Lifted from the Pit of Despair ~ Matthew 17:1-9 ~ Transfiguration of Our Lord

As a teenager, my bedroom walls were covered with posters of classic and exotic cars…

So I was a little heartbroken to learn of the massive sinkhole that opened up in the Skydome Area of the National Corvette Museum, devouring eight priceless “treasures” of classic American muscle.

Thankfully, no one lost their lives—but sinkholes have become a disturbingly common geological phenomenon.  They almost always strike without warning—and in some cases, they can be deadly.  They are a stark reminder of one of life’s most painful realities—that tragedy can strike at any time.  In an instant, we can fall into the most painful and dreadful times in our lives.

But what if you could get to a place in life where you could always be well and live in the peace of God?  A place where you would never experience fear?

Peter, James, and John thought they had found such a place—and they were glad to be there.

They’d been disciples for several years now.  They witnessed miraculous healings and feedings.  They heard Jesus’ teaching.  But they also saw terrible human suffering.  They saw the powers-that-be becoming ruthlessly opposed to Jesus.  Most recently, Jesus told them in no uncertain terms that he would undergo great suffering at the hands of the religious leaders—and be killed. 

So they had tremendous reasons to put their faith in Jesus and be at peace.  But they also had tremendous reasons to doubt—and be afraid.

Then one day, Jesus invites them up onto the mountaintop.  When Jesus begins to pray, he becomes radiant with the glory of God.  Then Moses and Elijah 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.  Every doubt evaporated; every fear dashed away. 

Peter is prepared to build dwelling places, so they could all stay on the mountaintop and bask forever in the glory of God.  Up here, they’re safe from all the troubles of the world below.  Up here, no one could touch them.

Just then, a mighty and terrible voice from heaven interrupts him, saying, “this is my Son, my Chosen, listen to him!”  The moment of glory turns becomes a moment of sudden terror.  But then it’s all over.  Jesus says: “Get up and do not be afraid.” 

Then, Jesus goes back down to the world below; back to the human suffering; back to the very people who will put him to death.  He also commands his disciples to speak nothing of these things they’ve seen until after he rises from the dead.

I don’t know about you, but I find the end to this story a big disappointment.  I wish Jesus were putting an end to the human suffering happening in the world below.  I wish Jesus were doing away with everyone who was opposed to him, so that he would never have to endure the cross. 

Instead of a crucified Jesus, I’d love a Jesus I could show off to the world: who takes suffering and fear out of my life in exchange for my faith in him.  Don’t you think we’d have an easier time growing our church if we could proclaim that receiving Christ would solve all your problems and make your every dream come true?

But that’s not reality..

Several weeks ago in our Bible study, we struggled over the question of why God allows suffering and evil to exist in the world.  It just doesn’t seem fair that bad things could happen to good people.  And it doesn’t seem right that God allows evil to exist in the world.

But this mysterious story has much to teach us about who Jesus is.  Jesus chooses to go back down into the world, to reveal God’s compassion and mercy to those who need it most.  Jesus chooses to walk straight into the hands of his enemies who will crucify him.  In the end, we’re all sinners—which makes us all enemies of God.  Yet he lays down his life for us and calls us his own.

We’ll never know the answer to the question of why God allows bad things to happen to us.  At the same time, could we really truly know the saving power of Jesus if our lives were perfect—and we were perfect?  Perfect people living perfect lives don’t need a Savior.  Now I’m not suggesting that we should call suffering a gift.  But Jesus will be a gift to us within suffering.  His cross is a sign that he is one with us on our pain.  When death and evil strike, he will be showering us with his mercy and grace.  God can take even the most terrible tragedies and use them to draw us into the life of Christ. 

Therefore, when you are in the depths of suffering, listen to the voice of Jesus.  To you, he says: “you are mine.  I give my life for you.  You are forgiven.  You are loved forever.”  Hard times will always raise questions and doubts—and these can plunge us into great despair if we do not listen to Jesus. 

We must listen and obey his words: we must get up, and we must not be afraid.  Grace pulls us out of the depths of despair.  We face our hurts and fears head-on, believing that we do not face them alone.  We can embrace tomorrow as a gift if we believe that he will love and care for us, regardless of whatever the day will bring.  God’s grace will be sufficient to meet our every need. 

Sometimes, the only sign of God’s presence will be there mere persistence of life in the face of unimaginable pain—but that is the power of God working.  So get up and do not be afraid.  Tomorrow may bring more trouble, but Jesus will bring even more grace.  God’s grace will be at work to draw you into the life of Christ

—and bring you to a new day and a new life.