Reflections on Scripture with Dr. Leins
| Time Stamp | Transcript |
| 0:03 | hello |
| 0:06 | today let’s talk about the |
| 0:09 | Transfiguration of Our Lord |
| 0:12 | this wondrous event takes place just |
| 0:15 | after the famous confession of caesarea |
| 0:17 | Philippi |
| 0:19 | but I think the two events are connected |
| 0:22 | the confession of caesarea Philippi and |
| 0:25 | the Transfiguration of Our Lord |
| 0:27 | let’s see |
| 0:28 | how they might be connected first the |
| 0:32 | Lord Jesus is talking with his disciples |
| 0:34 | and he asks them a question |
| 0:36 | what do people say that I am |
| 0:39 | and the the disciples answer well some |
| 0:42 | think that you’re John the Baptist and |
| 0:43 | something that you’re Elijah and some |
| 0:46 | think that you are another prophet and |
| 0:48 | Jesus says but who do you say that I am |
| 0:51 | and |
| 0:52 | Peter responds you are the Christ |
| 0:56 | the son of the Living God |
| 0:59 | unfortunately Peter didn’t know all that |
| 1:01 | that meant but he was absolutely correct |
| 1:04 | Jesus is the Christ |
| 1:07 | that is the messiah |
| 1:08 | the son of the Living God he is the Lamb |
| 1:11 | of God who takes away the sin of the |
| 1:14 | world |
| 1:15 | but Peter was unprepared for the |
| 1:18 | consequences |
| 1:20 | of that Declaration of that truth |
| 1:23 | the son of man Jesus explained must |
| 1:26 | suffer and be killed at the hands of |
| 1:29 | cruel men |
| 1:31 | and on the third day rise again |
| 1:34 | this was God’s plan from the beginning |
| 1:36 | of History even before the fall of Adam |
| 1:40 | God had planned that his son would be |
| 1:43 | the atoning sacrifice that would take |
| 1:45 | away the sin of the world |
| 1:47 | that his son the obedient and perfect |
| 1:50 | one |
| 1:51 | would reconcile all Humanity to God the |
| 1:55 | Father |
| 1:57 | Peter was unprepared for this message |
| 2:03 | and so he began to rebuke Jesus |
| 2:06 | Lord there shall never be |
| 2:09 | and for that Jesus rebuked him |
| 2:12 | that Peter was not |
| 2:14 | following the way of God but following |
| 2:16 | the way of man |
| 2:20 | then Jesus went on to say |
| 2:23 | that anyone who would follow him must |
| 2:26 | deny himself and take up his cross and |
| 2:29 | follow him |
| 2:31 | now there’s only one Christ and there’s |
| 2:34 | only one atoning sacrifice and there’s |
| 2:37 | only one life-giving cross |
| 2:41 | but Jesus is explaining that all those |
| 2:43 | who believe in him |
| 2:46 | will share |
| 2:47 | in a life |
| 2:50 | of serving and suffering and sacrificing |
| 2:54 | for others |
| 2:57 | that they will take up a cross also |
| 3:01 | it will not be across that um that |
| 3:04 | redeems the world |
| 3:07 | but it will be across |
| 3:09 | that serves for the sake of Christ |
| 3:13 | the way of the cross |
| 3:15 | is really the opposite of what Peter is |
| 3:18 | thinking about he doesn’t understand |
| 3:19 | that yet |
| 3:22 | but that’s what Jesus is teaching |
| 3:26 | and now he takes the disciples to the |
| 3:28 | Mount of transfiguration and there Peter |
| 3:31 | and James and John go with the Lord |
| 3:34 | and |
| 3:35 | Jesus is transfigured before them |
| 3:41 | Matthew explains oh Matthew calls the |
| 3:44 | Transfiguration a metamorphosis a change |
| 3:46 | of form and he explains |
| 3:50 | that when that took place that Jesus |
| 3:53 | began to shine like the sun his face |
| 3:56 | Shone like the sun and his garments were |
| 3:58 | as white as light |
| 4:01 | Luke uses a little different language |
| 4:03 | Luke says that Jesus looked like |
| 4:05 | lightning |
| 4:06 | we can’t barely stand to look at |
| 4:09 | lightning but it quickly dissipates |
| 4:12 | Jesus in this case was like lightning |
| 4:15 | that continued |
| 4:16 | to glow and maintain the level of |
| 4:21 | Brilliance of lightning imagine that |
| 4:23 | Jesus was allowing a glimpse of his true |
| 4:27 | Heavenly glory to be seen by those |
| 4:29 | disciples and then suddenly with Jesus |
| 4:31 | we’re standing Moses and Elijah Moses |
| 4:35 | who had been |
| 4:37 | on the mountain with God for 40 days and |
| 4:39 | 40 nights |
| 4:41 | and |
| 4:43 | you’ll find that in Exodus chapter 24 |
| 4:46 | and Ezekiel no I’m sorry Elijah |
| 4:50 | who had |
| 4:52 | been with God on the mountain also |
| 4:54 | and |
| 4:56 | in the midst of earthquake Wind and Fire |
| 4:58 | had heard the still small voice of God |
| 5:01 | as recorded in First Kings chapter 19. |
| 5:04 | these two men |
| 5:06 | Moses and Elijah had both been with God |
| 5:09 | on the mountain and now they were with |
| 5:12 | God on a mountain again the second |
| 5:14 | person of the Holy Trinity Jesus Christ |
| 5:19 | and the Transfiguration of Jesus was |
| 5:23 | God’s sign |
| 5:25 | God’s affirmation |
| 5:27 | his verification that Jesus is God |
| 5:30 | telling God’s truth |
| 5:32 | and that God’s plan for salvation |
| 5:35 | is the Cross of Christ |
| 5:40 | he |
| 5:42 | in the midst of this |
| 5:46 | Peter begins to miss the point again |
| 5:49 | or he misses the point again |
| 5:52 | because Jesus is talking with Moses and |
| 5:54 | Elijah and he’s talking with them about |
| 5:57 | his impending departure the word used |
| 6:01 | there in Luke’s gospel is his |
| 6:03 | his impending Exodus is very important |
| 6:07 | word |
| 6:08 | because Jesus is the perfect Passover |
| 6:11 | Lamb |
| 6:15 | and he is the |
| 6:16 | fulfilled Moses figure |
| 6:19 | who leads the captives out of slavery |
| 6:21 | through the water into the promised land |
| 6:23 | Jesus is the the fullness of that event |
| 6:27 | taking the people all people out of the |
| 6:31 | bondage of Slavery to sin death in the |
| 6:33 | devil and leading people through the |
| 6:35 | waters of holy baptism into the kingdom |
| 6:38 | of God |
| 6:40 | Peter |
| 6:42 | interrupts this conversation between |
| 6:44 | Moses Elijah and the Lord Jesus |
| 6:49 | what would cause such an impertinent act |
| 6:52 | on the part of Peter well |
| 6:54 | let’s see what he says lord it’s good |
| 6:57 | that we should be here |
| 7:00 | let us build three booths one for you |
| 7:02 | one for Moses one for Elijah obviously |
| 7:04 | what Peter wants to do is to remain |
| 7:06 | there long enough to build some houses |
| 7:09 | and remain for a Time |
| 7:13 | we can’t blame Peter how glorious it |
| 7:15 | would be to dwell forever in the light |
| 7:19 | Glory joy and peace of God |
| 7:23 | but Peter is interrupted |
| 7:25 | by God |
| 7:27 | the father |
| 7:29 | for |
| 7:30 | there is an overshadowing cloud of the |
| 7:33 | glory of God and the voice of God |
| 7:35 | himself is heard saying this is my |
| 7:38 | beloved Son |
| 7:40 | listen to him |
| 7:44 | the way of the Cross is my plan |
| 7:48 | just as Jesus has explained |
| 7:53 | the disciples may not understand the way |
| 7:55 | of the Cross but they do understand the |
| 7:57 | voice of God in the presence of God and |
| 8:00 | they fall on their faces |
| 8:07 | God’s way is the opposite of what we |
| 8:11 | expect |
| 8:13 | God’s demonstration of his glory |
| 8:17 | is by serving and sacrificing |
| 8:21 | God’s demonstration of his power |
| 8:27 | is by sacrificing his life |
| 8:30 | and dying on a cross |
| 8:36 | we may want to be powerful because we |
| 8:39 | follow Jesus but I suspect it will find |
| 8:41 | that God demonstrates his power through |
| 8:44 | our weakness he does things in the |
| 8:46 | opposite way we would expect |
| 8:48 | Peter says that he wants to build booths |
| 8:51 | so he can remain in the glory we can’t |
| 8:54 | blame Peter for that it’s just the wrong |
| 8:57 | time |
| 8:58 | and that’s what Jesus says not yet |
| 9:01 | for Jesus must go down the mountain must |
| 9:04 | take up his life-giving cross Must |
| 9:06 | Destroy the power of sin death in the |
| 9:08 | devil and open the way of the kingdom of |
| 9:11 | God to all believers |
| 9:14 | and we too may wish that we could stay |
| 9:16 | on a mountain with God |
| 9:18 | we’re holding his glory forever and ever |
| 9:20 | not yet says the Lord he understands our |
| 9:24 | need for that |
| 9:25 | I suspect that’s why he allowed the |
| 9:27 | apostles to see his transfigured glory |
| 9:31 | and that’s also the same reason that he |
| 9:33 | allows you and me |
| 9:34 | to catch glimpses of his glory in his |
| 9:37 | holy word |
| 9:39 | and in his blessed sacraments there we |
| 9:41 | meet Jesus |
| 9:44 | but we must leave and go down the |
| 9:46 | mountain |
| 9:49 | we too must deny ourselves and take up |
| 9:51 | our crosses |
| 9:53 | not that our sacrifice will ever be |
| 9:57 | propitiatory that it will ever Set the |
| 10:00 | World free from sin death in the devil |
| 10:02 | our sacrifice is not the one |
| 10:04 | all-sufficient sacrifice but because |
| 10:06 | Christ’s sacrifice |
| 10:08 | was |
| 10:10 | perfect |
| 10:12 | and was made Ours by grace through faith |
| 10:14 | now Christ lives in us and now though |
| 10:17 | our sacrifice is weak and meek and |
| 10:21 | sometimes hard-hearted we still want to |
| 10:23 | make our sacrifice |
| 10:25 | to follow Jesus to take up our cross |
| 10:30 | because one day we know |
| 10:33 | if we will reside with him |
| 10:35 | we will see his glory |
| 10:38 | his face will shine all of heaven will |
| 10:40 | be filled with his joy and peace and we |
| 10:43 | will Behold Him |
| 10:45 | we will see him |
| 10:47 | and that day will never end |
| 10:51 | amen |