Matthew 17:1-9 English Standard Version (ESV)
The Transfiguration
17 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 And Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah." 5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son,[a] with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and have no fear." 8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
9 And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead."
Wow! What a made up story, right? WRONG! This really happened. Jesus showed them his glory so that, after he rose from the dead they would be able to say they were eyewitnesses to it. It really happened just like Peter said it happened in yesterday's reading.
Too often we, even as Christians, treat the Bible and stories in the Bible as if they were made up. I imagine that most of it has to do with the fact that it happened 2,000 years ago or more. It may also be because we didn't personally experience it like they did.
The trouble with that is that we do experience God's glory every day, we just don't realize it. It may not be in the same way that Peter, James, and John experienced it, but we do. We experience it every time we look back on the bad times and see how God worked it all out for our good. We see God's glory every time we are able to forgive others by God's grace and able to be forgiven by others against whom we have sinned. We see it in every baby born and every time we have a funeral for a Christian and we can proclaim that Christ is risen!
The truth is that not everything in life is going to be a mountaintop experience, but everything good that we do experience is from god and God dwells with us and in us.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for all the little ways you show me your presence. Help me to appreciate it for what it is. Amen.
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CALENDAR
Thurs- Building committee meeting 6:30pm; NO Lutheranism 101
Fri- Assemble Newsletters 9am; Begin 30 Hour Famine is postponed
Sat- Worship 5pm
Sun- Worship 8:30 and 11; Sunday school 9:45
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WORSHIP WORKERS FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND:
Acolyte- 8:30- Dawn Sherman 11- Dulci Rahn; Wed- Luke Rausch
Ushers- Brent Davis, Ben Hoelscher, Gary Hoelscher, George Hoelscher; Wednesday- Dave Callies, Marv Hendershot, Don Luebke, Don Nolte
Altar- Set up- Terry McKenzie; Clean up- Cheryl Bettlach; Wednesday Set up- Ruth Walters Clean up- Lynn Russell and Elaine Schauer
Elders- Sat- Randy Fischer; 8:30- Randy Sweet; 11- Charlie Figura; Wednesday????
Greeters- 8:30- Jim and Vickie McRae; 11- Marv and Molly Hendershot
Lay Readers- Sat- Marcia Sevier; 8:30- Allan Dreyer; 11- Christy Winn
Piano- Molly Hendershot
