Christ in You, the Hope of Glory, February 7, 2016
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Fertile LutheranFebruary 7, 2016Text: Exodus 34:29-35Psalm 992 Corinthians 312Luke 9:28-43Christ in You, the Hope of GloryIn preparing a sermon, I often read the previous chapter or two that comes before a designatedtext in order to put it in proper context. I would like to share what I found in Exodus, chapter 33.The Israelites were camped at the foot of Mount Sinai, and there God called Moses to come meethim on the top of the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments. And Moses asked Godsomething- I pray Thee- show me thy glory. I believe it was an innocent request of Moses in thecontext of his close relationship with God.I think that God’s answer supports that idea. God didn’t chastise Moses for his question- butexplained to him that he could not see God’s unveiled glory to him- at least now with our earthlyminds and eyes. And God said- here’s the deal: “I will make all my goodness pass before youand proclaim before you my name- but you cannot see my face; for man shall not see me andlive.”He then went on to say: “But there is a place you can stand- stand here upon the rock- and whilemy glory passes by I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and I will cover with my hand until Ihave passed by; then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall notbe seen.”The Psalms are peppered with references to God’s glory. “Lord our Lord, how majestic is yourname in all the earth!” “You have set your glory in the heavens- they declare the glory of God;the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” And when John was given a revelation of heaven –thisis what he saw: “the city (the new Jerusalem) does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it,for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.” None of us can ever even begin toimagine what it will be like to stand before God’s unveiled glory. None-the-less, God- show usyour glory. Pray.Today is Transfiguration Sunday- the last Sunday before Lent begins. It is about many things-but one thing we can know for sure is that it is about who Jesus was and is. The gospel tells usthat one day Jesus invited Peter, James and John to come with him up a high mountain to pray.And while he was praying, the appearance of His face changed and his clothes became dazzlingwhite. And the disciples saw Moses and Elijah standing there with Jesus talking.Jesus was transfigured- he was not transformed. There is a huge difference. Jesus is neverchanging- the same yesterday, today and forever. It was the eyes of the disciples that had beenopened as if a veil had been lifted from their eyes to allow them to see Jesus in that glorifiedstate.
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It’s a great story- but I’m wondering why this story of the transfiguration comes on the Sundaybefore Lent? I think is to remind us who and where Jesus came from- that his home is in heavenand came to earth to fulfill the will of His father to save us from our sins.When the angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds and told them of the birth of Jesus- thebible says that the glory of the Lord shone around them-and the shepherds were filled with fearbecause of it. It was if the sky had opened up ever so slightly to allow a glimpse of heaven andthe glory of God’s presence. The angels praised God saying: “Glory to God in the highest.” Thatis where Jesus came from-and the angels knew it. But they also praised God that night withthundering praise of wonder and joy because they were proclaiming God’s plan of redemptionwas unfolding- a savior has been born.For thirty-three years- God’s glory lived among us as a humbled servant king. From Philippians2:5-10 we read: “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who thoughhe was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptiedhimself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found inhuman form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above everyname.”I’m thinking the hymn writer must have been meditating on this passage when he wrote thewords: “In the cross of Christ I glory-towering over the wreaks of time.” Jesus came to makeknown God’s glory- not seated on the throne of an earthly palace or seated on a war horse readyfor battle- but on the cross- and the empty tomb.How can we define the glory of God? In a feeble attempt to at least try- may I suggest thatGod’s glory is the expression and witness of the overwhelming, unquestionable presence of Godin the fullness of all He is- eternal, unchangeable, almighty, present everywhere, holy, just,faithful, good, merciful, gracious, and love. Like the illuminating light of the sun’s rays cannotbe separated from what the sun is, so the glory of God cannot be separated from who He is.This Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent. It is a time of repentance as we remember thesuffering and death of Jesus on the cross. The bible tells us in Colossians that in Jesus, thefullness of God was pleased to dwell. For us to fully realize the depth of sacrificial love Jesussuffered and died, we must first remember it was the fullness of God on the cross- it was a holyand powerful God on the cross who knew no sin- and yet willingly- purposefully- took uponHimself all of mankind’s sin and depravity. Not only the sins we despise and acknowledge, butthe sins we have given another name and feel comfortable living with.In the light and glory of a holy and righteous God, our sins are exposed for what they are- andwe are left with no excuses, no bargaining and no debates. We simply come as we are to God formercy. We are saved by grace alone- by Christ alone. Because of the death of a perfect sacrificesubstituted in our place, God has paid the debt of our sins in full. By His stripes we are healed.Realizing that, how should we then live? How can we not be motivated to live for the praise ofHis glory in all that we do? Fact is, we still choose to seek glory for ourselves.
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As Christians, then, is it wrong to receive recognition and rewards for accomplishments we haveachieved? As long as we put it in the right perspective and give God the glory for it, it can be asource of great encouragement. After all, God wants us to use and develop the gifts He has givenus- and when we do- God smiles and blesses our efforts.There was a man born in 1902 by the name of Eric Liddell, who God had given the athleticability to run like only a few could- before or since. Eric loved to run. Born to missionaryparents, Eric had grown to know and love God since his youth, Eric ran “for the glory of God.”In 1924, Eric had earned a place on the US Olympic track team to be held in Paris, France. Hewas the favorite to win the 100 meter- only thing- the race was scheduled to run on a Sunday.Because of his faith- he refused to run it- saying: “it was the Lord’s day” But he did agreed to runthe 400 meter race instead- a race he had not trained in. Beyond all earthly odds, he went on towin the race and receive a gold medal in the event.Out of all the Olympic gold medal winners in 1924, Eric is most remembered- and for only onereason. In sacrificing his best chance to win a once in a life time gold medal and bring glory tonot only to himself but for his country- it was used it to give glory to God. Because he desired touse his athletic gifts to glorify God, running was not motivated by the hope of winning a goldmedal for himself- it had an eternal purpose. It gave him an opportunity to speak about God tomen who otherwise might not be at all interested. After the Olympics, Eric Liddell went on tobecome a missionary to China where he found soon found himself a prisoner of a Japanese warcamp during WWII. There he became sick and died. But he never wavered in serving others andgiving God the glory.In his letter to the Colossians, Paul wrote that he rejoiced in his sufferings. He was willing tosuffer for the gospel- not to receive glory for himself- but to give God the glory- confessing thatit is “Christ in us who is the hope of glory.”- not his works.In closing, may we pray as Moses did, to ask God to show us His glory. And as we do, may ourlives be a witness to God’s glory.Take me Jesus as I am- I can come no other way. Draw me closer unto you- teach how to walkyour way. Make me like a precious stone- crystal clear and finely honed. Light of Jesus shiningthrough- giving glory back to you. In Jesus name, Amen.