Mark 9.2-9

Before the explosion of internet technology that brought every piece of information into our homes and eventually onto our phones in the blink of an eye, we had to go out to find and experience sneak peeks into what would be a reality in the near future.  

In the late 1990s, if we wanted to get a sneak peak or preview of a coming movie, we would have to go to a movie theater and watch the trailers that acted as commercials before the headlining film was shown.

I don’t remember any time, in my lifetime, that the sneak peak, preview, or coming attraction of a soon to be released film drew more of a crowd to the theaters than when the first new installment of the Star Wars saga was being released in 1999.  

The sneak peak of the coming attraction for Star Wars: Episode 1: The Phantom menace saw hundreds of thousands of people, one which was me, of course, buy a full priced ticket for a movie we didn’t want to see, only to stay for the sneak peak of the coming attraction that we had been waiting for almost 20 years.  

It was a sight to behold.  As soon as the Star Wars 2 1/2 minute preview was over, the entire movie theater emptied out with no one staying to watch the movie that we paid to see—truthfully, I don’t even remember what movie it was because it was so unimportant to me.

In this morning’s Biblical text, chosen for us by the lectionary for this Sunday, which celebrates The Transfiguration of Jesus, we are brought to the Gospel of Mark, or, in other words, the disciple Mark’s biography of Jesus.

It is in this historical record, the three disciples that Jesus brings with him get a sneak peak, a preview of the coming attraction of Jesus’ glorification into His Heavenly form.  The three men see what no one else has seen at this point, and they don’t have cell phones to take pictures to share with the world on social media what Jesus reveals to them.

This morning, let’s get the same sneak peak at the coming attraction of Jesus’ death, resurrection, and glorification that Peter, James, and John got around 2000 years ago.

Mark 9:2–9 tells us this:

[2] And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, [3] and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. [4] And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. [5] And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” [6] For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. [7] And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” [8] And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.

[9] And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. (ESV)

For over 30 years now, one of the most popular toy lines has continued to exist under the tagline, “More Than Meets the Eye.” 

The Transformers began in the 1980s, when I was a wee little lad.  The Transformers had a weekly Saturday morning cartoon series and a set of toys to bring the onscreen action into the hands and homes of fans. 

The premise of The Transformers is that a civil war between two warring factions of robots has decimated their home planet of Cybertron sending the robots to earth in search of a new source of energy to power their species. The robots were able to hide on earth because they could transform into vehicles such as trucks, cars, planes, and boats.  Later on in the series, they were able to transform into animals or technological items such as cassette tapes or military weapons. 

When the humans that lived on earth looked around them, they only saw the familiar—vehicles, animals, and machinery.  However, there was more than meets the eyes.  Although The Transformers were vehicles, animals, and machinery, they were times when they revealed their true robotic form to battle for energy and save the human race from destruction.

Wow, that was so nerdy.

We are brought into our text this morning being told that 6 days have passed since Jesus made a bunch of statements that wouldn’t have been fully understood by those who heard them.

Prior to the mountaintop experience of this morning’s text, these sayings of Jesus have been spoken:

·      “Take nothing and go on a long journey traveling from city to city and village to village preaching about repentance and forgiveness while also healing the sick and casting out demons from the possessed.”

·      “Feed this crowd of 15,000 with one person’s lunch.”

·      “I am going to die and come back to life.”

·      “In order for you and God to remain in a healthy relationship, you must die every day.”

Each of these statements that Jesus made and each of the miracles that surrounded them would have caused those who were first hand witnesses to astonishingly state, “There is more than meets the eye with Jesus.”

Who is this guy that had the ability to give us the power to heal and cast out demons? 

He is more than meets the eye!

Who is this guy that can feed 15,000 people with only one person’s lunch? 

He is more than meets the eye!

Who is this guy that the world thinks is one of God’s prophets returned from the dead?

He is more than meets the eye.

Who is this guy that will die and come back to life?

He is more than meets the eye.

Today’s text is about the Transfiguration.  This was the moment in time when Jesus brought three of His disciples up a mountain in order to reveal a part of Him that they hadn’t fully seen yet. In the Transfiguration of Jesus, we learn that there is more than meets the eye with Jesus.  

One commentator put it this way:

“The transfiguration does not show what Jesus can do but who Jesus is and how to interpret his [coming] suffering and death…the one who descends to the depths of disgrace [on the cross] also ascends to glory.” (Garland, 397)

Who is Jesus according to this text?

He is more than the human man that meets the eye.

Yes, Jesus is fully human.  But, Jesus is also at the same exact time, fully God.  One of Jesus’ other names is Immanuel which means God with us.  Jesus is also called God Incarnate which means, God in the flesh.  

For most of Jesus’ time on earth, His human person was clearly seen.  However, here on this mountain with 3 of His disciples, He revealed His divine person that was working through His human person to save the human race from the death and destruction that comes because of sin.

Who are you according to this text?

Sometimes, you are just like the Peter, John, and James.

Sometimes, you don’t understand what Jesus is saying or do

ing.

Sometimes, you get tired following Jesus.

Sometimes, you get impatient waiting on God to act.

Sometimes, you attempt to control God.

Sometimes, you keep silent about what you have seen and heard from Jesus because you are afraid of others thinking you are crazy or foolish.

But, despite all of those shortcomings when measured against the standard of God’s Kingdom, Jesus, God with you, God in the flesh, died on the cross to provide forgiveness for your Sin and failures.

Through faith in Jesus Christ, you are more than meets the eye. 

You are one made righteous by the great exchange that occurred when Jesus took your sin upon Himself and clothed you with His perfection.

While spending time in God’s Word on Thursday morning, I once again read about the healthy functioning body of Christ that began meeting together on Sunday mornings, shortly after Jesus’s death and resurrection.

Acts 2.42-47 describes the ins and outs of this church.

We are told,

[42]…they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. [43] And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. [44] And all who believed were together and had all things in common. [45] And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. [46] And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, [47] praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. 

Later that same day, while I was studying in preparation for this morning’s message, I read this comment about the connection between Jesus’ person and Jesus’ body, the Church:

“For [Jesus] is the Prophet who is to be heard and heeded: that is why the church, if it is to carry on his work, is to be a preaching church. [Jesus] is the royal Son, who with his wealth and power provides for all the needs of his people: that is why his church must exercise the same ministry and be a community in which members are likewise concerned with one another’s needs, caring and nourishing and building up.  [Jesus] is the Chosen, the Servant, who treads the path of suffering: that is why all those who wish to be his disciples must similarly take up the cross and deny themselves” (Mark Wilcock, The Message of Luke, 110)

On the mountain, the afternoon of Jesus’ Transfiguration, Jesus graciously gives three sinners a sneak peak of the coming attraction that that had been waiting for for their entire lives.

These three men heard Moses, Elijah, and Jesus speaking about Jesus’ death (according to a detail given to us in the description of this event in Luke’s Gospel), resurrection, and glorification.  Meaning, these three men heard that in Jesus, God has given them their Savior.  This Jesus would save them.  This Jesus was forgive their sin.  This Jesus would make their perfect for God in Heaven.  This Jesus would defeat the power of death and the devil for them.  This Jesus would give them eternal life in God’s Kingdom of Heaven.

Moses and Elijah were present because they were the representatives of the Law and the Prophets of the old covenant. 

God sent these two men into the world to tell humanity to do this and not to do that.  The Law that God gave them to give to humanity was to show us what God was like, what God expected of us to be perfect and acceptable in His eyes, and to show us the we could never live up to those standards because of the corruption and brokenness of our thoughts, words, and actions, due to the original sin that overflowed from their hearts in every direction possible.

God, in his grace, mercy, and love, not wanting to be separated from you, next sent His Only Son, Jesus, who was God in the flesh, to bring you up the mountain of the Gospel to give you the Good News that Jesus was the mediator of a new covenant in which God in his grace, mercy, and love would do everything for you that you could not do for yourself.  God would forgive your sin and clean you up through Jesus’ death on the cross.  And, God would you give Jesus’ record of perfection and righteous so that you could be accepted into Heaven from this day forward.

This Jesus would give them hope for today and tomorrow that the present hardships and sufferings of this life were only temporary and a day would come where all wrongs would be made right and all darkness would be made light.

Rest in the coming attraction of Jesus’ death, resurrection, and glorification.  You have been and will fully be rescued from sin and set firmly in the family of God where you, like Jesus will one day be in the presence of your Creator and Maker, clothed in radiant white, standing in awe of the grace, mercy, love, and glory of God.

This is the Word of God for you today.

This is the Grace of God for you today.

Amen.

Pastor Fred Scragg V.

February 11, 2024.