I have a hope and a dream. I have an ideal of myself, my life, my family
In that dream, I am a dad who does not get angry or blow his cool. I am a father who is gentle under all kinds of pressure with his children. I am caring and spend many hours laughing, playing, being carefree with them. And when I am not doing that, I am the wise father, giving them advice, helping them find their path in life, bestowing confidence in their little hearts.
I am a husband who is never critical, distant, or flippant. I treasure my wife in the way that she deserves and the way that I am called to do.
My neighbors all value me and my well kept yard. Even my dog listens to me, and never runs away, and certainly doesn’t have fleas.
That is my dream.
I am not alone, the only one with a dream.
Kate Gosselin had a dream. Her dream was to tell the nation about her miracle: giving birth to sextuplets. Alexis, Hannah, Aaden, Collin, Leah, and Joel. She could envision people round the world cheering them on, rooting for their survival and experience of life.
Our Nation is filled with people who dream, who have hopes, who want change.
I clearly remember the night of President Obama’s acceptance speech: the TV cameras panning the crowd: the tears of joy mingled with memories of long suffering, the laughter, the hanging on to every word. The constant refrain: YES WE CAN!—a ringing endorsement and conviction that we will overcome our doubters and challenges and fulfill our ideals
I also remember many years ago the vision of another President who spoke of America as a “shining city on a hill”, a tall proud city . . . teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace, with doors wide open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here.
How grand it is to dream of how different things could be, might be, will be.
How sad it is to live them unfulfilled, To get a taste of change, success, and transformation into the ideal man, woman, family, or society, but not be satisfied.
Our nation, as many good things it has done, still has its crime, its arrogance, its selfishness, its glut.
Kate had a simple and noble vision, but what she didn’t envision was that within a year after renewing her vows with Jon, she’d be filing for divorce, with the whole nation looking on and weighing in.
My own ideal, though I see changes, is far from complete. I am far from perfect. Sometimes I fear I am even far from good.
We long change. We long for transformation. We long to kick our bad habits, erase the bad memories, raise successful families, and build a solid future. We long to be the people we were created to be.
The shining example on a hill.
But, We are not. Not on our own. Not all the time.
But there is one who is. Who was all he was meant to be. Who never wavered, who never gave in, who never failed.
He was, quite literally, THE shining example on a hill.
The Transfiguration
Matthew 17 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. Mt 17:1-8.
On this day, something very special happened. Jesus appeared before the apostles in a way they had never seen before: He was transfigured, or, transformed in a way they had never seen before.
def: To be transformed means to be fundamentally and completely changed from one state to another. His clothes were as white as light and his face shone like the sun.
On that day, Jesus revealed that he was special. Although he was very human, he was also very God.
His shining meant that within him was divine nature, was complete holiness.
• Regular humans don’t shine like that.
• Regular humans aren’t holy like that.
• Regular humans don’t shine with God’s glory like that.
Jesus’ transfiguration signaled that he was Lord, and as Lord of the world, he is our shining hope to be lifted beyond our very normal and limited existence. Where he shines, we are dull. Where he is powerful, we are weak.
If we want to ever have hope to rise above our own sinful limitations . . .
• To be a spouse who is faithful and encouraging
• A parent who is gentle and consistent
• A teenager who stands strong against the pressures and temptations of life
• A citizen who has peace and rock solid hope when uncertainty and divisiveness swirls all around
• A mortal who hopes for life beyond the grave
. . . we need Jesus.
Jesus came to change the world, to transform it. The world had turned its back on God. The shine of the world that was created in God’s image has lost its luster. Our shine has become tarnished, as we chose to live a path separate from God.
Jesus never lost his shine, the one that he had from the beginning, from all eternity, with God. It is he who gives us the example and means to be who God created us to be: whole and completely devoted to Him, loving Him thoroughly, and giving that same pure, selfless, devoted love to others. Reflecting the glory and love of God himself. Shining with his purity and glory as He himself works in and thru us.
On that day Jesus was, and to this day, he still is, THE shining hope for all who want to be changed, who want to be transformed, who want to live the way they were created to live.
Big Idea: And it is on the day that we choose to focus on Jesus, and Jesus only, that we will begin to experience change ourselves; that we will be transformed by his daily presence in our lives.
If we want real change, we’re going to need Jesus.
I am not talking about plastic surgery, reduced weight, an improved vocabulary, better healthcare, lower taxes, or a higher standard of living. Sometimes we can do those on our own.
What I am talking about is true, character reshaping, God and others centered, death defying, life transformation.
It is only found in Jesus.
In this little story of Jesus and His disciples, one that quite frankly is a pretty odd story for us living in 21st century United States, we see a powerful transformation happen among Jesus’ 3 closest disciples.
A transformation of their heart is at work, and it is all centered on Jesus.
I invite you to dive with me into their story, into their world, and see how it can become our story, our own hope for change and renewal.
Transition: To Properly Focus on Jesus so that we can experience deep life change, we will need to make the decision to:
1. Look to Jesus, and Only Jesus.
It is absolutely VITAL for all who want true change to See Jesus for Who He is, and let him be the lasting impression on our hearts.
Up to this point in their lives, this has been a problem for the disciples. Though they have spent 3 years with him, they are still struggling to see Jesus for who he really is. In many ways, he was like them: born in humble circumstances, a man who needed to eat, or he’d get hungry, sleep, or he’d get tired.
But he was also a bit unusual: he could make a blind man see, make a thunderstorm instantly still, and he taught with authority like no other person. He was a person of controversy, and yet also a person of popularity.
You can almost imagine what it was like for these 3 disciples, with Jesus, on top of a mountain:
• Up there, having a view of the Promised Land that is priceless, breathtaking.
• an exclusive club! not just anyone can be here, or is here. It is just you, and two close friends, all alone, with Jesus. You have climbed this mountain together. No tram, ski-lift, or paved road. Hard work and helping hands have brought you three to the summit, with Jesus.
• You hang on every word. You commune together in prayer.
• And suddenly, Jesus changes right in front of your eyes, like you have never seen before. If you thought the thin air was bad enough, His appearance takes your breath away. You have to shield your eyes from the sight of him.
• And to top it all off, two very special guests arrive: Moses and Elijah.
Notice Peter’s response:
“Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.) (Lk 9:33)
Luke gives us the picture that Peter is just bumbling about, mystified and overwhelmed at what is unfolding before him, so he goes running off at the mouth—he’s giddy he’s got not only Jesus but these other two historically great men before him. You can almost hear him babbling:
• Hey Elijah what was it like taking your food from ravens? Bet you loved it when God shot down fire from heaven to burn up your sacrifice—you really proved to those Baal worshippers that our God is Great! But lemme ask you: when God took you away in that fiery chariot: did you get hot? Or were you wearing an asbestos suit?
Then turning to Moses:
• Hey Mo—wow! I’ve seen freaky things in my life, but holy cow (pardon the expression, don’t want to bring up a bad memory, you know, with Aaron and the golden calf and all)—you take the cake: your staff turns into a snake? Stick your hand in your cloak: one second “nice hand” next second: “gross!!! All leprous!” Which plague was your favorite? Which gave you the willies? I’ll bet you’ll never strike a rock like that in anger—but lemme tell you, James and John “feel ya” –they don’t call them the “sons of thunder for nothing.”
Peter, in his mountain top experience, just goes running off his mouth. You can’t really blame him: Moses and Elijah were two of the greatest men in Israel’s history, but his focus is all off. Three important men, but only ONE whom he needed to be focusing on, and if he’d been paying attention, he would have.
Only one who was shining. One who was dazzling white from head to toe. One who was transformed.
The Bible says that Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory, the exact representation of God’s being. When you see Jesus, you see God. When you see Jesus, you ARE seeing God.
But Peter is missing that. Maybe he remembered that once
• Moses himself had once shone when he came down from the mountain after he had received the 10 Commandments.
• He radiated from being in the presence of the Lord.
• His face shined—so much that it freaked out the people, and Moses ended up putting a veil over his head.
You see, God is light. God shines with His glory. And all who come near him reflect his glory. Moses did it with his face. Jesus did it with his whole person. His shining was complete.
His shining was not that of a man who was in God’s presence, but was that of a man who WAS God.
Peter seemed to miss that detail. He was overlooking that HERE was JESUS, God himself, in all his glory. The glory he had before the world began, and the glory he will have when every eye shall see Him for who he is and have no doubt who is King over their destiny.
? How often do we get sidetracked from Jesus? How often do we take our eyes off the one who has the power to change us?
Just when DO our eyes and heart turn to Jesus? Do we wait for a retreat? Till we hit rock bottom?
It wasn’t until what Peter witnessed and heard next that the truth of Jesus’ glory and what he, Peter, needed to do dawned on him. 5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them,
The importance of the bright cloud will not have escaped the three disciples: God is here. God the Father had to show up and set the record straight.
They would have known remembered quite well that when God decided to show up, he often did within a bright and dense cloud. He did so when he gave the 10 Commandments to Moses, he did so when Solomon dedicated the temple
But when the people in Solomon’s Day saw the cloud, they worshipped and were thankful. On this day, with Jesus, it was a much different reaction for the disciples:
6 . . . they fell facedown to the ground, terrified.
The one bowed down in reverence and thanks, blessed in their hearts by the goodness of the Lord. The other fell on their faces, terrified.
I believe the difference was the preparation and focus of their hearts.
If you are not prepared to meet God, you can get quite overwhelmed with His presence.
And here God was backing up his Son:
Mt. 17:5 and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
Why would these words terrify them? Why would these encouraging, uplifting words from the heavenly Father about his Son Jesus terrify these men on their mountain top experience?
• Perhaps it was because for the first time, they really heard.
• Perhaps this time they finally listened to the authority that was behind the word from the Lord.
A few days earlier, Jesus had asked them:
13 . . . “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
There were probably as many answers as there were people. And it is no different today.
Kevin DeYoung, in a recent online blog revealed the different ways we might describe Jesus:
• There’s Open-minded Jesus—who loves everyone all the time no matter what (except for people who are not as open-minded as you).
• There’s the Conservative Jesus—who is against tax increases and activist judges, and is for owning firearms.
• There’s Starbucks Jesus—who drinks fair trade coffee, loves spiritual conversations, drives a hybrid, and goes to film festivals.
• There’s Boyfriend Jesus—who wraps his arms around us as we sing about his intoxicating love in our secret place.
(. . .and my personal favorite)
• There’s Touchdown Jesus—who helps athletes fun faster and jump higher than non-Christians and determines the outcomes of Super Bowls.
Some of those may be fun—but it points to the reality that each of us often has a picture of Jesus that is incomplete. We make him who we want him to be, after our own interests. WE don’t see him for who he really is: the LORD who made us, the LORD whom we follow.
Like Peter: who divides his attention between Jesus, Moses, and Elijah, we dilute Jesus’ importance, we deny him his Rightful Place of Honor and focus in our lives.
Peter had to learn a hard but life changing lesson on that mountain: you can’t pick and choose who Jesus is. You can’t say you are a follower of Jesus but strike your own path.
They had not fully submitted to Him.
They sure liked him, and the status it gave them. They sure were drawn to his teaching, even if it puzzled them at times. But they never fully placed him in the center of their lives. They picked and chose when they would focus on him and when they wouldn’t. Now, on the mountain, they realized they could no longer afford to. It was a mountain top experience that drove them to their knees.
TRANSITION: If we ever have a hope of being transformed, of becoming the person God wants us to be, we have to see Jesus for who he is, the shining radiance of God’s glory. He will give us the gift to shine like he does, but it will only come when we not only See Jesus for who he is, but when we
2. Listen to Jesus, and Only Jesus.
Hear Him as the CENTRAL AUTHORITY in our lives
The disciple’s failure to do JUST that is why I think they were terrified. James and John knew all too well how they had argued to be at Jesus’ left and right hand of authority, jockeying for prestige and power. And Peter, a brash man who sometimes got it right, but when it didn’t sit well with him, he ignored Jesus’—and God’s—Word.
Earlier, after Jesus had asked about the crowds, he turned and asked: WHO DO YOU SAY I AM,
Peter got it right: “you are the Christ, the Son of God.” And he was called a ROCK by Jesus.
But then he got it wrong: a bit later, when Jesus said that His mission was to die on the Cross, Peter said: “NEVER, LORD!” And he got called a stumbling block?
Why? Peter did not accept that his Lord, the Son of God, had as his MISSION to save people by dying for their sins, on the cross. If he had not gone to the cross, he would have failed his mission.
From a Rock to a Stumbling Block, all because he wouldn’t accept the words of Jesus, which were the words of God
It doesn’t feel too good to come face to face with God, See Him for who he is, and realize all the filth that you have brought into his presence. All your pride, your deceit, your lack of integrity, your superior attitude toward others—even God himself.
God’s light shines right through that—and helps you see what darkness needs to be dispelled in your life.
• Husbands think a wayward glance, a little lust in their heart won’t hurt them or their spouse until they hear the Lord say: Lust is the root of adultery. If you have done one, you have done the other. Have nothing to do with Lust!
• Another person may think they are a good Christian, keeping their nose clean, until they hear Jesus say: anger and condemnation in your heart is the stepping stone to murder. Do away with it.
• A parent can get wrapped up in their worries and ignore their God given task to gently raise their children to love the Lord and walk in His ways.
His Word has the power to change, to transform us. At times his word is painful—but that is temporary, and works for the healing of our brokenness.
Think of how we would shine if we took His words to heart?
But when we submit to the Lord, and put his word in the CENTRAL PLACE OF AUTHORITY in our Lives, it heals us, changes us, transforms us, renews us, and
WE . . . Begin . . . to shine . . . as he does:
18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
That was the Apostle Paul, reminding us that Jesus does not keep his glory all to himself. He wants to change us, to share with us his glory. His path to glory was not easy: he endured the cross.
Ours will not be either. But think what will happen when God’s people rise up and take Jesus at his word and do what he says:
• What church divisions would end with reconciliation
• What forgiveness would melt hearts
• What integrity would strengthen your example to young ones
Whatever Jesus Word may be to you, (through Spirit and the Word), whenever you hear it, heed it. To one it may be you need to hear and heed the promise of rest: ‘come to me all you who are weary . . .” Others may need to heed: “take up your cross and follow me”. Whatever his word to us, as we heed it, we will begin to change, and shine daily, reflecting his glory. And if we ever find ourselves off track, if we ever find ourselves fearful of the Lord, remember what Jesus did next, with his disciples that day:
7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. Mt 17:8.
So he will reach out to you. And resolve this day, to see no one, but Jesus, at the center of your life. And when WE his people do that, we will be that city shining on a hill—by his power we will find our dream come true! We will be like him, and SEE HIM as he truly is!
