Who Will Be Your Voice of Truth? ~ Luke 9:28-43 ~ Transfiguration of Our Lord

Twenty years ago—my parents spoke to my sister and I the happiest words to a child’s ears:

“We’re going to Disney World!”

We’d never been there before, but we’d heard from our friends—and learned from TV—that Disney World was the happiest and most magical place on earth.  And we believed it to be the gospel truth.

For the next four months, my sister and I counted down the days to what we expected to be the most magnificent week of our lives.  And when we finally arrived, we were overwhelmed at the beauty and magnificence of the place.  It truly was a magic kingdom.

And then, my mother trips over a step, and goes straight to the ground.  In an instant, our magical vacation disappears into thin air, like magic.

We left the park and spent the rest of the day in a place you don’t see advertised on TV—the Disney clinic.  After what felt like an eternity of waiting, Mom emerges from the exam room, limping along on a pair of Disney Crutches—with doctor’s orders that she stay off her sprained ankle—for a month.

Luckily for us, Mom was determined to enjoy her vacation just as much as she’d hoped—even if it meant being confined to a wheelchair; and we learned that Disney has a wonderful practice of admitting persons with limited mobility onto all the rides and attractions without waiting in line.  Paradise was regained; and it truly was best week ever.  But like all good things, it came to an end, and we had to go home—to a summer vacation spent helping mom with the household chores during her recovery.

It didn’t matter how badly we wanted that week to last forever.  It simply was not to be.

All of us can remember times in our lives that we wish would last forever.  Times when life was not so complicated; times when the challenges we’re dealing with today weren’t even a thought.  Times when life was just good—and faith in God was easy.

In our Gospel lesson for today, Peter, James, and John find themselves in such a moment. 

Jesus invited them to go with him on a mountaintop to pray—and they go, probably not expecting anything extraordinary to happen.  But then, when Jesus begins to pray, his appearance changes; his clothes become dazzling white.  Two men appear and begin talking to Jesus. 

What a moment this must have been—even more spectacular than all of the healings and miraculous deeds they had witnessed.  In this moment, heaven meets earth—and they are there! 

What a moment, to see Jesus in all his undeniable glory.  What a moment, to feel so safe from the world below.  What a moment to be overwhelmed by the love and power of God.

Understandably, Peter wants the moment to last forever.  He’s ready to build dwelling-places for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah—so ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­they could stay there forever, just the six of them...  But then a voice from heaven interrupts him, saying, “this is my Son, my Chosen, listen to him!”

At that instant, it’s all over—and it’s just the three of them and Jesus.  Jesus takes them back down the mountain; back down to reality and real life.  Instead of seeing Jesus in power and glory, soon they will see Jesus despised and rejected, and ultimately—dying on the cross.

We all know how these disciples felt—as we remember better times—and know there’s no possibility of us getting those days back.  So how do we face tomorrow when we have no guarantee that tomorrow will be good?  How do we go on when we’re overwhelmed with fear and sorrow?

The voice from the cloud is the answer to that question, and to the uncertainties we face in these times: we must listen to Jesus.

One of the greatest dangers in the life of a believer is that our hurts and our worries come to rule over us, so that they define our existence.  This exactly what we see with Jesus’ disciples later on in the story...  Jesus gave them power and authority over unclean spirits—and yet they could not cast the demon out of a small boy.  How quickly they’d forgotten the power and glory of God they were so blessed to have seen.  Now, they’re scared stiff, overwhelmed by the situation, unable to act on the promise Jesus had spoken to them.

We face the very same danger to our faith—when trouble comes along so terrible and so overwhelming that we feel as though we are being devoured by it.  It is at these times when we’re in danger of becoming practical atheists, such that we know Jesus in name only.  Otherwise, we dismiss Jesus as powerless over the situation and unconcerned in delivering us through it.  What an outright lie this is in defiance of all the Gospel promises.

In those moments, when we’re overwhelmed, we must stop whatever we’re doing and listen to Jesus.  This is why prayer and worship and a knowledge of the Bible are so indispensible in our lives. 

The devil’s always going to be there, feeding us lies that there is no hope and that our faith is in vain.  And isn’t it always then, when we’re feeling so overwhelmed, that we’re most tempted NOT to do what Jesus tells us we should?  This is usually when we believe the lies that “we don’t have time” to listen to Jesus; or that nothing good will come out of doing what Jesus says.  So whose voice will we believe—the devil and his lies?  Or the voice of truth—Jesus and his words of unconditional love and his promises of deliverance?

At no point does Jesus ever say that following him will be easy.  In fact, he says that if any wish to be his disciples, you must take up your cross and follow him.  Such a thing doesn’t sound appealing in the least bit.  But God brought resurrection out of Jesus’ cross—which means that we can carry our crosses fully assured that God will do the very same for us.  Death and evil didn’t have the victory for Jesus, nor will they have the victory for you.  Today we have peace to rest in the promise of Jesus: that we will see the glory of God and not in avoiding our troubles or ignoring them, but in facing them head on—because Jesus faces them with us.  If we walk with Jesus as he walks with us, if we trust in his promises and abide in his command to love one another every step of the way, we shall see the glory of God.  We shall be overwhelmed by God’s amazing grace, within our weakness and even in spite of our weakness.  Jesus will meet us in the dark places, to carry our crosses with us on the way of his resurrection.