The Transfiguration of our Lord

Pre-Olympic news conferences usually are dominated by athletes talking about fulfilling a lifelong dream. Instead for American skier Lindsey Vonn, she dropped a bombshell this week, talking about how she severely bruised her lower right shin during a training run in Austria last week and might not be able to ski in the Olympics or, at best, ski to her potential. The best female skier in American history, Vonn was supposed to be the Michael Phelps of these Olympics. Every media outlet has been talking up her chances of winning multiple gold medals.

“I’ve never won one medal of any color in my career. I’m not trying to get five medals. I’m not trying to be Michael Phelps. I’m just trying to be Lindsey Vonn and do the best I can every day. Obviously, with this injury, it will be even more difficult than I was anticipating, but I’m going to go out there and fight,” Vonn said earlier this week.

Her heart is set on the gold at these Winter Olympics that opened this weekend in Vancouver. But the road to such victory is often as treacherous as the slalom run she must conquer to claim it. Vonn has a scar somewhere to match every title she’s won. And then there’s the rigorous training, the financial commitment, and the humiliating injuries and defeats that all cry out with shame and sacrifice. But going for the gold is what keeps her going. She knows the glory that comes with victory. She Remembers the Glory, Forget the Shame.

This morning, we’re not going to join the crowds in Vancouver but Peter, James and John, Moses, Elijah, and Jesus on a holy hill. This morning we’re not going to watch as glory is given to a gold medal winner at the Winter Olympics, but we’re going to watch a display of golden glory as Jesus is the transfiguration of our Lord. A display of golden glory intended to play a very significant role for the disciples, for us, and for Jesus himself. It anticipates some rigorous troubles, humiliating crashes, and commitments that are plain tough to keep, yet it is a victory ceremony urging us all to Remember the Glory, Forget the Shame.

Jesus’ transfiguration was first of all for his own benefit, so that during the difficult days ahead he might Remember the Glory, Forget the Shame. The near future held for Jesus the lowest level of humiliation – when his Father would ask him to put down his divine power and give himself into the bloodthirsty hands of sinful men. Jesus experienced the agony and anxiety of his all-knowing divine nature understanding he would suffer and die, but his weak and frail human nature dreading the thought. Like knowing you’ll be taking a test tomorrow for which you’re not prepared, or implementing tough love soon which you’d rather not but it must be done. The Bible explains, “During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death” (Hebrews 5:7). Was that the content of his prayers on this mountain, knowing his suffering would soon reach its most bitter intensity.

At this moment Jesus was exhausted from all the people who needed his help, filled with anxiety about the suffering he would endure, and wearily searching for strength. Peter, James and John had already nodded their heads in sleep but Jesus was praying to his Father, as he so often had done. And his prayers were answered – perhaps more immediately and majestically than he anticipated. The weak and worn out Jesus was now transfigured into the majestic and mighty Jesus. This divine nature of Jesus, previously hidden under a shaggy cloak and the skin of a carpenter’s son, now broke through with a brilliance and brightness that the Gospel writers struggle to describe. Matthew writes, “His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.” Outshining the sun, piercing sky with his divine glory, flanked by two of the greatest prophets who had only talked about him centuries before but now spokewith him face to face, listening to his Father’s voice proclaiming him as his special Son and chosen champion. It was as if God the Father were saying, “Jesus, my Son, you will soon suffer and die. There is no more glorious task in the world, and none more shameful. As you do so, remember this glory which has always been yours and will always be yours, because the shame will make you think it is gone but it is not.” Remember the Glory, Forget the Shame.

The immediate effect on Peter, James, and John was awesome. They saw Jesus more glorious than ever before, though they still didn’t fully understand. The intermediate effect, during Jesus’ suffering and death, was a little disappointing, wouldn’t you say? Peter denied Jesus three times. James and John also deserted him in the Garden of Gethsemane. They didn’t remember his glory when confronted with the shame. However, the long term effect that Jesus’ transfiguration had on these men accomplished its purpose. Sure, it took until Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven (to be once again exalted in his glory) but beginning at that time and for the next few decades, Peter, James and John preached and taught and spread the gospel news of Jesus like champions themselves inspired by this very powerful scene. Peter later wrote about it, “We were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’ We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain” (2 Peter 1:16-18). John gave reference to this event in his Gospel, “We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). James played an important role in establishing the early Christian church after Jesus ascended into heaven. To their dying day (which held martyrdom for Peter and James, and exile for John) they did Remember the Glory, Forget the Shame.
We don’t live in a country that executes us for teaching about Jesus. We aren’t normally confronted with the question of whether or not we are one of Jesus’ disciples. We don’t have to make the choice whether or not to flee from the presence of Jesus for our own personal safety. But we have forgotten Jesus’ glory in many other ways, and only remembered the shame. The shame of past sins. The shame of present failures. The shame of future worries. We fall face to the ground terrified, like Peter, James, and John on the mountain. “Get up,” Jesus comfortingly commands reaching out his strong and saving hand, “Don’t be afraid.” Remember the Glory, Forget the Shame. “Remember my quieting of the waves and calming of the storm, and forget your raging waves of fear about family strife. I’ll keep you safe.” “Remember my making of wine from water at the wedding in Cana, and forget your doubt about life needs being supplied. I’ll take care of you.” “Remember my descending into hell and ascending into heaven, and forget the threats from ungodly enemies. I rule over them.” “Remember my resurrection from the tomb, and forget your uncertainties about death. I’ll keep you alive forever.” Remember the Glory, Forget the Shame.

When Peter, James, and John climbed the mountain with Jesus many years ago, skiing was not on the agenda. And yet Jesus in his glory, along with Moses and Elijah, would stand tall on the heroes’ platform. Moses, of course, had stood high upon a holy mountain before. The venue was Mt. Sinai and it was a 40-day event – comlete with sapphire paved trails, fireworks from heaven, an appearance from God himself, and a new training handbook called The Ten Commandments. This Olympic-sized event forever linked Moses with the law – God’s expectations for his people. Elijah, too, enjoyed all star status. Contests on Mt. Carmel against 450 pagan prophets and a witchy queen. Confrontations with kings, appointments with angels, mountain meetings with God featuring earthquakes, wind, and fire. And then that turbo-charged upward ride to heavenly glory in the chariots of fire. These Olympic events forever linked Elijah with the prophets – from whom we hear God’s expectations for his own Son, the Savior of the world.

These three – Jesus, Moses, and Elijah – stand as champions together on the Mount of Transfiguration in the presence of Peter, James, and John. But Jesus surprised the rest and took home the gold, and had his national anthem pronounced from heaven in the words of his Father, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” Peter attempted to jump the gun and start his own race. He wanted to stay atop the mount. But his hero, Jesus, stopped him in his tracks, because the most important race still needed to be run by the most important champion, hero, and Savior. Jesus. He’d get knocked down, dragged out, and beat up with utmost shame. But he’d go for the gold and retain this glory, this title as champion and Savior. And he’s your Jesus, your hero, your champion, your shining star. Remember the Glory, Forget the Shame.

“Swifter, Higher, Stronger.” That’s the Olympic motto and may as well be the motto for the transfiguration of our Lord, who got the gold and now calls us to be his disciples. We listen to Moses and the law – God’s expectations for his people. We learn from Elijah and the prophets – who predicted the coming Savior. But more than those, we listen to, learn from, and live for Jesus, who was transfigured more brightly than both, and whose glorious words and works save us. Remember the Glory. Forget the Shame. Amen.