Introduction:

"The Passion of the Christ" Those words might mean a lot more to you now than they did a year ago. Since Mel Gibson's movie with that title came out last year, I think about those words differently. I have known what "The Passion of the Christ" means for long time. But since I have seen that movie I have some mental images branded into my consciousness that may always be with me. I suspect it is the same for some of you who have seen the movie also.

I was not fully prepared that day I went to the movie theater. It was amazing, humiliating, scary, joyful, and sorrowful all at once. I am sure that those pictures will be replayed in my mind this Lenten season as we read through the Scriptures together. Lent starts this coming Wednesday. Some of you may be planning to watch "The Passion" in preparation for this season of reflection and repentance. And that is OK. That is good.

However Jesus' transfiguration will prepare us even better for his suffering, death, and resurrection. This wondrous account will prepare us by letting us observe Jesus as God, letting us catch a glimpse of heaven, and letting us hear the Father's approval.

Part One:

Verse one of our lesson sets the stage for us. Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up the mountainside to be away from the group. He needed some quiet time with God. It was like how some people today go out hunting in the woods in order to have some quiet time to pray or when a mother gets up early, before the kids, to read her daily devotion while the house is still calm.

There on that mountain, Matthew tells us in clear words that Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James, and John. The transfiguration was a transforming or a metamorphosis. Jesus' face was bright as the sun and his clothing was white as light. Luke's Gospel tells us that it was like a flash of lightning. Jesus glory was shone to those disciples in all its brilliance and majesty. It was as if Jesus was like a caterpillar in His human state and at once he was as glorious as a butterfly showing his divine nature. That is what is meant by the transfiguration.

This was a statement of Jesus' divinity. He was being shown as true God. It was in contrast to Jesus' baptism. There in the Jordan River, standing next to John the Baptist, the Savior took his place with all mankind by being baptized. Now he was displayed in all his godly splendor.

Peter, James, and John were being prepared for what would come. They would soon see Jesus at His lowest point. He would be arrested, tried, and beaten, whipped, mocked and crucified. Those disciples would be eyewitnesses to that horrible humiliation, but they would have this moment. They observed Jesus as God.

Soon we will be in the High Priest's courtroom, outside of Pilate's palace, and at the foot of the cross. We will see these terrible events, but we will have this moment. We will know that Jesus is God. We will know that that the Son of God had to come to this earth as man to suffer and die for our sins. There was no other way. Our sins placed the crown of thorns on Jesus' head. Our sins drove the nails into his hands and feet. Jesus had to bear this for us as a human being in order to atone for our guilt.

But we have this moment to remind us that Jesus is true God. We know that only God could be what God demanded - a holy, sinless sacrifice. We know that only the true God could be the spotless lamb slain for our redemption. And we know that only the true God could defeat death and rise triumphantly from His tomb.

As we are being prepared for the Passion, Jesus' transfiguration reveals the Savior as God. He is God who became man to live, suffer, die, and rise for us. He is God who won our salvation for us. He is God who will wrap us in his brilliant, majestic, shining robe of righteousness because our sins are forgiven.

Part Two:

If you were to watch the movie, "The Passion of Christ," without knowing anything else about what the Bible says, I wonder what impression you would have. I wonder if you would see the bloody man hanging on the cross and be repulsed at what would seem to be absolute weakness. Would you wonder what it was all for?

God did not want those disciples to be repulsed at the suffering and death of Jesus. He wanted them to know why it would all happen. And so he continued to prepare them for the passion. He showed them what it was all for when he gave them a glimpse of heaven.

This was not a sweeping panoramic of heaven, but it was just a peek. Moses and Elijah appeared to talk with Jesus. These two men had died in faith and went to heaven. Now they were back. So Peter, James, and John saw Jesus in all his glory and two Old Testament giants on the mountain. They were just getting a peek at the afterlife.

But why Moses and Elijah? What did it show those disciples? It showed them that there are not two different ways to heaven. The Old Testament believers did get to heaven by following Moses and Elijah as their saviors. They did not get to heaven by obeying the law. This glimpse of heaven proved that Jesus is timeless Savior. Those Old Testament people believed in the promises that Moses and Elijah told them about the coming Savior. And Jesus was the fulfillment of those promises. Anyone who believes in Christ has eternal life in heaven. There is only one way to heaven. It is Jesus Christ.

Peter wanted to prolong this glimpse of heaven by building shelters for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. Can you blame him? He wanted to stay there. He wanted to bask in this euphoric occasion on top of this mountain.

Sometimes Christians feel like they are at the mountaintop of their emotions when it comes to their faith. Maybe a movie about Jesus brought you to your peak. Maybe it is a certain hymn. Maybe it was an event in your life, like the birth of a child or death of a loved one. The trouble is that these glimpses don't always last and they are sometimes based only on emotion.

Be careful that you don't base your faith on emotions and feelings. God is there no matter how you feel. God speaks to you with His Word. Trust in God's Word. It is the foundation of your faith, not feelings or emotions. Feelings and emotions are often the result of God's work. And you can always see God's work in His Word. So if you want to prolong your faith experiences, stay in the Bible. Read it and you will catch your glimpses of heaven and receive the confidence that one day you will be there because of Jesus Christ.

Part Three:

This fact is proved to us by the words of the Father in verse 5 of the lesson. "While (Peter) 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!" It was very similar to Jesus' baptism. God the Father was giving his approval of the Son to carry out his mission to save the world.

And he concluded his approving statement with "Listen to him!" This was a command. Sadly many do not listen to Jesus. They don't have time in their lives for Jesus. And some people belong to a church, but they only want to listen to parts of what Jesus' says and not all of it. Listen to Jesus. God has given this command.

As we prepare for the Passion, it is vital that we hear the Father's approval of Jesus. Peter, James, and John were made quite aware that Jesus was the promised Son of God. They would be tested and tempted to fall away, but Jesus would speak to them and they would listen. They would know that he was the Christ and his suffering was for their good.

We too are commanded to listen to Jesus as we prepare for the Passion. Hear his words of comfort. We will face trials and temptations in life. And Jesus tells us the same thing he told Peter, James, and John. "Don't be afraid."

Conclusion:

Your sins are forgiven. Believe in Jesus and you will be saved. That message will ring in our ears this Lent. It is not about what we do. It is not about what we will give up to be more like Jesus. Lent is the time for us to see our sins. It is a time for us to repent of sins. It is a time for us to sit in the shadow of the cross and weep for joy.

Jesus, through his Word, has prepared us for the Passion. We know he is true God who rose from the dead. We know that heaven is waiting for all believers. We know that the Son of God has the approval His Father. Worship the Savior often this Lent. See your Salvation. Serve Christ. AMEN.