+ Transfiguration of Our Lord – March 2nd, 2025 +
Series C: Deuteronomy 34; Hebrews 3:1-6; Luke 9:28-36
Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church
Milton, WA
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Exile and return. This is the story of the Scriptures. Adam and Eve were exiled out of Eden. And now our whole human nature is filled with the longing to return and soaked with the sense of exile (Tolkien).
Jacob fled his brother Esau in an exile and the two were later reconciled. Abram and Sarai also went down to Egypt in their own mini-exile and exodus. And of course there’s the climactic and greatest of the Old Testament exiles. Israel in slavery and captivity in Egypt and out again in divine deliverance and the exodus. The walls of water surrounding Israel. Pharaoh’s army giving chase then drowning and dying. Then the shouts of victory: I will sing unto the Lord for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and rider thrown into the sea. It was an exodus out of slavery into liberation, from captivity to deliverance.
From Eden to the New Creation, Scripture tells us the story of a cosmic exodus. But as great as the exodus out of Egypt and through the Red Sea was, God has a greater exodus in store for you in Jesus.
God planned an exodus that will out-exodus all the others. What is this plan? It’s what Moses and Elijah are talking about with Jesus on the mountain of his transfiguration.
Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
“His departure” – this is an English euphemism for the better Greek word behind this translation, “his exodus”. Moses and Elijah and Jesus were talking about Jesus’ exodus he’s going to Jerusalem to accomplish.
“Hey Moses, you remember that time I appeared to you in the burning bush and then the pillar of smoke and fire and led Israel through the Red Sea and drowned your enemies? That was pretty great wasn’t it. Guess, what. I’m going to do something even greater. I’m going to lead my people through the great exodus of the grave and come out the other side alive again. I’m going be crucified and buried in the tomb all people, let the waves of death crash over me and by doing so I’ll destroy death and sin and the serpent forever.
And Elijah, you remember how I appeared to you on Mt. Carmel and destroyed the prophets of Baal and saved you and Israel? Well, here. Hold my cup of wine. Listen to this. I’ve got something even better planned this time…a new exodus I’m about to accomplish in Jerusalem. I’m going to let all the fire of God’s wrath for sin fall down on me instead. In fact, I’m going to become sin and give my life for the life to the world.
This is the topic of conversation on the mountain of Jesus’ transfiguration. Jesus’ exodus. His death. burial. Rest in the tomb. And glorious resurrection. Good Friday. Holy Saturday. Resurrection Sunday. The greatest events in the history of the world is also the greatest exodus of all time.
For this great exodus will be the work of the Messiah, the Father’s anointed, chosen One from all eternity, who will gather God’s people who are scattered and suffering in sin and bring them home.
You see, the exodus isn’t just the story of God’s rescue and deliverance in the past. It’s also the story of God’s deliverance and rescue for you in Christ. In Jesus’ perfect life, his sacrificial death, his holy rest in the tomb, and his victorious resurrection from the grave, he goes on a great exodus for you to bring you out of the exile of your sin.
For that is exactly what our sin is: exile. Captivity. We live in a prison of our own sin. A dungeon of death held in bondage by the bars of our idolatry and the chains of our trespasses. We live in the trenches of a fallen world where we move from one hell-hole to another. If it’s not guilt, it’s shame. If it’s not shame, it’s sorrow. If it’s not sorrow, it’s hopelessness. And further and deeper the darkness gets.
But all of that comes to an end when Jesus goes to Jerusalem to accomplish his exodus, just as Moses and Elijah foretold. And just as they discuss on the mountain of transfiguration. Jesus goes to Jerusalem to accomplish his exodus for you. A new exodus of deliverance and rescue. It is an exodus from guilt to forgiveness. From shame to glory. From slavery to release. From exile to the new creation. From death to life all through Jesus exodus to the cross and through the grave.
In the old exodus, God declared…I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
In the new exodus God declares…This is my Son, my anointed One; listen to him. His death brings you out of the land of death and out of the house of sin and into his holy house of healing and life and light.
The old exodus was an out of Egypt event for Israel. The new exodus is an out of the grave event for all who are in Christ
The old exodus had the blood and flesh of the Passover lamb, the water of the Red Sea, and the fiery presence of God dwelling with his people. Now through the new exodus of the cross and grave, Jesus gives you something better: his flesh and his blood. His water and word and promise. His very presence to dwell with you until he brings you through that same exodus of the grave and into the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.
Today, as we join the disciples in the wonder and glory of Jesus’ transfiguration, we look to where he points us. Down from this mountain, across the valley and up to mount Calvary. To his cross and to his exodus he accomplishes there for you.
A blessed day of our Lord’s Transfiguration to each of you…
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
