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Series B – Transfiguration Sunday – Sunday, February 15, 2015 | Pr. Chris Rosebrough

Welcome to the Teaching Ministry of Kongsvinger Lutheran Church. Kongsvinger is a beacon for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and is located on the plains of Northwestern Minnesota. We proclaim Christ and Him crucified for our sins and salvation by grace through faith alone, and now, here’s a message from Pastor Chris Rosebrough:

Time Stamp	Transcript
0:28	the holy Gospel According to Saint Mark
0:30	chapter 9 verses 2 through 10.
0:33	after six days Jesus Took Peter James
0:36	and John with him and led them up a high
0:38	mountain where they were all alone
0:40	they were there he was transfigured
0:43	before them his clothes became dazzling
0:45	white wider than anyone in the world
0:48	could bleach them and there appeared
0:50	before them Elijah and Moses were
0:53	talking with Jesus
0:54	Peter said to Jesus Rabbi it is good for
0:57	us to be here let us put up three
0:59	shelters one for you one for Moses and
1:01	one for Elijah he did not know what to
1:03	say they were so frightened then a cloud
1:06	appeared and enveloped them and a voice
1:09	came from the cloud this is my son whom
1:13	I love listened to him
1:15	suddenly when they looked around they no
1:18	longer saw anyone with them except Jesus
1:20	as they were coming down the mountain
1:22	Jesus gave them orders not to tell
1:24	anyone what they had seen until the son
1:26	of man had risen from the dead they kept
1:29	the matter to themselves discussing what
1:31	rising from the dead meant
1:36	in the name of Jesus
1:39	after six days Jesus Took Peter and
1:42	James and John with him and led them up
1:43	a high mountain where they were all
1:45	alone important things happened on
1:47	mountains by the way there he was
1:50	transfigured before them his clothes
1:52	dazzling white wider than anyone in the
1:55	world could bleach them this is our text
2:00	little confession
2:01	I’m one of those guys who sheds tears at
2:04	weddings now I understand that this
2:06	means that some of you will be seeing me
2:07	after the service and ask me to hand in
2:10	my man card I get it yeah I know saying
2:13	this publicly is not an important it’s
2:15	not something you’re supposed to do as a
2:16	dude I get it
2:18	but let me continue I can tell you
2:20	exactly at what moment in the wedding
2:22	ceremony that I struggle to hold back
2:24	the tears and that is the moment when
2:27	the Bride Comes to the doors of the
2:28	church Sanctuary doesn’t matter how
2:31	common or ordinary looking that woman is
2:33	on any given day of the week on her
2:35	wedding day she is transformed and she
2:37	is radiant beautiful elegant you can
2:40	even describe her as Royal
2:42	the white flowing wedding gown the
2:45	jewelry the Veil I hate to say it it
2:47	gets me every time
2:49	now the reason for this is actually easy
2:51	to explain and the reason for is it is
2:53	this every single wedding in a very real
2:57	way is a dress rehearsal for the great
3:00	wedding Feast of the Lamb that awesome
3:02	and amazing day when Jesus will finally
3:05	be United with his bride the church
3:07	forever and they will live literally
3:10	happily ever after
3:13	uh all the stories all the children’s
3:15	stories they’re true so in Our Gospel
3:17	text this morning Mark describes Jesus’s
3:20	Transfiguration by describing Jesus’s
3:23	clothes as clothes
3:26	and by the way close in scripture they
3:29	have very important meanings in fact you
3:32	can almost say there’s a theology in the
3:34	Bible a Theology of clothing
3:37	now think of it this way nowadays when a
3:40	bride is planning her wedding day it is
3:42	very common for her to spend a lot of
3:44	time fussing over which dress she will
3:46	wear they even have reality TV shows
3:49	that
3:49	well depict this sometimes the person
3:53	getting married is a little bit how
3:55	should we say high strung right you know
3:58	the word bridezilla comes to mind but
4:00	anyway I digress so like I was saying a
4:06	bride who is planning her wedding day
4:07	very common for her to spend a lot of
4:09	time fussing over which dress she will
4:11	wear will she be wearing a yolan crisp
4:14	by the way yes there are designer
4:15	dresses right will she be wearing an
4:18	Anna Campbell or a Jasmine coacher or
4:21	will she be wearing a Vera Wang by the
4:23	way I have a particular place in my
4:25	heart for Vera Wang’s bridal dresses
4:27	they are amazing again I know the guys
4:30	here are going to want me to turn in my
4:31	man card so I get it now each of these
4:34	wedding dress designers they have a
4:36	signature look and style and each is
4:38	elegant and beautiful in their own ways
4:40	but on that great day we will not be
4:43	wearing a Vera Wang we will be dressed
4:47	in a Jesus
4:51	and this kills me it kills me we will be
4:55	dressed into Jesus and Our Gospel text
4:57	this morning gives us a sneak peek at
4:59	what we will be wearing
5:03	think back with me if you would for a
5:06	moment to the Garden of Eden after Adam
5:08	and Eid have rebelled against God
5:10	and had eaten the fruit that they had
5:12	been told not to eat what did they do to
5:15	cover their nakedness and their shame
5:16	they clothed themselves with fig leaves
5:19	but Genesis 3 21 and off skipped verse
5:23	or one that’s not really highly noted
5:25	says this
5:26	God the Lord made for Adam and his wife
5:30	garments of skins and he clothed them
5:33	yeah that’s right God clothed Adam and
5:36	Eve with animal skins and these were
5:38	costly clothes because an innocent
5:40	animal had to die in order to cover
5:42	their nakedness and their shame
5:44	does that sound familiar
5:46	now Luke chapter 15 is another passage
5:50	that gives us a little bit of this
5:51	Theology of clothing and it’s that
5:54	famous story of the parable of the
5:55	Prodigal Son let me read a portion of it
5:57	for you from Luke 15. Jesus said there
6:00	was a man who had two sons the younger
6:03	of them said to his father father give
6:05	me the share of the property that is
6:07	coming to me
6:08	that’s a polite way of putting it
6:11	kind of reading between the lines it’s
6:13	Dad I’m really upset that you’re not
6:15	dead yet would you give me your share of
6:17	The Inheritance or my share of the
6:19	inheritance
6:20	this tells you how much he really loves
6:21	his father and father rather than giving
6:24	him the backhand of Fellowship which is
6:27	what he deserved he ends up dividing his
6:29	property between them so not many days
6:32	later the younger son gathered all that
6:34	he had and took a journey into a far
6:36	country and there he squandered his
6:38	property in Reckless living the details
6:42	of this Reckless living and not giving
6:44	given in scripture we don’t know if he
6:46	was partying spending it all on booze
6:48	and drugs maybe prostitutes Reckless
6:51	living kind of implies all of that
6:53	and when he had spent everything a
6:56	severe famine arose in that country he
6:58	began to be in need so he went and hired
7:00	himself out to one of the citizens of
7:02	that country who sent him into his
7:05	fields to feed pigs
7:08	unclean animals this is not anything a
7:11	good Jewish boy would want to be doing
7:12	so there he is feeding pigs reduced to
7:15	nothing a servitude if you would
7:19	so he was no longer he was longing to be
7:22	fed with the pods that the pigs ate no
7:25	one gave him anything but when he came
7:27	to himself he said how many of my
7:30	father’s hired servants have more than
7:31	enough bread but I perish here with
7:33	Hunger I will arise and go to my father
7:36	and I will say to him father
7:38	I have sinned against heaven and before
7:40	you and I am no longer worthy to be
7:41	called your son
7:43	true words can never have been spoken
7:46	but he wants to cut a deal with his dad
7:48	so he says so treat me as one of your
7:50	hired servants this is what he rehearsed
7:52	in his you know is in his mind as he’s
7:54	getting ready to go visit his father so
7:56	then he rose and came to his father but
7:59	while he was still a long way off
8:04	his father saw him from far off knew was
8:06	his son
8:08	his father saw him felt compassion and
8:10	he ran and he embraced him and he kissed
8:14	him and the son said to him father I
8:16	have sinned against heaven and before
8:18	you I am no longer worthy to be called
8:20	your son
8:22	there’s the confession of sin and it’s
8:24	TRUE
8:25	and now the father Cuts him off there’s
8:27	got not going to be any deal making here
8:29	but the father said to his servants
8:31	bring quickly the best robe
8:37	there it is that Theology of clothing
8:39	again bring quickly the best robe hear
8:42	this son who has squandered his father’s
8:44	inheritance
8:46	on Reckless living probably covered in
8:48	mud and pig poop
8:51	first thing the father says is bring
8:53	quickly the best robe and put it on him
8:55	and put a ring on his hand and shoes on
8:57	his feet and bring the fatted calf and
8:59	kill it and let us eat and celebrate for
9:01	this my son was dead and he is now alive
9:05	again he was lost and now he’s found so
9:08	they began to celebrate
9:11	now in a very real way the prodigal son
9:13	is you
9:15	it’s me
9:17	you were dead
9:19	in your trespasses and sins but now you
9:21	are alive again in Christ you were lost
9:24	and now you are found
9:26	you had soiled your robes with sin and
9:29	iniquity and Christ has taken away your
9:32	filthy robes from you and has dressed
9:34	you in the best robe
9:36	Isaiah 61 10 says this I will rejoice
9:40	greatly in the Lord my in the Lord my
9:44	soul shall exalt in my God for he has
9:47	clothed me with garments of Salvation he
9:51	has covered me with a robe of
9:52	righteousness as a bridegroom decks
9:55	himself like a priest with a beautiful
9:56	headdress as a bride adorns herself
10:00	with her jewels
10:02	Zechariah Chapter 3 not a very popular
10:06	passage few read it
10:07	talking about the high priest at the
10:10	time when the Jews returned from Babylon
10:12	to Jerusalem says this about the high
10:15	priest Joshua says this then he showed
10:18	me that’s the Lord showed me Joshua the
10:21	high priest standing before the angel of
10:23	the Lord and Satan standing at his right
10:26	hand to accuse him and that’s what Satan
10:28	does he accuses us of our sins and the
10:32	Lord said to Satan the Lord rebuke you o
10:34	Satan the Lord who has chosen Jerusalem
10:37	he rebuked you is not this a brand pluck
10:40	from the fire now Joshua was standing
10:43	before the angel clothed with filthy
10:45	garments and the angel said to those who
10:48	were standing before him remove the
10:50	filthy garments from him and to him he
10:53	said behold I have taken away your
10:56	iniquity from you I will clothe you with
11:00	pure vestments
11:02	and this is all of us
11:04	all of us Satan stands there accusing us
11:06	of our sins and he’s right in all of his
11:09	accusations but you see you like Joshua
11:13	are a brand plucked from the fire you
11:16	like Joshua have had your filthy clothes
11:18	removed from you and given pure white
11:20	vestments
11:21	you ask when did this happen
11:23	well it’s real simple Paul in Galatians
11:25	chapter 3 verse 20 says 27 says this for
11:29	as many of you as were baptized into
11:32	Christ you have put on Christ
11:38	let me say that again for as many of you
11:40	as were baptized into Christ you have
11:43	put on Christ in other words at that
11:46	baptismal font when you were baptized
11:48	you were baptized into Christ and you
11:51	think back to that tradition where where
11:53	you know parents would bring their
11:55	children it doesn’t matter if it was a
11:56	boy or a girl bring them to be baptized
11:59	what were they wearing those white
12:01	baptismal gowns right all of that
12:04	hinting at them being clothed with
12:07	Christ
12:10	Revelation chapter 7 says this after
12:12	this I looked and behold a great
12:15	multitude that no one could number from
12:16	every nation from all tribes and peoples
12:19	and languages standing Before the Throne
12:21	and before the lamb clothed in white
12:24	robes with palm branches in their hands
12:27	and crying out with a loud voice
12:29	salvation Belongs To Our God who sits on
12:32	the throne into the lamb and all the
12:34	Angels were standing around the throne
12:36	and around the elders and the four
12:37	living creatures and they fell on their
12:39	faces before the throne and worshiped
12:42	God saying amen blessing and glory and
12:45	wisdom and Thanksgiving and honor and
12:47	power and might be to our god forever
12:50	and ever amen then one of the elders
12:53	addressed me saying who are these
12:55	clothed in white robes and from where
12:58	have they come
13:00	and I said to him sir
13:02	you know and he said to me these are the
13:05	ones coming out of the Great Tribulation
13:07	they have washed their robes and made
13:10	them white in the blood of the Lamb
13:13	in other words Christians
13:16	All Is Forgiven
13:19	that’s what God wants me to tell you
13:21	that All is Forgiven your filthy robes
13:24	have been taken from you in the waters
13:26	of your baptism and you are now clothed
13:28	with the very righteousness of Christ
13:31	and the robes that you are wearing are
13:33	dazzling white whiter than anyone in the
13:36	world can bleach them because they have
13:39	been bleached in the blood of the lamb
13:41	in your baptism you have put on Christ
13:43	and the dazzling white wedding gown that
13:46	he has won for you on the cross and when
13:49	we partake here of the on the lord of
13:51	the Lord’s supper at this altar
13:54	we are getting a sneak peek and a little
13:56	foretaste of the wedding Feast that is
13:58	to come
13:59	well how can this be you might ask well
14:01	it’s simple
14:02	think back to our text on the Mount of
14:05	transfiguration Jesus there is flanked
14:07	by Moses and Elijah we read this morning
14:10	yes the law and the prophets represented
14:13	in full
14:15	and of great voice comes from heaven and
14:17	says listen to Jesus after the other two
14:20	disappear
14:21	but see there we got a peek of Jesus’s
14:24	Glory but when Jesus’s greater glory was
14:28	on display for all the World to See
14:30	Jesus was hanging naked and bleeding and
14:33	flanked by two thieves on a cross on the
14:35	slopes not of ma of the Mount of
14:37	transfiguration but on the slopes of
14:39	Mount Moriah
14:40	and Isaiah tells us what this was all
14:42	about
14:43	it says this in chapter 53 he Jesus was
14:47	pierced for our transgressions
14:50	he was crushed for our iniquities
14:53	upon him was the chastisement that
14:56	brought us peace and with his wounds we
14:59	are healed all we like sheep have gone
15:01	astray we have turned everyone to his
15:03	own way and here’s what it says the lord
15:05	has laid on him the iniquity of us all
15:10	in other words
15:13	all of your sin
15:15	all of your filthy garments
15:18	all of those times when you have not
15:20	loved God with all your heart soul mind
15:22	and strength when you have despised the
15:25	hearing of his word when you have failed
15:26	to pray as you ought
15:28	when you have not honored those in
15:30	authority over you
15:32	when you have coveted
15:34	when you have lied
15:36	when you have been sexually immoral when
15:38	you have stolen
15:40	when you have torn down someone’s
15:42	character with your words of slander and
15:44	gossip
15:45	all of those sins show that rather than
15:49	being a worthy bride you have instead
15:50	acted like a
15:52	and that’s the reality of the situation
15:55	but you see scripture says that God
15:58	demonstrates his love for us
16:00	in that while we were yet sinners
16:03	Christ died for our sins
16:06	and so Jesus he takes all of your sin
16:10	every time you have fallen short of
16:13	God’s standard he takes the punishment
16:15	upon himself so that he is punished
16:19	rather than his bride so that he takes
16:22	those filthy garments and accounts for
16:23	every one of our transgressions so that
16:26	we can be clothed in his dazzling white
16:29	righteousness
16:31	the animal skins that God used to clothe
16:33	Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden they
16:35	were very costly
16:36	but there are no clothes more costly
16:38	than the Garment of Salvation which
16:40	Christ closes church with
16:42	it was not an innocent animal that died
16:44	to purchase these clothes instead it was
16:47	the very Son of God
16:50	and this is what God’s love looks like
16:53	all of your iniquity is bled for all of
16:57	your sin is died for
17:00	the only word we hear from God is All Is
17:03	Forgiven repent be forgiven live
17:07	and get ready for the marriage Feast of
17:09	the Lamb when you appear before him you
17:12	will not be in filthy robes you will be
17:15	literally dressed in the dazzling white
17:18	Garment of Christ
17:20	which no one can bleach as white as it
17:24	truly is dazzling sparkled bedecked
17:28	more amazing and beautiful than any
17:31	bride that you had ever seen at Eddie
17:33	wedding because like I said every
17:35	wedding is in reality a dress rehearsal
17:38	for the great marriage Feast of the lamb
17:40	in the name of Jesus Amen
17:43	[Music]

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