For the Transfiguration of our Lord celebration, the Series C three readings are Deuteronomy 34:1-12; Hebrews 3:1-6 and Luke 9:28-36. Althought the Lukan passage about the actual Transfiguration is tempting to choose to preach about, the choice for this sermon is Hebrews 3:3a, “For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses…”
The “more glory” phrase can refer to the fact that when Moses was on Mt. Sinai, his face was reflecting the glory of God while the face of Jesus on Mt. Transfiguration was radiating the glory of God, being God Himself. This last Sunday of the Epiphany season once more reminds us that Jesus is not simply our Savior because He is both the promised Son of Man (Daniel 7) and the promised Messiah (Gen 3:15) but He is God Himself. For there is no angel that has his own glory but instead reflects the glory of God. For Jesus is like the sun’s brightness that comes from within itself while we human beings reflect God’s glory as does the moon the sun’s glory. (See I Corinthians 15)
This distinction between Jesus and Moses goes far beyond the source of the brightness of their respective visage. It involves the great distinctions between Law and Gospel as understood with the phrases “the old Testament” and “the new Testament.” Surprisingly, these phrases when used by the Bible never refer to the set of books written before and then after the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Rather, the old Testament refers to that old covenant inaugurated in Exodus 24 and the new Testament refers to that new covenant inaugurated in 1 Corinthians 11 with the holy eucharist.
The covenant Moses presided over was in essence of Law since the promises upon which it stood were those of the people who said, “All these things we will do and obey.” As Hebrews points out elsewhere, the new covenant was based on better promises; that is, the promises of God Himself and alone. For the holy Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit both begin and finalize our salvation without any contribution or cooperation on our part. Chapters in Hebrews clearly distinguish between the 2 covenants; the first leading to certain death and the second resulting in the forgiveness of sins for the entire world.
While Moses on the mountain of Transfiguration represents the Law and its dire consequences, Elijah represents the prophetic sure hope of a new age brought in by the coming of God Himself in flesh. While indeed there is a glory of Moses and Elijah, that of Jesus far transcends theirs. Unlike many sermons that want to make the point that the disciples had to return to the valley after that mountaintop experience, we instead prefer to preach how Jesus Himself returned to the valley to continue His saving miracles and salvation. That is the point of the Transfiguration for us. That He, Who ascended into the heavens, will never leave us nor forsake us as we endure the valley of this earth looking forward to the fulfillment of the heavenly kingdom after that glorious Day of Judgment.
Name:Tom Baker