"The Value of a Church" (Hebrews 10:19-25)

The Value of a Church (Hebrews 10:19-25) by Rev Warren Hodge (October 2017)

Introduction

What do think is the value of a church???

Where do you find value in church?

This is an important question, since the reputation of the church has been run down in many places.

Whereas some of this is understandable and has been deserved, we need to recapture, understand, speak up for, and proactively present … the value the church can have in society, and particularly in this community.

What is Church?

When the New Testament talks about what we call ‘church’, it uses the Greek word ekklesia. Essentially, ekklesia means an assembly or gathering or meeting of people … summoned together for a purpose. Ekklesia came to indicate an open and interactive company of equals … under the guidance of Jesus (rather than under human control). As there is a strong point of connection between these people i.e. a relationship with Jesus … this gathering becomes like a family, where we see each other as brothers and sisters in the Lord. On certain occasions, Jesus even highlighted the importance of his spiritual family over and above his natural family. Therefore, the ‘church’ should be understood as a relational and functioning community of believers under Jesus’ leadership.

Church seen as community actually derives from who God is – a community of three … unified in purpose with a variety of functions. Thus, the church is also a unified diversity of people. This is where we really experience the magnificence of the ideal of ‘church’. Very different people, from very different walks of life, can come together … and interact toward a unified purpose. God wanted a corporate expression of the Trinity on the earth, and the ‘church’ is the way God went about it. It is in this way, that we better represent God together than apart.

When the apostle Paul seeks to explain the function of a church, he uses the term ‘Body of Christ’. The church – the ‘Body of Christ’ – is one united body, made up of many different parts, just like the human body is made up of so many different (yet interrelated) parts . This ‘Body of Christ’ metaphor shows how the Holy Spirit draws together all our human diversity into a complete whole, just like how all the parts of the human body are brought together to form a complete human person.

None of us, though, is the head, because Jesus is the head. The church is now the physical body of Jesus on the earth; and Jesus, because it is his body, is the head. So, in this way, the church represents and encapsulates the thoughtful activity of Jesus on earth. Our diversity forms a rich tapestry of what it means to be human, while, at the same time, giving an opportunity to model a brilliant cooperative unity. In other words, very different personalities are brought and bound together by the Holy Spirit to work creatively under the leadership of Jesus for the common good of all humankind.

There are two further implications of this, all talked about in 1^st Corinthians chapter 12. The first of these is our shared giftedness. We all share in a variety of spiritual gifts or inspired abilities that are meant to be brought together, encouraged, developed and used in cooperative activity. Secondly, we are each indispensable to the whole. Just like the human body ideally needs all its parts, we need each other, and we are lesser without one another. The New Testament knows nothing of ‘going it alone Christianity’ – even those on mission (to the outermost) need to be sent from, and responsible to, the wider body. We are accountable to one another for the wise use of God’s gifts.

Adjusting our Thinking

So, a ‘church’ is NOT a building, but a people. In some cultures, like ours, buildings have become very useful, and very identifiable, as points of gathering and worship – but these buildings are NOT the church. Thus, any buildings that we utilise must be our servants and NOT our masters, and should be designed to facilitate the growth and training of the people in their mission to the world. A church doesn’t just meet within a confined space with thick walls, but rather participates in all parts of society all of the time … constantly representing the values and ideals of its head – Jesus.

A ‘church’ is also NOT an institution, nor an organisation (like a club) – but rather a living spiritual people movement … seeking to encounter God in the here and now, and follow Jesus into the future. And, ‘church’ is NOT an event to attend. We don’t go to church, we are the church. As the church, we worship God, share our resources, and serve the general community together. Church is NOT optional – it’s who we are … part of our identity. Our salvation is expressed in the corporate adventure.

Church should NOT be assessed by what we get out of it, so much as what we can put in to it. And it’s NOT the content of the service so much … as the character of the people, and the quality of the relationships … that count. This is all modelled by the early church in Acts chapters 2 & 4, where we read about devotion to God and one another, thankfulness, generosity, and having the goodwill of the general community.

The early church brought together a great diversity of Gentiles and Jews, slaves and free, women and men and children … all on an equal footing – no wonder it required constant visits and letters from apostles like Paul to help them pull it together! Yet the very richness of this diversity of people [under the one roof] should capture the world’s attention. Nowadays, there is also that exciting mix of people … that are new to the way of Jesus, together with those long on the journey, and everybody in between.

Being the Church – Hebrews 10

Our entry into the church is through the work of Jesus on the cross and his resurrection – that we see outlined in our Hebrews 10 reading. Jesus provided for the atonement or forgiveness of our sins, and gave us free access to God on the other side of the curtain. We have been cleansed and deemed suitable to be Christ’s representatives, and we are brought together by Jesus through His Spirit to become Christ’s Church – through which there should be a supreme witness to Him. There is nothing to hold us back or out!

We are invited into a full appreciation of church – where we experience a different sort of attitude to life than what we often encounter elsewhere. Whereas the earthly culture is largely self-interested, people who follow Jesus into the church are interested in how all of creation is faring. If there are those who are struggling or living under injustice, we want to know how they can be helped in Jesus’ name. We are interested in how others might grow in their capacity to be an effective Jesus-follower.

So, we buy into this idea in Hebrews 10:24: “… let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds”. But we do this in a gentle, humble, teachable, peace-giving and encouraging way. We do this without judgment, and with total understanding that life can deal out some cruel blows … that we are often totally unaware of. We are ready to learn as much as we teach, and listen as much as we speak (if not more)! This is the church; and, at times, it is far different to the world.

“Provoke” is an interesting word, that is often used in a negative sense i.e. provoking someone into a reaction that could be frowned upon, or provoking someone into a fight. How can we “provoke” someone in a positive way? Other translations use the word “spur” or “stimulate”, but these don’t have the same edge that the original Greek word brings. Closer might be “stir one another” or even “incite one another” or what about “ruffle one another”? Clearly, we are supposed to be proactive about this, and at least somewhat provocative! We have a role in holding each other accountable to a biblical lifestyle.

But, how can you “provoke” love and good deeds in peace, gentleness and humility?? This could only be through a credible example … in a lifestyle attuned to the life of Jesus! One commentator of old (Hastings) wrote: “We are to affect each other acutely to love and good works”. So, “awaken one another” might be a way of applying this, with the idea that love and good deeds lie somewhere within all of us, but need to be actively drawn out.

So, in the church, we need to be about encouraging others to bear more closely the image of Jesus … through more closely bearing the image of Jesus OURSELVES. This is part of our mutual commitment to each other, and we can help each other to attend to this. This is mutual discipleship. So it is, that it is probably only possible … to properly pull off this “provoke one another” thing, within a well-connected, caring, loving environment!!

So whenever we find ourselves complaining about the state of the world, or even the church, or any particular person – our response should NOT be to withdraw or give up, but rather to continue to seek to bear the image of Jesus. In this, I find verse 23 (of Hebrews 10) quite inspiring – “Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful”. In other words, if we hang in with what we have become sure is true, and what we have often confessed with our mouth about Jesus, then our faithful and true God will work it all out in time.

The Value of a Church

I have been talking here about ideals, greatest potentials, best case scenarios. I know and understand that many people have been deeply hurt and disappointed in churches … when it hasn’t worked out as it should have. I’m sorry for this – we would all regret this. But it remains true, that the church can provide the most magnificent of spiritual environments in which people can flourish. And even, when a church is far from perfect, there can still be extraordinary opportunities of personal growth, pastoral care, leadership development, and mutual mission to the world.

1. We can be part of something that has eternal significance. We have a vision beyond the material and temporal into the larger vision of God for the world. And as the “Day” approaches, as it always approaches, reflecting on what has eternal significance, and what does not, is increasingly important. The opportunities of ministry that the church provides are rich indeed! The church stands in the gap – between the evil in the world that causes despair, and the glory of God which brings deliverance. It is the church that is God’s chosen instrument to redeem the world. In the church we experience the world-changing power of salvation. In the church we experience the earth-shattering presence of the Holy Spirit. Elton Trueblood wrote: “The last chance for the renewal of the human spirit, lies in the formation of genuinely redemptive societies, in the midst of ordinary society”.

2. We can be in relational community. Because we were made in the likeness of God, we were created to live in relationship with others – that’s just the way we were designed – this basic human need to connect with other people, is well-served, in the church, (hopefully) in a safe and trust-filled way. Thus church can be seen as a compelling necessity for all believers. As we journey together, we can learn to trust, deal with our brokenness, find healing for our hurts, grow spiritually, and become more open to meaningful relationships. We can find reassurance in the faith of others, whenever we have seasons of doubt or fear. We can build the sort of community that we were designed to need, and through which we can actually flourish in life. And this sort of broad and inclusive community can be very positive, because we are brought together with people from wider backgrounds and different interests than we would have ever likely done by choice. Without the church, people usually drift away from God.

3. We can come together in a positive, safe and encouraging environment with the commonality of following Jesus. Encouragement is what people need most, and often get least. We know how much encouragement is required to offset criticism and despair! Encouragement is found through genuine acceptance into community. Encouragement is found through loving kind words and caring service. Where life often brings many put-downs, encouragement is about being lifted up. Encouragement strengthens and energises us. Encouragement builds faith and confidence for the Jesus-following life in the wider community, especially as we encounter spiritual warfare. In such an environment we can express joy when others have reason to rejoice, we can laugh when funny things have happened to one of us, and, as this is a safe place, we can weep alongside others when they have their own occasion to weep. People can confess their sin, and rather than being judged or condemned, experience forgiveness, healing and freedom. Expressions of hurt, concern, struggle and need … are brought to the place of prayer. The church thus becomes a place of honesty, where masks can safely be removed.

4. We can all have a role to play, a voice that can be heard, life experience and wisdom to offer. Dormant gifts can be awakened. We can all be a part of discerning the will and wisdom of God. This has been called the ‘priesthood of all believers’, meaning that each one has a supportive and redemptive ministry role to everyone else, and we are all interpreters of God’s will and purposes for each other and the whole. God could speak through anyone at any time. We all get to use the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the cause of the common good. There is the right role for everyone to play in Christ’s body! As ministries are shared broadly with intentional teamwork, limitations disappear.

5. A church functioning well offers a new and fresh start for people who have lost their way. People can be twisted out of shape by earth’s distorted images of living – embracing the god of consumerism or angry retribution. Yet, the church can offer an alternative reality or worldview, because of the presence of Jesus, who never stops looking for people … loving them … seeking them out … offering transformative forgiveness, inviting them to leave behind the old and become new. While this can be read in a book and heard in a sermon, it can be most relevantly seen to work in the life of a church community … in a multitude of ways. Providing a warm welcome and broad hospitality and practical care proves how much God values all people. The church can, at its best, model the new creation, the kingdom of God, heaven, especially to those who have experienced very little kindness in their lives.

6. We can experience really healthy and growthful times of corporate worship, including song, prayer, communion, sharing, and listening to the Word. In worship we get to sing the timeless truths about God, read the Bible, and kneel at the cross – a great tonic for the weary soul! A good discipline of participating in worship is especially helpful when we are faced with challenging circumstances, because worship will remind us of God’s availability and faithfulness, and we can receive encouragement from others who also face trials. Hard times should draw us toward, not away from, worship. Churches become stronger as they worship together; and their witness, as members disperse throughout the week, is more effective for the faith that has been built through worship. There is something staggeringly good about a gathering in which everyone is seeking Jesus together!

7. With all the capacities of God made available to us collectively, we can make a serious impact for good. Repeatedly, in the book of Acts, the Holy Spirit surges through the assembly of God’s people, bringing remarkable outcomes. And it is our openness to love that the Holy Spirit can work with. The agape love referred to in verse 24 is a love that has the cross as its reference point. Love is active to the point of sacrifice. And, love is NOT abstract, it can’t be experienced alone – love can only be experienced in actions. The face of Jesus can be recognised in the poor, lost and vulnerable, and they can be served in Jesus’ name. The church can be a witness to what redeemed and reconciled humanity looks like – what the kingdom of God is like – counter to the times when the world has given up on real agape love. Agile, under the Spirit’s leading, prepared to change whenever necessary, the church can quickly respond to the needs of a society, and any individual soul within it.

"The Difference Jesus Makes" (Luke 5:1-11 & John 21:1-14)

Introduction

Does knowing Jesus make a difference to our everyday lives?? How?

I want to argue that, INDEED, Jesus makes a difference! Jesus changes everything!!

Not just for each of us personally, but for all of us together, and for everyone we meet.

Last week we looked at the uniqueness and greatness of Jesus, and how he is the one we should wholly focus on and commit to; and thus listen to his every word. God has reconnected with humanity through Jesus, and it is in getting to know Jesus, that we get to know God.

But why? Why get to know God? Why would we bother? What do we get out of it? Hang on! Does that sound right? It’s often the first question we ask – but is it the right question, considering that this is about a loving Creator seeking to re-engage with the people He lovingly created (yet have often gone astray)? Surely it sounds a little crude and ungrateful, to be asking what we might get out of it! We are already recipients of Divine love! So, there is something to be thinking about way bigger and more crucial than just what benefits we get personally out of knowing God.

In the Luke 5 passage, Peter does wonder for a moment whether putting out the nets again will be worth it. It would be natural to assess whether the effort matches the possible outcome. But this is NOT how Jesus wants us to assess matters. Often the outcome is outside our capacity to see – what is required of us is simply a step of faith. Thus, we need to learn NOT to doubt, or be defensive, or fearful, regarding any obstacles or risks or unknown outcomes, but rather be positive and adventurous.

These are steps of faith … that don’t necessarily connect directly to any personal gain! This wouldn’t necessarily stand up to any cost-benefit analysis. It’s more about the intangible leading of the Holy Spirit into broad-based mission come what may. Actually, it is often only when we give ourselves wholeheartedly into certain faith-based enterprises, stepping out of mundane comfort-zones, that we can really experience blessings of one kind or another!

So, therefore, it seems to be more a matter of first things first! It is when we give ourselves to something, that we are likely to be on the receiving end. It is actually when we have no thought of receiving, that we actually receive. It’s like when Jesus himself said, “… those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it” (Mark 8:35b).

Going fishing

If we give ourselves over to the possibility, Jesus makes tremendous differences … in our lives, and in the lives of those around us. These fishing incidents in Luke 5 and John 21 are remarkable for the outcomes that occur – once the disciples involved … are trusting and obedient! It’s not so much … what they will get out of it … that is the issue – it’s rather what Jesus will be able to bring to pass … through these disciples’ openness and readiness.

We can so often approach God, or prayer, or worship, with a view of what we want to get out of it. These passages show that it’s really about embracing new possibilities, and being open for what God wants to do through us. We gather together, we take the boat out, we get the nets ready, we follow the Spirit’s lead, and trust Jesus for the results. And what results!!

We have here two stories, about, first unsuccessful, and then highly successful fishing. These come about three years apart – Luke 5 … at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry in the midst of calling his disciples – and John 21 … following the resurrection … Jesus seeking to encourage and refocus his disciples for the mission ahead of them. We know that Jesus had to continually keep reminding his disciples, as they went along, about what was most important. This also reminds us, that we need to keep focussed on the difference Jesus can make; for this, in the cut and thrust and challenges of life, can easily be forgotten – and we finish up going it alone.

This can all be forgotten through disappointment, or impatience, or just by losing our focus and being distracted. Following the disciples’ disappointment around Jesus’ crucifixion, and their confusion and doubt around Jesus’ resurrection, they needed to be reminded of what they had learnt in the beginning. They had to be reassured that the Jesus who could fill their boats with fish three years earlier, could fill their boats again … and again … and again! They just needed the right approach – a humble repentant open teachable worshipful attitude!

Luke 5 text

Jesus was teaching the gathered crowd from Simon Peter’s boat. You could imagine that Jesus was bringing some of those challenging teachings and themes we read in other places in the Gospels e.g. the ‘sermon on the mount’ in Matthew. And then Jesus would be keen to show how this teaching works out in everyday life.

So, we read in verse 4, that Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Put out into the deep water”. This is what following Jesus is going to be about! Jesus was putting it right out there … if you are going to follow me … if you are going to truly know God … then this involves movement and TRUST! Knowing Jesus is meant to lead to adventure; primarily adventures in mission. You might as well know this right up front. Following Jesus can never be passive.

I’m not sure what you were told when you were invited to follow Jesus – unfortunately for some … this was very much limited to receiving personal benefits, individual salvation, even the notion of an easier life (when the truth is actually the very opposite), and even ‘the pie in the sky when you die’ type line. The truth is … an invitation to follow Jesus, is actually about an all-encompassing life-long adventure of trust, transformation and mission!

In verse 5, we see Simon Peter querying Jesus. After all, Peter was the fishing expert! After all, there were clearly NO fish to be had. Peter was tired and past his best, having been out all night; and discouraged, having been so unsuccessful. And as well, morning was no time to catch fish … if there were none to be caught during the night, there would be none in the morning! This didn’t make sense.

Yet, listening to Jesus is important, even when something he says seems strange or out of left field. It just may be a test. Or, it just may be that we don’t see the big picture, or we just DON’T know everything after all; or this is just the only way to get us to where we need to be! To Simon Peter’s great credit, he very quickly responds (v 5b), “Yet, if you say so [Jesus] … I will let down the nets”! We, with Peter, have to learn to say, “Yet if you say so [Jesus]”!!

Peter grew that day. Having trusted Jesus, he experienced untold blessing of universal impact. This led to greater humility, honest feelings of unworthiness and a desire for mercy. Certainly he was in the presence of the Divine, and Peter was in awe. He became wholly aware of his limitations, and his huge need for Jesus to be in his life, and fell to his knees.

But, Peter didn’t quite understand yet the love and acceptance he was receiving, and couldn’t quite accept himself being so close to Jesus. Peter thus said those words of sad uncertainty, in verse 8: “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man”. However, this was not what God was after. Forgiveness was for relationship … forgiveness is meant to promote and open up relational outcomes!!

So, Jesus didn’t leave Peter with that sort of thought-process for too long! Jesus did NOT accept Peter’s advice about departing from him; rather Jesus called Peter into service … toward the greatest of mission adventures … ‘Follow me, and we’ll collect many others along the way’! The effect of Peter’s sincerity was immediate! The unworthy Peter … was now a forgiven disciple of Christ Jesus.

John 21 text

If feelings of unworthiness was the issue for Peter (three years earlier) in Luke 5, in John 21 the issue for Peter was failure. Following Jesus’ crucifixion, with his tail between his legs, Peter declared, “I am going fishing”. Rather than being a good example to his mates, Peter was actually leading them away from their mission (refer v 3). This was Peter effectively reversing his discipleship and going back to the old life he had left behind. Why?? Because of his sense of defeat.

Desperate disappointment … that Jesus had been crucified … something that he didn’t yet understand. Confusion … about what the last three years had been about. Failure … that at the time of his friend Jesus’ greatest need, Peter hadn’t just disappeared, but also denied repeatedly even knowing Jesus. What sort of person lets a friend down like this!?! Peter had been so confident that he would never do anything like this! But, in the heat of the moment, he did!

This feeling of failure in Peter, which is in effect a sense of ‘shame’, is displayed in verse 7. Fishermen of the day would often fish naked or with very little on. This would save at least getting their outer clothes wet. When Peter fully realised that this was Jesus here with them, he put on his clothes. This reminds us of what the naked Adam and Eve did when they felt shame for rebelling against God.

We read, like we did in Luke 5, that despite their fishing skill, they caught nothing! Of course they didn’t catch any fish – not this way – Peter and the other disciples weren’t supposed to be fishermen like this anymore! Things DON’T usually go well when you take a wrong turn. Due to this lapse in their faith, they needed to be turned around again. Whether it is feelings of guilt through sin, or feelings of shame through failure, Jesus can turn all this around. Let’s see!

Into the disciples’ disappointment, entered Jesus (v 4). We read that at this time, they did not know that it was Jesus. He may have been too far away to be recognised, and we know that the resurrected Jesus looked a little different and wasn’t easily recognised straight away. Yet, it’s so interesting [and you can discuss this over dinner] that when Jesus spoke they almost immediately responded with positivity. Jesus said (in verse 6), “Cast the net to the right side of the boat” … and these disciples just did so! It was as if they remembered what had happened three years earlier … unsuccessful fishing, and the encouragement to try again … and the remarkable outcome.

It was as if, even though they hadn’t recognised Jesus yet, something was happening where they just sort of knew it was him. There was just something about the way he spoke. The surety in him! It was as if they heard the words, ‘I am here now … just trust me again’. They recognised his voice! And you just sense that they were hoping for something to lift them beyond their current distress. Something was brewing. They knew Jesus’ voice … and down deep they trusted him. So, there was no second-guessing and no delay … the disciples just obeyed. And ultimately they recognised that this was the risen Jesus.

The blessings the disciples experienced that day were massive, as much if not more than the last time! But these were not personal blessings so much, but rather indicative of the disciples’ big-picture relationship with the world. Once again they were fishers of people, and their influence would be huge. What difference did Jesus make? Jesus was able to change a totally hopeless situation (no fish at all), into a situation of unprecedented success – all when the conditions were adverse … after daybreak … when such an outcome, to any sane fisherman, would be seen as impossible! Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, would ALWAYS provide the opportunities for care, friendship, service and ministry – such possibilities would be everywhere to see!

Repentance or Faith?

We might ask in all this … what comes first … the repentance or the blessing. It seems that Peter’s repentance in Luke 5, and his demonstration of regret in John 21 actually follow the fishing miracles, rather than precede them. Interesting! We see that it was actually the earlier willingness to go out into “the deep water” and try again in Luke 5, and throw the nets over to “the right side” in John 21, that opened up the possibility of Jesus working so magnificently. This then led to the expressions of contrition and regret.

It is as we are willing to respond to Jesus’ embrace … to draw closer to Jesus, to listen carefully, and walk in step with Jesus, that we are in the space where blessing can happen, both in us, and for others. It was that willingness to trust, that led to that much deeper experience of God toward the disciples’ later transformation! The invitation here, is to trust, take a step of faith, and see what Jesus does!! Jesus will then gently deal with us at our various points of need.

This then crosses over to the way in which we share the Gospel. And the age-old theological chicken and egg debate about what comes first … repentance or faith. How can you repent without some degree of faith? How can faith be real, without sincere repentance? The point is though, following Jesus’ example from the boat of Luke 5 and John 21, we should be first promoting the notion of faith, especially as we tell the stories of how faith has worked in our lives; and then God through the Holy Spirit will lead people to the repentance that is required. Let us speak about faith! [This is especially true in a post-Christian society, where the notion of sin is not understood, nor high on the dinner table discussion agenda.]

Conclusion

Ultimately, Jesus has dealt with all the problems of our unworthiness and failure. Dealt with it all! From the cross, it’s all forgiven. From the empty tomb it’s all transformed. We are a fully accepted card-carrying highly valued member of his family. Jesus calls us children of God. What a difference that makes. We can bring all our ongoing issues and occasional lapses into that reality … day in and day out … and be guided and forgiven!! We will notice that we are growing in discipleship, and more resembling the glory of Jesus.

We learn that it is only in giving ourselves to the greatest cause of all, i.e. bringing heaven to earth, the mission of God in the world, that the great questions of life, e.g. why am I here, are answered. Jesus makes a difference, supremely because, he makes sense of life. We are able to bring our feelings of unworthiness and uncleanness humbly to Jesus and receive complete forgiveness. As a result we are released to participate in bold blessing. In the same way, we are able to bring our feelings of failure and shame to Jesus, and receive complete forgiveness and transformation. In our nakedness, we are given knew clothes, and those clothes can resemble the dazzling white clothes that Jesus was seen wearing on the mountain of transfiguration.

And while experiencing the freedom that forgiveness brings, and wearing those new spiritual clothes, tremendous things happen around us. We experience, even participate in, signs of heaven coming to earth. Broken people find healing. Distraught people find encouragement. Hopelessness turns to hope. Love finds new expression. Warring parties are reconciled. The blind begin to see. Prisoners find release. People hear the good news … as actual good news! Blessings overflow the boats! It all starts with trust, and giving ourselves over to the person and cause of Jesus. Amen.

"Jesus, Front & Centre" (Mark 9:2-8)

Introduction

Who do you listen to?

There are a lot of voices and a lot of noise around us … competing for our attention. In all of this, who do we listen to?

Do we listen to the right voices or the loudest voices? Do we listen to the positive voices or the negative voices? When we are offered words of encouragement, are we listening? Are we open to hear the voices we need most to hear (or are we afraid that this will mean making changes)?

We have a concern. We have a decision to make. How can I go forward? To whom will I go? Who do I listen to? Where will I centre my life?

Text

Verse 2:

Peter, James and John were the leading disciples – possibly to have the greatest influence for good, but at the same time with a propensity to misunderstand what Jesus was about. Peter had begun to see that Jesus was the Christ, but couldn’t yet accept the sacrificial servant nature of this. James and John were too worried about their own status and position. Jesus would take these three up the mountain as representatives of all disciples of all times – to reveal to them something that they would need to completely get their head around. There would just be this small group … away from all those other voices and all that other noise.

When Jesus went up a mountain, this was symbolic of bringing the deepest understanding of heaven to earth. As the ten commandments were delivered on a mountain many centuries before, every time Jesus taught from a mountain, such words would build on or fulfil or explain God’s best for humankind. This time around, there was to be a bold demonstration of who Jesus was, and what that should mean to all those who become his followers.

Verses 2 – 3:

The dazzling white scene that the disciples encountered could only mean that Jesus was God. Jesus was Divine … a member of the Holy Trinity – the community of God … Father, Son & Spirit. When we read about Jesus’ clothes, “such as no one on earth could bleach them”, we are meant to understand that this “transfiguration” (this change in appearance) could NOT possibly be an earthly occurrence, but could only be something from God in heaven. Here was a ‘gateway’ between earth and heaven.

Verse 4:

The presence of Moses and Elijah of course has to be significant. They would be representatives of the law and the prophets. Moses also acted as a liberator of God’s people, while Elijah promoted a pure allegiance to God. This scene, then, would be highly symbolic, especially for those with a strong background in the religion of ancient Israel. This firstly shows the continuity of God’s purposes in the world. But then, this all points to Jesus being the fulfilment of all that God had been preparing for through the Old Testament period.

As the law and the prophets had guided faith in the past, now Jesus would be bringing in, through his own work of salvation, the new covenant. The law and the prophets were aiming in the same direction of the Kingdom of God to be founded by Jesus (and sustained by the Holy Spirit). So, Moses, Elijah and Jesus were talking happily together, as they were on the same page, but it would now be Jesus who would bring forward God’s plans for the liberation and transformation of humanity. God’s big restoration rescue project was now centred around the person of Jesus.

Verses 5 - 6:

What would the disciples actually make of this exciting, yet strange, happening on the mountain!? When taken by surprise, we often just say the first thing that comes into our head … which is often NOT the smartest or the most appropriate thing. When we feel intimidated or unprepared or nervous, we often say the wrong thing. I think Peter just said the first thing that came into his head! We read in verse 6 that Peter, “did not know what to say [because] they were terrified”. Jesus was revealing something mighty important to Peter and the others, but they weren’t quite ready yet to perceive it.

Sometimes we are NOT quite ready or attuned enough to perceive the mighty work of God amongst us, and we might even try to dismiss it. So the knee-jerk response of Peter was to create a campsite, light a fire, and bed down for the night! Something, customary, something comfortable. But this was to miss the point!!

Verse 7:

So, in this special moment, and in the context of the disciples’ confusion, God spoke! God repeated the words that He had spoken at Jesus’ baptism – but with two very important advances. This time, when God spoke the words, “This is my Son, the Beloved”, there was more than just Jesus present. Peter, James and John were present to hear these Divine words identifying who Jesus was and is. And then these disciples were given an instruction – a way of applying this new knowledge – “listen to him”!

Who should the disciples listen to?? Jesus!! I think we could read this as a passionate plea … “listen to him”!! This was God’s emphatic statement – “listen to Jesus … really listen”! If you want to know what God is like, if you want to know what decision to make, if you want to know what is important in life – listen to Jesus! Many people will acknowledge Jesus as significant – but will they “listen to him”. It will not be simply naming his name that is so important … that is fairly easy; but more so listening to Jesus, so that we might really know him, and thus be able to follow him.

Many like the idea of Jesus, but are they willing to attend to his teaching – thereby really ‘knowing’ Jesus? It is in listening to Jesus that we will begin to know him; for listening is so central to forming a relationship. How can any relationship develop and grow without active listening. We can talk and talk, but without listening to the other, we can’t really know what their deep feelings and motivations are.

The central feature of the Christian faith is the incarnation – the fact that God so loved the world, that He entered it in human form, and sacrificed his own life, in the most torturous of circumstances, so that all people could be put back on course, and live in freedom from the power of evil. Thus God is NOT remote, but rather has entered the suffering of all humanity, with a view of taking us forward into the alternative reality known as the Kingdom of God. In Jesus, God enters into the deepest longings and aspirations of our humanity (B Zahnd).

Jesus is the exact imprint of God’s very being. Jesus reveals the heart of God. The love, grace and compassion of God are revealed in the human life of Jesus. “As Jesus heals the sick, forgives the sinner, receives the outcast, restores the fallen, and supremely as he dies on a cross forgiving his killers, he reveals what God is like” (Brian Zahnd – ‘Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God’). Because of this, Jesus is totally clothed in the glory of God!!!

This is the moment in the Gospel narrative, that we are faced with the centrality of Jesus to everything in our lives. And Jesus will soon head off for Jerusalem, where he will make it possible for us to be wholly reconciled to God, and also set free to fully listen to Jesus (and understand where he is leading us).

Verse 8:

Who should we listen to? Look now at verse 8. Let’s see who is left front and centre!

The disciples, taken aback, stunned and in awe, started looking around, and they saw no one else – “but only Jesus”! The presence of Moses and Elijah has reminded us about the long history God has had with humanity, but now only Jesus remains.

This was a demonstration of the pre-eminence of Jesus over all others. As said earlier, all of God’s best intentions behind the law and prophets, in fact, all of God’s interactions and interventions with the ancient people of Israel, has culminated in this moment, and in this person … Jesus of Nazareth. The old covenant represented by Moses and Elijah has been superseded by the new covenant brought in through Jesus. Our life is NOT viewed through our hardest strivings toward law and works, but rather through our responsive loving connection with Jesus.

How do we listen to Jesus in practice? We begin by reading his words in the Gospel narratives, and then deeply reflect on them, and pray about how these can be applied to our lives today. We become what has been called … ‘red letter Christians’ – focussed on the words that Jesus spoke. And Jesus spoke some really revolutionary words that did, and still do, turn the way people think on things completely upside down – for example:

• Blessed are the poor in spirit
• Blessed are the merciful
• Love your enemies.

This means that we must now consider the Hebrew texts of the Old Testament through the eyes of Jesus. Jesus now provides the litmus test for our understanding of all theology and spirituality. We read a certain passage, and think … how does that fit with Jesus? This is especially true when we read about human violence and who it is attributed to. Maybe to understand what this text means for today, we need to prayerfully discover a new way of reading it. After all, God was always like Jesus, even when it doesn’t appear that way. We should read all of the Bible with Jesus in the forefront of our minds. The portrait of God we carry must look just like Jesus. We don't want to be confusing people about what God looks like ... the portrait of God that we paint ... both through what we say about God and how we live! Let us be clear ... God is like Jesus!!

For us, Christology (the study of Jesus) is our foremost quest. The best theology is actually found in the life that Jesus lived. Jesus, indeed, changes everything. The apostle Paul, from the moment of his conversion on the road to Damascus, changed from his law-bound pharisaical brand of thinking, to interpreting the whole of life through the person of Jesus. All of Paul’s letters in the New Testament seek to encourage young churches to focus firmly on the person of Jesus, especially the impact of his death and resurrection. The book of Revelation casts a big vision all around the centrality of Jesus in everything – past, present and future.

It’s all about Jesus! Why? As already said, Jesus fleshes out who God is. Jesus is God spelt out, God explained, God experienced. All humanity’s desire to know the Divine … has a response in Jesus. When humanity failed to live up to their responsibilities on earth, and went down their own sin-laden path, refusing to do what God desired of them, thus deciding to supplant God and be god themselves – God, rather than giving up, or denying His character, chose to come into the world and offer a new way forward through a cross and an empty tomb.

Thus, in listening to Jesus, we are likely to learn the lessons we need – for example:

• Rather than seeking to dominate or control others – we will seek to serve, encourage, build-up, and sacrifice for others (through credible relationships)
• Rather than being seek-seeking – we will seek first the Kingdom of God, righteousness and justice (through truly loving our neighbour)
• Rather than seeking vengeance against those who hurt us – we will be like Jesus, who, from the cross, uttered words of forgiveness for those who put him there [this the very subject of an upcoming message ... 'the end of vengeance'].

We think again about Peter’s almost automatic response to the appearance of Moses and Elijah on the mountain. To erect tents there and then, might be a bit like hanging on to the old and familiar … because it is safer or more comfortable. The problem with the old and familiar … was … that those who were stuck there – finished up crucifying Jesus.

Conclusion

It is as we listen and learn from Jesus, that we can get to know him, and thus know God. We begin to understand his teaching, and how that works in life for us, and how that makes a difference for good; and we notice that we are now being changed into the likeness of Jesus. We now take proper responsibility for our attitudes and behaviour, especially as these affect others. We make good decisions, that not only work well for us, but also ring true to everyone else.

We gain credibility, and spark interest. It is as the glory of Jesus begins to shine in us, that the world knows that there is a reality about the person of Jesus. And where there is Jesus, there is hope. And where there is Jesus, there is new creation. When people seek Jesus, they find God.

From the cloud that overshadowed the mountain, God says to us, “Listen to him … listen to my Son the Beloved … listen to Jesus”! Eventually, Peter, James and John, did listen to Jesus. Like many people, they were a bit slow on the uptake initially – but when they did listen, they listened big time, and then turned the world upside down!