“ARISE AND DO NOT BE AFRAID”
Saint Matthew 17. 1-9
The Transfiguration of Our Lord: 16 January Anno Domini 2005
Fr Watson
Jesus comes and touches YOU, and He says: "Arise and do not be afraid." To every cloud there's a silver lining? Yes, but it's not silver, it's Flesh and Blood, it's True God and True Man. And so you confess in the words of the Small Catechism: "I believe that Jesus Christ...has redeemed me...not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death." [SC Pt II.2]
You know, scientifically and objectively, that even when it's raining on your town, your home, your head, that there is still clear, blue sky thousands of feet above, "behind," the localized storm clouds. You know that "behind" every grey, cloudy, overcast sky the sun still shines. You know "behind" every bleak, brown, barren-tree autumn, there is a spring waiting to break out once again.
Why the "Transfiguration" of our Lord? Jesus wanted his friends to have their faiths fortified by a reality which would permeate their very souls for the rest of their lives; so that no matter what "crosses" would be laid upon them, no matter what their own eyes, ears, and senses said to them, or lied to them, they would "know" Who He Is, And what He Did. So that years later Peter could preach and write: "we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ but were eyewitnesses of His majesty." Not all can be eyewitnesses. Only three of the twelve were privileged to witness the "Transfiguration." Not all eyewitnesses can witness everything. Sts. Mark, Luke, and Paul did not witness our Lord's miracles during His three year ministry. Sts. Irenaeus, Cyprian, Augustine, Luther, and all of you, did not witness His Resurrection and Ascension. But the Word works faith. The Holy Spirit takes the Word of God and creates belief in the called brothers and sisters of our Lord so that they, you, believe what has happened, and what Is Happening! The words themselves describe and present actual realities, events, "Eternal Essence." Christ was "Transfigured" to show the three, and now all of you as well, that the Man Jesus of Nazareth was also the Second Person of the Holy Trinity. The mountain top "light-show" was to witness to the Apostles that He was light of light, God of God, begotten not made, being of one substance (homo-ousias) with the Father.
Now when the Disciples would see their Master again in different circumstances, no matter how bad it looked or felt, they would know. Now when they saw Him prostrate on Gethsemane's grass, hanging torn and mutilated on the tree, or lifeless and ashen when removed from the cross by Joseph of Arimathea, they would know. Their faith, actions, and words may not have demonstrated what they had been given, what was theirs, but, they still had the reality. It happened, they saw Jesus' face shining like the sun, and His clothes as white as light. They saw Moses and Elijah talking with Him.
Now, when you see and feel only the Law, the stern rebuke of God's commands, you know nonetheless, as redeemed children, the Love of God in Christ Jesus; His Work and Death for you. Parents understand and children understand when they grow and mature. "Behind" every spanking, every curfew, every grounding, every discipline enforced, stands the caring concern of a parent; the shining and glowing love of Dad and Mom.
The "Transfiguration" gives you the hidden, the covered, the subsurface presence, which will one day be revealed when He comes again; when He resurrects you to be like Him, to have your own glowing, radiating glorified bodies and souls.
Now you are disciples like Peter, James and John. You know and believe.
"Behind" Lent is Easter. "Behind" the wreath of thorns is the Crown and Throne of glory. "Behind" the hill called Calvary, the blood, spittle, sweat; curses, jeers, mocking and obscene laughter, is the "Transfigured One" reigning for your salvation and re-creation.
"Behind" the "humiliation" of our Lord, stands the now Ever-Easter "Exaltation."
And this morning, for you, FOR YOU, a direct touch, a soothing word, a new creation: "Arise, and do not be afraid."
The reason pastors say things like "when you hear the Word of God, you too are transfigured," is because IT IS TRUE. The reason preachers tell you every year on this day that "when you eat the Supper of the Lord, you too are transfigured," is because IT IS TRUE. Even repetitive or cliched preaching can have the truth behind it. Hear it again. When you leave this mountain top experience of the Divine Service, this</> beatific intersection of heaven and earth, and have to trudge down the hillside to the daily wilderness struggle awaiting for you, know and believe He is with you on the plain, His Word, His Spirit, His Love and Presence...because IT STILL IS TRUE.
"Behind" the water (+), "behind" the pages of Scripture, "behind" the Word of Absolution, and "behind" the bread and wine, stands the "Transfigured God" the Man Jesus, for you.
"Arise, and do not be afraid."
In the Name of The Father and of The Son + and of The Holy Ghost