Blessing: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.Text: Matthew 17:1-9 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, and James, and John his brother, and doth bring them up to a high mount by themselves, and he was transfigured before them, and his face shone as the sun, and his garments did become white as the light, and lo, appear to them did Moses and Elijah, talking together with him. And Peter answering said to Jesus, `Sir, it is good to us to be here; if thou wilt, we may make here three booths--for thee one, and for Moses one, and one for Elijah.' While he is yet speaking, lo, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and lo, a voice out of the cloud, saying, `This is My Son, --the Beloved, in whom I did delight; hear him.' And the disciples having heard, did fall upon their face, and were exceedingly afraid, and Jesus having come near, touched them, and said, `Rise, be not afraid,' and having lifted up their eyes, they saw no one, except Jesus only. And as they are coming down from the mount, Jesus charged them, saying, `Say to no one the vision, till the Son of Man out of the dead may rise.'
Illustration: The Sun is the most prominent feature in our solar system. It is the largest object and contains approximately 98% of the total solar system mass. One hundred and nine Earths would be required to fit across the Sun's disk, and its interior could hold over 1.3 million Earths. The Sun's outer visible layer is called the photosphere and has a temperature of 6,000°C (11,000°F). This layer has a mottled appearance due to the turbulent eruptions of energy at the surface.
I’VE GOT SONSHINE ON A DARK AND CLOUDY DAY
This is the climax of the Epiphany season, the season of light, the season of revelation, the season in which the Transfiguration climaxes Jesus revealing His Glory to a world that hates the light and loves the darkness. Jesus took His closest disciples to the top of High mountain was changed, His glory was revealed, to the point in which His face shined like the sun and His clothing also shined like pure light. This power Jesus only reveals for a moment. Have you ever wondered why didn’t Jesus start out with this power from the beginning? How many would believe in Jesus? How many more would worship His name? Jesus takes a strange way to souls into the Kingdom doesn’t He? His great glory is revealed and not only His glory, but Moses, the Law giver, and the Elijah, the chief of all the prophets. Here you have God’s formula for salvation the Word and the Sacraments in Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. And you just gotta love Peter, he stands as the number one disciples and you never know what he is going to say next, he gives me a lot of hope. If he can be saved anyone can. Peter is rebuked by the Father Himself, listen to my beloved Son, they fall down as dead men in fear. Peter spends night and day, day and night with Emmanuel and he still gets it wrong, often. Peter speaks and we wait to see what will he say next. But the truth of the matter is that Peter speaks at this moment as the most enlightened and strongest of human kind and he speaks idolatry. He is still under a cloud of darkness just as anyone is who lives for the flesh and not for God. The darkness of the world is so thick it can be felt. And the people of the world are lovin, it. And John 3:19-20 `And this is the judgment, that the light hath come to the world, and men did love the darkness rather than the light, for their works were evil; for every one who is doing wicked things hateth the light, and doth not come unto the light, that his works may not be detected.
If you have been one those people stumbling around in the dark, you can have Sonshine on a dark and cloudy day? If you feel the weight of the darkness of your human nature, you can have Sonshine on a dark and cloudy day? If you have been transformed like Romans 12:2b transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Where is there hope and healing in this world, we need a Savior. You can have Sonshine in the middle of these dark and cloudy days. And you will hear the words `Rise, be not afraid,' and you can lift up your eyes, and see Jesus. You will see the light and the true will guide you through this dark and weary life. Moses saw the light and his face shined brightly. Elijah knew the light and he was carried away in a chariot of fire and he never saw death and corruption. This promise is for you and your children. For everyone who hates this world God promises friendship (James 4:4). The light of God now shines in your heart, because you hear and receive the Gospel you are the light of the world. The light of the Transfiguration is in you, because Jesus is in you. The Light shines in the darkness of this world and it doesn’t not understand, if darkness cannot understand light it stands to reason that the people of this wicked generation will never understand us. Nor will we understand them. This is a good thing it means that we have a great opportunity. As the Son shines in the heart darkness must scatter and leave. We can tell a world of darkness to let the light shine in. When we reflect the light of the Gospel into the dark and dreary lives people. God speaks through to shine the light of God’s love into the dark loneliness of their lives. On the wings of God’s love we proclaim the way up and above the thick clouds telling the world of Jesus Christ the only way to fly. Jesus is the way out of the darkness, the path is set, the course laid in and there’s no turning back. By faith see the light, be the light, shine the light in a world of death and darkness; in Jesus you can be the light out of darkness, in Jesus you can shine the light of the gospel light in the peoples hearts, we can proclaim the name of that is the Light itself Jesus, say it with me, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, now go and proclaim the Light to the world, Jesus. Amen.
Closing: Philipians 4: 7And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
