Listen to Him--Sermon for Transfiguration

The story is told of Franklin Roosevelt, who often endured long receiving lines at the White House. He complained that no one really paid any attention to what was said. One day, during a reception, he decided to try an experiment. To each person who passed down the line and shook his hand, he murmured, "I murdered my grandmother this morning." The guests responded with phrases like, "Marvelous! Keep up the good work. We are proud of you. God bless you, sir." It was not till the end of the line, while greeting the ambassador from Bolivia, that his words were actually heard. Nonplussed, the ambassador leaned over and whispered, "I'm sure she had it coming."
Listening—really listening and paying full attention is often difficult. We have become skilled multi-taskers. It’s not unusual for us to have the TV on with a book or video game in hand, or music playing while we’re on the phone trying to pull some other project together. Then there are those among us who have perfected the art of selective listening. It can be a challenge to listen, but our most important relationships depend on it.
The story of Jesus’ appearance changing up there on the mountain can be bewildering to us. It suggests many things: we get a glimpse of Jesus’ true glory. There is a glimpse of heaven here, as Moses and Elijah appear, talking with Jesus. The hymns that we sing on this Transfiguration Day put these themes in our mouths. But my focus is drawn to the arrival of Almighty God on that mountaintop. A bright cloud envelops them, and a voice from the cloud says, “This is my Son, whom I love, with him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!”
We’re only three weeks removed from our remembrance of Jesus’ baptism, so hopefully those words sound familiar to you. “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased” is the same statement made by the Father as Jesus is baptized—and we talked about how those same words are spoken over us at our baptism. But the voice from the cloud speaks three new words here on the mountaintop. Those are, simply, “Listen to Him!” Listen to Him.
Peter, James, and John, were eye and ear-witnesses of all this. Our Epistle lesson today is Peter’s written report about this incident. It was Peter, too, who famously said, “It is good for us to be here.” That is the basis for the Transfiguration Hymn “How Good Lord To Be Here.” Maybe we can understand—Peter wanted this experience to last. He wanted to set up little tents like they did for the Festival of Tabernacles and make this glorious supernatural event last a while. But that doesn’t seem to be the point. And when the cloud appears, and the voice declares, “This is my Son, Listen to Him,” apparently it stops being fun, because the disciples fell facedown to the ground, terrified. Again, maybe we can understand. To see Jesus shining like the sun, holding a conversation with two All Star prophets is one thing—but to have Yahweh the Mighty Creator show up, well now, that’s serious. He’s holy, we’re not. He’s perfect, we’re sinful. He’s perfectly just in his judgments, and we know what we deserve. Maybe we can understand. For Peter, James, and John, the show is over. God and sin don’t mix, so this looks like it’s going to end badly.
But the voice from the cloud had said, “Listen to Him.” And doubtlessly, the disciples are listening…listening for what? For the hammer of judgment to drop? Listening for the crackle of lightning and roar of God’s thunder? Those men were listening, all right, because their eyes were probably squeezed shut in terror. With their ears wide open, they hear the familiar voice of their Teacher, saying, “Get up. Don’t be afraid.” When they dare to look up, all they see is Jesus. Listen to Him. The cloud is gone. Moses and Elijah are gone. Jesus just looks like Jesus again. Listen to Him. Don’t be afraid.
Are you listening to Him? Are you listening to Jesus? Who has your ear? Can you even hear Him over the noise of a busy life? Do you create time to listen to Him, shoving other things aside in order to take in his words?
Writer Charles Swindoll once found himself with too many commitments in too few days. He got nervous and tense about it. "I was snapping at my wife and our children, choking down my food at mealtimes, and feeling irritated at those unexpected interruptions through the day," he recalled in his book Stress Fractures. "Before long, things around our home started reflecting the patter of my hurry-up style. It was becoming unbearable.
"I distinctly remember after supper one evening, the words of our younger daughter, Colleen. She wanted to tell me something important that had happened to her at school that day. She began hurriedly, 'Daddy, I wanna tell you somethin' and I'll tell you really fast.'
"Suddenly realizing her frustration, I answered, 'Honey, you can tell me -- and you don't have to tell me really fast. Say it slowly." "I'll never forget her answer: 'Then listen slowly.'"
When you find a place and a way to “listen slowly” to Jesus—however that works for you—then you will hear the same message that greeted the terrified disciples, and it’s exactly what we need to hear, too. “Don’t be afraid.” Those three short words sum up why Jesus came. He came to remove fear by giving himself to you.
To the person running from God, Jesus says: Don’t be afraid. “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3: 16)
To the person gripped with anxiety about the future, Jesus says: Don’t be afraid. “Do not worry, saying, What shall we eat? Or What shall we drink? Or What shall we wear? For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow…” (Matt. 6: 31—34)
To the person whose sins are killing them, whose guilt is weighing them down, Jesus says: “Don’t be afraid. “Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” (Luke 7: 48, 50).
To the person who is scared of burn-out, Jesus says: Don’t be afraid. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:30)
To the person wondering if God notices them, Jesus says: Don’t be afraid. “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10: 29—31.)
To the person scared to death of death, Jesus says: Don’t be afraid. “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” (John 11: 25—26) “In my Father’s house are many rooms…I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (John 14: 2—3)
To the person terrified at the thought that their life is meaningless, Jesus says: Don’t be afraid. “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.”(Matthew 16: 16) “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden…in the same way let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
To the person who suspects that their questions and doubts will disqualify them from God’s blessing, Jesus says: Don’t be afraid. “Whoever comes to me I will never drive away. The will of Him who sent me [is this:] that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6: 37—40, paraphrased)
Jesus still comes to you with his power and these words: “Don’t be afraid.” Listen to Him. Amen.