25-26
Feb 2017, Christ Mountain Top, Transfiguration
Feb 2017, Christ Mountain Top, Transfiguration
Psalm
99 (call to worship)
99 (call to worship)
Matthew
17.1-9 (kids)
17.1-9 (kids)
2
Peter 1.16-21 (message)
Peter 1.16-21 (message)
Lots
going on in the text
going on in the text
Defense of Scripture’s authority
Not simply a human book, but God’s
“You would do well to pay attention
… as to a lamp in dark”
… as to a lamp in dark”
Report of Jesus’ transfiguration
As confirmation of prophecy
As reported by eyewitnesses
An
undercurrent yet to be developed:
undercurrent yet to be developed:
“as we made known to you the power and
coming of the Lord”
coming of the Lord”
Coming, Parousia, commonly referred to as 2nd coming, return
In ancient tradition, was visit to
your town by a god/king
your town by a god/king
The town turns out to greet the king
(rapture), brings in
(rapture), brings in
False
teachers deny the Scripture/prophets
teachers deny the Scripture/prophets
On the grounds that the Parousia has not
occurred
occurred
The delay means we cannot trust the
Scripture
Scripture
This
is why Peter defends Scripture and confirms it as eyewitness
is why Peter defends Scripture and confirms it as eyewitness
Eyewitnesses
NT completed within 1 generation of the
eyewitnesses
eyewitnesses
Much by those persons themselves
“Footnotes,”
in Mark (associated with Peter’s preaching)
in Mark (associated with Peter’s preaching)
Young man fled without his clothes (Mark
14.52)
14.52)
Father of Alexander and Rufus (Mark 15.1)
The
Scriptures include all kinds of stories that make no sense, if we are
presenting our best side
Scriptures include all kinds of stories that make no sense, if we are
presenting our best side
Peter’s denial
Yet, Jesus loved him
Connection
between transfiguration and parousia
between transfiguration and parousia
As a movie preview –
Guardians of the Galaxy &
Captain Underpants
Captain Underpants
A glimpse, a foretaste, a guarantee
What
does this have to do with us?
does this have to do with us?
2
Peter 1:19 You will do well to
be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns
and the morning star rises in your hearts.
Peter 1:19 You will do well to
be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns
and the morning star rises in your hearts.
Metaphors
for Jesus’ coming:
for Jesus’ coming:
The day (and dawn)
Morning star
What
are we waiting for?
are we waiting for?
1
John 3:1-2 How great is the love
the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And
that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not
know him. 2 Dear friends, now
we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we
know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
John 3:1-2 How great is the love
the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And
that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not
know him. 2 Dear friends, now
we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we
know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
Waiting
for our own transformation
for our own transformation
Waiting
for the day when our bodies work right
for the day when our bodies work right
Waiting
for the day in which we are defined not by political party, skin color, ethnic
background, job title, bank account, birth order, first language, gender
for the day in which we are defined not by political party, skin color, ethnic
background, job title, bank account, birth order, first language, gender
Waiting
for the day when we are no longer dogged by our broken promises, unworthy
thoughts, barely controlled impulse
for the day when we are no longer dogged by our broken promises, unworthy
thoughts, barely controlled impulse
But by
our beloved-ness – like Jesus,
God’s kids. “We are children of God … we shall be like Jesus”
our beloved-ness – like Jesus,
God’s kids. “We are children of God … we shall be like Jesus”
Morning
star rises … in our hearts
star rises … in our hearts
As surely as there is a future event in
which Jesus comes in glory
which Jesus comes in glory
Also a moment in which Jesus comes to us,
here & now
here & now
But
how are we defined by those closest to us?
how are we defined by those closest to us?
Betrayal
Repeated conflict
Undermined
Addicted
Codependent
By
those closest to us, we are defined by brokenness
those closest to us, we are defined by brokenness
By
our culture, defined by labels
our culture, defined by labels
By
our own behavior, like Peter, faithless and sinful
our own behavior, like Peter, faithless and sinful
But
who we are is God’s beloved!
who we are is God’s beloved!
As there is a glorification of Jesus – on
the Mount of Transfiguration and in the coming Parousia
the Mount of Transfiguration and in the coming Parousia
So there is a glorification of all God’s
children
children
As Jesus in glory is revealed not by power
or perfection but as “Son”, beloved, pleasing
or perfection but as “Son”, beloved, pleasing
So we are revealed not by our weakness or
imperfection but as “sons” and “daughters”, beloved, pleasing
imperfection but as “sons” and “daughters”, beloved, pleasing
We are part of God’s family circle
No
wonder
wonder
2
Peter 1:19 You will do well to
be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns
and the morning star rises in your hearts.
Peter 1:19 You will do well to
be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns
and the morning star rises in your hearts.
May
that day be today.
that day be today.
Resources:
Duane
F. Watson, 2 Peter, in New Interpreter’s
Bible, Vol XII
F. Watson, 2 Peter, in New Interpreter’s
Bible, Vol XII
