks upon our Savior and his work are silenced by this divine approval of the Father. That voice convinces us that our faith in Jesus is not unfounded. There is no doubt! Jesus is the One! Hear his Father.

There are times in life when we appreciate the person who does things their own way, forges ahead on their own, and accepts the praise for their successes as well as the criticism for their failures. They did it their own way.

Thank God that’s not true about our Savior, Jesus Christ! He did things his Father’s way and for that, we’re eternally grateful. We don’t hear the Father saying, “Well, Jesus, it’s not what I had planned, but I guess it’s good enough. It will have to do.” If that were the case, we’d forever have our doubts about our forgiveness and our life in heaven. We need to be assured that Jesus did things his Father’s way because each and every day we don’t. Our lives are marred with sins great and small, each one of them deserving hell’s punishment. But Jesus did everything just as his Father wanted so that he could earn our forgiveness and eternal life for us. There’s no doubt about that! Just listen to the Father!

Part III.

Have you ever wondered if what you believe is really true? Nearly every Christian has. One of the reasons for those doubts is that, in every other aspect of our lives we want proof. We want evidence. We need to be able to hold something or to see something to know it exists.

But in the realm of our life with our God we’re dealing with faith, not science. Our spiritual life is super-natural, not natural. As such it exceeds the limits of science.

So, how do we know what our God wants us to know and believe? It comes only through his word. That’s how our almighty God who created all things and has won our salvation has decided to convey his truths to us. In his word. And that’s why the Father closes his comments about his Son with this instruction, “Listen to him.” If there is no doubt, if Jesus is the One, (and everything we’ve seen and heard so far at his transfiguration says he is), then the proper and wise thing for us to do is to listen to him.

What an appropriate encouragement for us as we stand at the beginning of another Lenten season! Christians have various ways of observing Lent, some involve their diet, some involve their rituals. But there’s no better way of observing Lent than to listen to Jesus, to hear the details of his way to Calvary’s cross. That’s exactly what our Wednesday Lenten worship is all about—walking with Jesus to his cross. This Lenten season take time to listen, to read and to ponder the story of his amazing love for you. There’s no doubt. Jesus is the One! He’s your glorious Savior! Amen.