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This sermon looks with the Apostle Paul at transfiguration, that is, what changes and transforms us. First of all, it defines what we mean by transfiguration. Secondly, it examines the various kinds of people who need transfiguration, developing a typology of them. Finally, it explores in depth how transfiguration does and does not happen.
In this sermon, we go on a fishing trip with Jesus to receive what Peter received: a whole new life following Jesus. Maybe, we can put it like this: there is a before this sermon, and there is an after this sermon. From now on, we will see Jesus as the only thing we need in life so that we can drop everything and just follow him.
Luke has so many little episodes in this action-packed short account. How do they all fit together? What does it all add up to? It adds up to Christ’s resume, Christ’s composite picture - a look at Christ’s mission and ministry. There is a lot for the Christian to take in here. This sermon, though, boils it all down to three takeaway based on Luke’s storytelling. There is encouragement for our faith, insistence on our hope, and look at true love.
There are feelings that we associate with Jesus. There is, on the one hand, the enthusiasm that is often felt toward Jesus. Even modern polls show that. People like Jesus. Why is that? What’s going on? What should we think of that? There is, on the other hand, deep, unfounded hostility toward Jesus. Why is that? What makes Jesus someone who in this instance is almost thrown off a cliff and in another more famous instance someone who is crucified?
Paul not only talks the talk. Paul also walks the walk. He not only says that through Christ, we can boldly access God; he does access God through prayer. What a prayer! This sermon looks at two of the petitions that Paul prays, showing Christ in the listener and Christ for the listener. It helps to root the love of Christ in the experience of the Christian.
Today we celebrate the Baptism of our Lord as we kick off our season of Epiphany. We do so by looking at the anointing of David, the father of Jesus. We're going to see how through it, the Lord neither allows us to stay in unbounded grief nor unbridled optimism but rather grounds us in godly grit founded on our great Messiah, Jesus.