February 27, 2022 – Transfiguration                Text:  Luke 9:28-36

Dear Friends in Christ,

    Certain things never seem to end.  Caught in a traffic jam.  Depression that won’t go away.  Then sometimes we bring our own weariness to bear when we fall into the same sinful struggles and we feel this will never end.  

    Let’s journey to a mountain today.  A trip we take every year right before the start of Lent.  Let’s frame it this way . . .

“WILL IT LAST?”

    “Now about eight days after these sayings,” and so our text begins.  Let’s rewind.  Eight days before this Peter had confessed that Jesus is the Christ.  Pretty good, but then this.  Jesus tells the disciples he would “be rejected and then killed and on the third day raised.”  Difficulty for Jesus and a challenge for them.  Jesus tells them they need to take up their cross and follow him.  “Huh?  What was that?  I might be killed.”  Not exactly an encouraging halftime speech.  Who wants that to last?  Could I get off the train right here?

    With the background set let’s progress forward and “Jesus took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray.” (v. 28)  Jesus is then transfigured – face altered and clothing a dazzling white.  Now a surprise appearance.  Let’s welcome Moses and Elijah to the gathering.  Two heroes of the faith from centuries past.  What are they doing?  Talking.  Chatting with the Savior.

    Let’s take note of this.  Moses and Elijah in Christ’s presence and the voice of the Father.  These were not just benefits to the disciples but to Jesus Himself.  The cross was in the distance.  Don’t you and I find comfort in talking with someone about a difficult moment?  They listen and advise or just listen and comfort.  No human being could comfort Jesus, but Moses and Elijah who stand there in heavenly glory, are able to do just that, for they serve as a reminder of what will come through Jesus, and by their presence they encourage Jesus as he moves toward the cross.  This is the first lesson in things that will last.  These two gentlemen are the proof of what Christ’s work will do for eternity.  The voice of the Father pushes the point home:  “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” (v. 35)

    Let’s now go to the human side of the equation.  Jesus is giving these men a lesson in things that will last.  In the early twentieth century, this ad appeared in the London newspaper:  “Men wanted for hazardous journey, small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete danger, safe return doubtful.  Honor and recognition in case of success.”  A lot of people scoffed when the Antarctic explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton, ran that ad.  Who would answer a call like that?

    Peter, John and James ran into some of those same hazards as they followed Jesus.  They are on a journey but not without hope.  There is going to be cross bearing and suffering but it will give way to great glory – which will last.

    First we have to wake these guys up.  Hey Rip Van Disciples.  They must have been surprised and what their eyes beheld.  Jesus in His glory and is that . . . Moses . . and Elijah.  Can’t be, can it?  Once they compose themselves and start processing what is before them Peter has an idea.  One we would agree with.  Let’s stay in this moment of glory.

    You have had them, haven’t you?  A moment or moments of glory?  A game winning shot in hoops.  A concert recital with all the right notes.  Beating your dad in ping-pong.  Your husband finally acknowledging your wonderful cooking.  A worship service with hundreds singing “Lift High The Cross.”  You want to stay right there.  

    This is what we see with Peter.  “I am loving this glory why don’t we construct some tents.  Lord, I don’t want to leave this mountain.  Please don’t make me go down the mountain.”  This glory can’t last.  Human glory can’t last.   Accolades fade.  The music stops.  We are left with just the memory.

    The disciples would need this memory when Jesus goes to Jerusalem.  Jesus had to come down from here so that He could be lifted up for them and for us on Mount Calvary.  There, He suffered for us so that our suffering will not last.  He died on that cross for our sinful thoughts and steps so that sin and death would not be the end for us.  He rose from the dead to proclaim the wonderful news that you and I can pass from death into life eternal.  Eternal, now there is a word and an action that will last.  

    We can begin to think our hardships will just keep going and going and going.  Jesus, our Savior and Brother, knows what that feels like.  How many times did the disciples fall asleep on the sinless Son of God?  Fellas?  Hello?  He dealt with many disappointments like those.

    But He led those men down the mountain back to the messiness of this world.  He does the same for you.  When you drift off in your faith life, He is there to pick you up.  He ensures you that your challenges won’t last.  They will come to a finish and be replaced by everlasting peace and joy in his Kingdom that knows no end.                        Amen.   

February 20, 2022                              Text:  Genesis 45:3-15

Dear Friends in Christ,

    Let’s have a little Pastor talk in layman’s terms.  I got excited this week about this text.  Joseph and his brothers was one of my favorite Bible truths in Sunday School.  But I have rarely preached on it if ever.  The reason?  The timing of Easter.  Today is the 7th Sunday after the Epiphany.  We don’t often get this Sunday, which means we don’t often get to hear about Joseph.  Lent is usually starting by February.  Not this year.  We could have an 8th Sunday after Epiphany but that is even rarer.  Easter can be no earlier than March 22 and no later than April 25.  You have to live to 2038 to see that latest date of Easter.  So this text is not heard often. 

    Today we walk in Joseph’s shoes.  What is he going to do?  How will this play out?  How is Joseph going to dispense his power?  Life or death?

“BREAD….OR REVENGE?”

    Joseph is the de facto ruler of Egypt but how did he get here?  He has power.  He has riches.  But the story never looked like it would turn out that way.

    Many years ago Toni and I heard this comment about someone close to us:  “All the boys want to be him.  All the girls want to be with him.”  This is what caused all the problems for Joseph.

    His brothers were jealous of him.  They all wanted to be him.  They were so angry that Joseph was their father’s favorite that they decided to kill him.  They throw him into a pit as they think about their 1st degree murder plans but then they think of a better option.  They sell him into slavery.

    Now comes his second problem.  The girls or more specifically a girl who wants to be with him.  Joseph works for Potiphar, a rich Egyptian.  Potiphar’s wife notices this handsome young man and works to seduce him.  The Bible says to “lie with her” but she wasn’t thinking footsie.  Got the picture?  He didn’t return the attention and when he fled and she had his garment, the husband put Joseph in prison.  This favorite son had lost everything.  Family, freedom and reputation.

    While sitting in prison God gives him wisdom.  Joseph never lost his faith and he starts to interpret dreams.  This puts him in front of Pharaoh, the most powerful man in the world.  His gift of dream interpretation makes him invaluable.  Pharaoh puts him over his house and all the people.

    Back in Israel, Jacob, Joseph’s father, hears there is grain in Egypt so he sends the brothers there.  They stand before their brother but because of the passing of time they don’t recognize him.  He tests them.  And then comes the great reveal and where our text picks up the story.  “I am Joseph.”  The brothers are dismayed.  Wouldn’t you be?  Is it going to be life or death?  Will it be bread…or revenge?  What would you do?

    He gives them life.  He gives them bread and grain.  He tips the scales in their favor by his mercy.  The brothers don’t need to fear Joseph.  He is going to take care of them.  “God sent me before you to preserve life.”  What you can’t miss in these last chapters of Genesis is how many times it says, “The Lord was with Joseph.”  God had a plan for Joseph and Joseph sees it. 

    Wouldn’t you like to see that in your own life?  If all the stress of what you do could be lifted.  Every night you could sleep soundly because you knew what God wanted you to be.  Don’t you want to look back on your life as a man or woman and see God’s hand?  How He guided you.  Instead the struggle, even in our prayers, is maddeningly unclear at times.  Joseph lived with a clear head because He always trusted in the Lord.  He knew God’s plan.  He lived God’s plan.  The hurts along the way made him the man you see in our text.  Confident.  Merciful.  Forgiving.  Loving.

    Walk in Joseph’s calloused feet.  He could have claimed victimhood.  Life had beaten him down.  Instead he waited patiently for the Lord’s victory to be revealed.

    As Joseph limps victoriously through life maybe you see another who was despised by his brothers, the favorite of His Father.  He entered the pit and made residence in prison.  He had his character questioned.  His morals were tempted.  When he was finally publicly crucified, He chose to give life instead of death.  He offers bread for your hunger, and mercy for your revenge.  He tips the scales in your favor by His favor.  He asks nothing of you than that through the Holy Spirit you cling to His grace.  You offer that grace and forgiveness to those who have wronged you.  You live with a merciful heart because the Merciful One accepted you into His family.  

    I am so glad I was allowed to give this sermon.  Through the agony of it all, like Joseph, in Christ, you will be living God’s plan for you.  Not climbing ladders to the top, but lying at the bottom of the pit, with trust in your heart and patience born of faith.  Knowing that God can lift you up from your pain.  

                                    Amen.