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From The First Baptist Church in America pulpit
Transfiguration Sunday – February 18, 2007
“Back to the Future”
Luke 9:28-36
Dr. Dan Ivins, preaching

You know I would’ve done a lot of things differently if I could see what’s coming ahead of time. Maybe that's why “Back to the Future” was such a popular movie. It’s a story starring a teenager, played by Michael J. Fox, who journeyed by way of a time machine back to his hometown, as it was in the ‘50's, thirty-five years before he was born. It’s a great plot. All kinds of interesting scenarios grow out of it. Like meeting his parents in their awkward adolescent years. (Yes young people, Mom & Dad used to be teeners!) But things got interesting when his future Mom got sweet on him! And more interesting when she ended up liking him more than his future father! So that called for some serious squirming and re-arranging -- just to guarantee his own birth! I enjoyed the fun and intriguing network of relationships, but I came away with one serious thought: about how possessing knowledge of the future creates responsibilities in the present. But that’s a movie.

In real life, a doctor scans a lab report, that indicates a fatal disease has spread beyond containment. At that point, he’s the only person in the world who knows what the future holds for his patient. All eyes of the family are fixed upon him as he enters the hospital room, acutely aware of the awful truth that’s fallen to him to divulge. From then on all they can do is number the days instead of adding them. Seeing the future isn’t always a “bed of roses.” We might not like what we see.

The Transfiguration of Jesus is a story about a look into the future, and how it was given to Peter, John, and James to see what nobody had ever seen before. For that’s when they began to realize, there’s a lot more to Jesus than meets the eye. The Gospel stories reveal, when it comes to Jesus, everybody but his enemies are slow to get it. It starts off ordinary enough. Four men take a hike to the top of a mountain. Jesus felt the need for a little R & R, where he could get away from the relentless press of the needy multitudes and give uninterrupted attention to God. And from there, the ordinariness leaves us behind. Up on the mountain, farther from earth and closer to heaven, Jesus knelt down. While he was praying, his appearance changed. His face shined. His clothes dazzled. All of a sudden, Jesus looked more like God than a man. The curtain to the future was being drawn back. And the disciples were spooked! Jesus was standing in tall company that day, appearing with two Old Testament heroes. What Moses and Elijah had in common was, they were both great prophets who didn’t stay dead. Neither would Jesus.

Peter was so jacked-up in his excitement to institutionalize it, he impulsively proposed: “Let’s build three tabernacles and bottle this up!” And fortify ourselves, perhaps? As the big fisherman saw what a money-maker this thing could be – he’d have turned the ministry of Christ into an idolatrous museum piece. But the spirit of God “Blows where it wills, and we don’t know where it’s coming from or where it’s going.”

We have a choice though, about how to respond to life’s high moments. We can ruin them with “if onlys.” “If only” I could’ve stayed up here longer. “If only” things would never change. “If only” I could recapture it. Just another excuse for disengaging from the world. Or we can allow them to prepare us for what God wants us to do next. Which was what Jesus did. Always looking forward, for what’s ahead. I love the way Luke puts it: how silly Peter sounded, “not knowing what he said.” The next time we hear that--Jesus is saying it from the cross, “...they know not what they do.” And it’s not silly. But Peter not only didn’t know what he said, neither did he know what they said. Moses and Elijah were talking to Jesus about “his departure, which was to take place in Jerusalem.” (The Greek word for “departure” means “exodus.”) Somebody’s not going to be around long.

That’s when Jesus was affirmed by a voice from a cloud, which told them two things: who he was and what they were to do. “This is my Son, my Chosen One.” “Never mind building tabernacles–just listen to him!” Jesus, unlike the prophets of Israel, is for the whole world! There’ll be no booth-building here or anywhere else! In Christ, God has pitched his tent to “house all nations.” Peter had just peered into the future! And what his response was natural, “What's gonna happen to us?” Because he was uncertain about that, it’s not surprising that he tried to freeze it; control it; market it; keep things like they are. Like the Old Milwaukee commercial, “It doesn’t get any better’n this.” It’s what we do in the face of the unknown.

The evangelists use the story of the Transfiguration on Mt. Tabor as a pivotal experience, to bring us from the Galilean ministry on one hill, to Jesus' “departure in Jerusalem,” on another “hill ... far away. Where an ol’ rugged cross stood.” Where the One transfigured in heavenly light is the same One crucified in earthly shadows. His “departure/exodus.” Only on Mt. Calvary his face was not wrapped in radiance, but glistened with bloody sweat. And instead of the disciples wanting to set up three tents and camp out around three crosses, they deserted him. On Golgotha, no divine voice was heard, although one was asked for. But silent darkness was all they heard. Except Mother Nature “thundered.” The only human voices belonged to the thief on the left reviling Jesus. And the one on the right asking to be “remembered.” Only three are to be remembered: a thief, a prostitute, and Jesus. His response? “Eloi Eloi Lama Sabachthani!” The sin of unawareness.

But on Mt. Tabor, God flashed the future before them and shaped their lives with urgency. It terrified the disciples because now they knew what the future held. It’s easier not to go “back to the future;” that way there’s no accountability to it. God knows we can know too much! And because we’ve seen what they saw, for us the future is now. Jesus would say, “Don’t be afraid of it, be transformed by it.” That's transfiguration;a change of perspective, a deeper vision, clearer values, and a new resolve to live for God here and now. It happens today.

Do you recall what Martin Luther King, Jr. said the night before he was assassinated in Memphis? He too spoke about a mountain. “I’ve been to the mountaintop!” “I’ve seen the promised land. But I won’t be going in with you.” Everybody in America knew King’s days were numbered, including him. That’s why he quoted a hymn, “Mine eyes have seen the glory of the comin’ of the Lord!” Strange glory! The next day he was shot to death. King's vision of racial harmony, justice and tolerance in this country was a result of his “trip to the mountaintop.” And after getting a glimpse of it, he went on to do what had to be done to rid America of her guilt. He’d seen the future and it’s had a great impact upon our present.

This is not that future “rapture stuff” that sells well at the market place when we think of the end of the world. Nobody’s "left behind" on the mountain. When God looks into the future, he doesn’t exclude us, he affirms us! So for one shining moment, God cracked open the door to the end time and allowed his disciples to see how history was going to be written. What the baptism was for Jesus, the transfiguration was to the disciples. Both proclaim Jesus is Lord! Because they believed that, they’d never be the same. Once you've seen how it ends, it affects the way you live.

Yeah, there’d be dark days of suffering ahead. But recalling this event would forever color the way they viewed their adversity. If Jesus’ suffering and death couldn’t end his life, then what surprise might God be holding for those trusting in Jesus, who also suffer and die? If an ordinary trip up a mountain could suddenly be filled with dazzling light, visiting elders, a voice from a cloud; then what wonder might any day hold when we stay close to Jesus? To follow him is to set our eyes on the future, because that's where he's headed. And that makes every difficult circumstance we face full of possibility. Its Sunday morning worship: very ordinary stuff. But what if God is cracking the door to tomorrow? Makes all the difference in this world ... and the next.

I’m guessing some of us here could use a fresh, hopeful vision, something to look forward to, to help put our tough days and yesterdays in perspective. What if we could know what lies ahead? Would it make a difference today? Ah we all know in general what lies ahead. But I’m talking specifics. Seeing the future impacts how you feel now.

And what of the future of this church? Today, you and I have a hand in molding an encouraging future, so this ol’ Meeting House will continue blessing pilgrims, who aren’t even born yet. The Apostle said, ‘Forgetting what lies behind, straining for what lies ahead...” That’s the direction and the approach we’re pursuing. Wouldn’t you like to have a hand in constructing a future worth having?

Today, I’ve tried to take ya’ll up to the mountain top. Before long we too will be headed back down into the valley of need, to take up the task that lies before us. Down in the valley, where evil must be cast out, and disputes settled, and rejection faced; suffering to be endured, crosses to be carried, and sooner or later, our own “departure.” But because we have worshiped in this place we know the future is now! Because the future belongs to God. And there, Jesus is Lord and we are his servants. And that holds for now.

Not because he’s a good teacher or a nice guy, but because he’s the Son of God. “Listen to him!” If we know what’s good for us, we will. His authority comes not because of what he can do for us, but who he is. “Listen to him!” Not just to pay lip-service to gain Godly goodies! When he tells you love is the path to peace and weakness is the way to strength, he's not being naive. When he said to “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,” don't write him off as other-worldly. When he says “forgive 70 x 7,” or “Live by the sword and you’ll die with it,” don't dismiss him as an idealist. The Voice said, “This is my Son, my Chosen. Listen to him!” And to me. I’m just saying do what he says. Hearing his voice and seeing his future obligates us. It leaves its mark on all who try to follow him. Because we know where he was going. May that mark give you confidence and courage to keep on following him toward any cross that may be out there in your future.

There is Gospel-by-the-bushel-basket in this text! I hope this worship will allow each of us to join Jesus’ friends on that high and holy hill and be amazed, and thrown off-balance. For it is a positively unearthly vision. The only kind that will sustain life down in the valley. Because being right with God isn’t so much about believing IN Christ, but believing LIKE Christ. Or as Luke put it, "Jesus only."

Pastoral Prayer:
God of grace and God of glory, we never can tell where your grace will pop up or grant us a glimpse of glory in the midst of the mundane. Few of us will ever witness your radiance like your closest followers. But we thank you that Jesus comes to us like he came to them.

And like them, we are apprehensive and reluctant to change life where it has become familiar and comfortable. Forgive us for trying to codify your Spirit, so we can carry it around in a bucket and pull it up when it comes in handy.

We like to maintain firm boundary lines between the holy and the secular, but you keep intermingling heaven and earth. Shine the light of your holiness into every corner of our lives. Dispel the shadows that hinder the progress of the church. Forgive us when we turn worship into a retreat from life or a way to hide from our responsibilities to you and our neighbor. Forgive us while we beg to linger on the mountain while evil lurks down below. If we can’t see you in everyday events, it’s not because you aren’t there, but because we aren’t paying attention.

May our Sunday excursions in this Meeting House energize us during the week. For those who are grieving their losses and require our time, help us to find it. If someone needs our understanding, help us to give it. If someone struggles under a heavy burden, help us to lift it. If somebody suffers from a wrong we’ve committed, help us to mend it. If someone begs your forgiveness, help us to accept it. If someone wants to bless us, help us to receive it.

Lord, it seems so easy to serve you while we’re standing with Jesus at a distance from the world down below. We feel comforted, loved, reassured, and we’re tempted to remain with you but you keep sending us back to your mission, to those places from which we came and to which we must go.

May this worship make us in the church aware of the power of your presence that is available to us, to deal with all the wrinkles of life--the ups and downs. We thank you for the ups, Lord, and we will trust you through the downs, as we do our best to follow the way of Jesus, in spite of them.

May the transfiguration story remind us how we are never far from you, who is invisible to the eyes but not the heart. And we know we’re not be exempt from suffering but we are exempt from suffering alone. So help us to take seriously your desire that we listen to Jesus, for we pray in his name. Amen.