Fertile Lutheran

February 7, 2016

Text: Exodus 34:29-35

Psalm 99

2 Corinthians 312

Luke 9:28-43

                                                            Christ in You, the Hope of Glory

In preparing a sermon, I often read the previous chapter or two that comes before a designated

text 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 meet

and proclaim before you my name- but you cannot see my face; for man shall not see me and

live.”

He then went on to say: “But there is a place you can stand- stand here upon the rock- and while

my glory passes by I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and I will cover with my hand until I

have passed by; then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not

be seen.”

The Psalms are peppered with references to God’s glory. “Lord our Lord, how majestic is your

name 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 –this

is what he saw: “the city (the new Jerusalem) does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it,

that 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 dazzling

white. 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 never

changing- the same yesterday, today and forever. It was the eyes of the disciples that had been

opened as if a veil had been lifted from their eyes to allow them to see Jesus in that glorified

state.

It’s a great story- but I’m wondering why this story of the transfiguration comes on the Sunday

before Lent? I think is to remind us who and where Jesus came from- that his home is in heaven

and 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- the

bible says that the glory of the Lord shone around them-and the shepherds were filled with fear

because of it. It was if the sky had opened up ever so slightly to allow a glimpse of heaven and

the glory of God’s presence. The angels praised God saying: “Glory to God in the highest.” That

is where Jesus came from-and the angels knew it. But they also praised God that night with

thundering praise of wonder and joy because they were proclaiming God’s plan of redemption

was unfolding- a savior has been born.

I’m thinking the hymn writer must have been meditating on this passage when he wrote the

known God’s glory- not seated on the throne of an earthly palace or seated on a war horse ready

for 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 that

in 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 cannot

be separated from what the sun is, so the glory of God cannot be separated from who He is.

the 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- and

mercy. We are saved by grace alone- by Christ alone. Because of the death of a perfect sacrifice

substituted 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 of

His glory in all that we do? Fact is, we still choose to seek glory for ourselves.

As Christians, then, is it wrong to receive recognition and rewards for accomplishments we have

achieved? As long as we put it in the right perspective and give God the glory for it, it can be a

source of great encouragement. After all, God wants us to use and develop the gifts He has given

us- 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 athletic

ability to run like only a few could- before or since. Eric loved to run. Born to missionary

parents, 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. He

was the favorite to win the 100 meter- only thing- the race was scheduled to run on a Sunday.

use his athletic gifts to glorify God, running was not motivated by the hope of winning a gold

medal for himself- it had an eternal purpose. It gave him an opportunity to speak about God to

become a missionary to China where he found soon found himself a prisoner of a Japanese war

camp during WWII. There he became sick and died. But he never wavered in serving others and

giving God the glory.

suffer for the gospel- not to receive glory for himself- but to give God the glory- confessing that

it 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 our