Glowing Revelations

Message Title: Glowing Revelations
Theme: Revealing Revelations
Season: Epiphany – Transfiguration Sunday
Main Text: Exodus 24:12-18;
Scripture Reading: Matthew 17:1-9
RCL Scripture: Exodus 24:12-18; Psalm 2; Psalm 99; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Matthew 17:1-9
Focus:  God makes a covenant with his people that impacts every aspect of life.
Function: To use our bodies to glorify God.
Other: Business meeting after church, Ash Wed at 6:30, Baptism class next Sunday at 9:45

SCRIPTURE READING: Matthew 17:1-9  Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them to the top of a very high mountain. ² He was transformed in front of them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. ³ Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus. ⁴ Peter reacted to all of this by saying to Jesus, “Lord, it’s good that we’re here. If you want, I’ll make three shrines: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” ⁵ While he was still speaking, look, a bright cloud overshadowed them. A voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son whom I dearly love. I am very pleased with him. Listen to him!” ⁶ Hearing this, the disciples fell on their faces, filled with awe. ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” ⁸ When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. ⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Don’t tell anybody about the vision until the Human One^[a] is raised from the dead.”

REVELATION:

1. AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT: Has anyone seen the new Avatar movie? Should I see it?
   1. I remember when the first one came out and changed 3D.
   1. I loved the beautiful world of Pandora and how the world glows
2. Bioluminescence: I wish MORE of our world glowed too
   1. Jelly fish
   1. Angler fish
   1. Fireflies/lightning bugs
   1. Jamaica (algae) – Glistening Waters is a glowing lagoon on the north coast of Jamaica. This marvel is only found in 4 places in the world, however, this lagoon is the brightest of them all due to more consistent climate. Here, the fresh water from the Martha Brae River meets the salt-water ocean and this amazing creation is formed.
      1. Boat ride in the lagoon and swimming

TRANSITION: God’s creation is so cool! Today is Transfiguration Sunday, the day we talk about Glowing Jesus. This year we will connect God’s story in the Old Testament with Jesus’ story and God’s plan for us today.

RECAP:

1. Last week we were in Deuteronomy and heard one of the last speeches Moses made to the Israelites.
   1. We learned that the first 5 books of the Old Testament are considered the Law or Books of Moses. These are the foundational documents for God’s people. These books provide a structure to live by and a identity to claim.
   1. Deuteronomy was the transition point for the people – the role was no longer for Moses but for the people to decide to be faithful to God. … and they struggled.
2. Today, in Exodus, we hear from Moses at the formation of God’s covenant with the Israelites.

MAIN TEXT: Exodus 24:12-18 ¹² The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and wait there. I’ll give you the stone tablets with the instructions and the commandments that I’ve written in order to teach them.” ¹³ So Moses and his assistant Joshua got up, and Moses went up God’s mountain. ¹⁴ Moses had said to the elders, “Wait for us here until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur will be here with you. Whoever has a legal dispute may go to them.” ¹⁵ Then Moses went up the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. ¹⁶ The Lord’s glorious presence settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from the cloud. ¹⁷ To the Israelites, the Lord’s glorious presence looked like a blazing fire on top of the mountain. ¹⁸ Moses entered the cloud and went up the mountain. Moses stayed on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.

EXPLAINATION:

1. Context:
   1. In Exodus 20, God gave the people the 10 commandments. Instantly, the Israelites said “we’re scared of God. We’ll talk to you Moses and you can talk to God for us.” (Paraphrased Ex 20: 19)
      1. God proceeds to give the people instructions through Moses.
   1. God makes a commitment to the Israelites. At the beginning of Exodus 24, Moses brings the elders of Israel up to God’s mountain to have a meal with God. They see God AND THEY ATE WITH GOD.
2. Then God says “Hey Moses, let’s chat. Come farther up the mountain.” (Paraphrased Ex 24:12)
   1. Moses preps his people for his absence.
   1. God’s presence descends on the mountain (the people see a bright cloud/blazing fire).
   1. God doesn’t talk to Moses until day 7.
   1. Moses hangs out in the cloud for 40 days. – these 40 days are depicted in Ch 25-32. (Quick breakdown of most of Exodus)
      1. Ch 25-32 Moses is getting instructions from God and people waiting on Moses assume he’s dead. So, they build a gold calf to worship instead.
      1. Ch 33-34 is Moses cleaning up the mess of idolatry. They get a new covenant & Moses sees God’s glory and shines brightly.
      1. Ch 35-End is more instructions

INTERPRETATION:

1. Connect to Gospel: It’s transfiguration Sunday and we celebrate this day every year at this time. A reminder of Jesus’ glory revealed and God’s intentions poured into the Cross.
   1. Jesus takes 3 disciples on a mountain and transfigures in front of them. He shines brightly (like the cloud of God’s presence on the mountain)
   1. Moses & Elijah show up
   1. A voice proclaims this is my son – I’m pleased – listen to him
      1. Affirmation of the words at his baptism
2. Because of Jesus, God’s glory isn’t on a mountain or in a place of worship. God’s glory dwells with each of us.
   1. Our hymn last week “Heaven came down and Glory filled my soul”

APPLICATION:

1. God changes us but perhaps not in the way we think:
   1. Grandma Billie – “I’ll be tall in heaven”
   1. Uncle Stephen – “aren’t you glad he isn’t r* anymore?”
   1. What if heaven removes the barriers that we experienced physically on earth? What if you don’t *need* to be tall because everything is accessible? What if my uncle isn’t the one that changed but we changed to understand him and see him fully?
2. Jesus’ body was transfigured and revealed God’s glory.
   1. How does our body proclaim the glory of God?
      1. No, this isn’t about pounds, inches, or clothing size.
3. How do we bring God glory with our physical selves?
   1. Not with flashy lights or cool commercials
   1. Not with screaming Jesus’s name in a mall food court (Tiktok)
   1. We love God by loving ourselves
   1. We love God by loving others

CONCLUSION:  Open your home, feed the hungry, clothe the naked – Glorify God with your body. Bring God’s glory into this world with your hands and feet.