Clear Lake Lutheran Church Missouri Synod

² After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. ³ His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. ⁴ And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

⁵ Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” ⁶ (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)

⁷ Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

⁸ Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

Years ago, a missionary, who had served in Africa for years, was preaching at my congregation and he started talking about languages. He said that if you can speak THREE languages you are tri-lingual, if you can speak TWO languages you are bi-lingual, and if you can only speak ONE language you are American. Americans are very one dimensional.

Especially when it comes to spirituality, we are down to earth—almost primitive in our approach—show us the proof, then we will believe it..

And when it comes to Jesus, many people stop after recognizing him as an amazing teaching—who communicated valuable truths.

The disciples saw more than most other people. They saw thousands of healings, They were in the boat when Jesus came walking to them on the water, and then saw the storm stop at His command. He has been God & has had the power of God, forever.

Yet, Jesus wanted his closest three disciples to see this in still, a fuller way. They had only been getting glimpses of his divine nature in the actions of his miracles. He had been holding back, actually, since the moment He was conceived. But up there on

Creator God, standing in His Divine Glory. They had trouble even describing what they saw. “His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.

Throughout her life, Esther, knew Jesus to be her God and Savior. On Saturday, Jesus took her up to the Mountain Top. Over a period of 96 years, 4 months and 9 days Esther saw amazing things, but they were NOTHING, compared to what was waiting for her on Saturday morning.

¹²For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

We don’t spend our lives, living for THAT tomorrow. We live our todays, surrounded with the blessings of God, trusting in His promises of WHAT IS TO COME.

For three years the disciples traveled with Jesus night and day. And they certainly knew they were face to face with A MAN, They saw him get up in the morning rubbing His sleepy eyes, and scratching his messy hair, and smelled his dirty feet. And then on the mountain top they were able to see with their eyes what everyone else, only gets to see with their faith—He IS God almighty.

The moment Esther was baptized, the Holy Spirit communicated to her the amazing truth of who Jesus is and what He accomplished for us.

His substitution on the cross for us, got us off the hook of eternal punishment, and signed a multi-century lease for us in the mansions of heaven at the feet of Our Savior.

Baptism has many privileges and knowledge of the truth of God is certainly one of them.

The world around us is comfortable with putting up manger scenes showing THE BOY Jesus in the manger. It is a symbol of God’s love for us. But few put up crosses with us during Holy Week. It is the “super natural—empty tomb” part of the story that they are reluctant to proclaim.

Their understanding is so one dimensional. They are so hesitant to accept anything spiritual or supernatural.

If WE had our druthers, we would follow Peter, James, & John up that mountain and set up our tents there, in all that Glory and presence of God. But that is something that Jesus makes us wait for heaven for. In this life, Jesus sends us down the mountain with this wonderful truth of his divinity, to live in the valley, blessed by His grace.

· The young child who is given some evil tasting medicine doesn’t realize what it is all about and how that evil tasting stuff will help. The child just has to trust the parents.

· The child athlete, has trouble understanding why in the world, they have to jog around the ball field 5 times after practice. It feels more like punishment than something that will help them play the game better.

But through maturity, deeper thinking, and fuller understanding, it begins to make sense. They begin to understand another level beyond what they can see and feel.

We have ONLY BEGUN to understand our Savior, Jesus Christ. It is like seeing the tip of the iceberg that is floating above the water line.

¹²For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the

Charles Schultz the cartoonist who penned the peanuts cartoons for over 50 years, said that he rarely ever took the suggestions that people sent him when he drew his cartoons. But there was one insight he could not pass up. It was a cartoon that showed a child looking at a picture book. And on the page was a number of ships, sailing on the ocean. An adult was asking the child. How many ships do you see? The child did not see it as a counting exercise, but as a question of what he saw and so blurted out: I see all of them.

Many people when they focus on Esther’s life will focus on the fullness of – 96 years 4 months 25 days. There is so much there that we can count that happened through the years. But as GOD reflects on Esther’s life as she stands in front of him right now He sees the whole thing, from the moment he died for her on the cross to her being escorted into his presence on Saturday morning—forgiven and shinning out with His glory. The whole life we have seen, is only a tiny portion, of all that God desires to do for her .