School Chapel

I offered to lead school chapel today. The 5-8th graders were gone on a field trip, so I had K-4 and talked to them about Transfiguration. (Our church is on the 3-year lectionary series, so they will observe Transfiguration on Sunday.) I also learned a couple of things along the way. They sing loudly when they know the song or hymn, but they don't seem to know too many. It seems as though we have become a society of music consumers, even in church, which is too bad. I found that the students were good listeners, or maybe they were good sit-quieters. I guess the teachers have trained them pretty well as to how to behave in church.

Here is what I said about Transfiguration:
Lent begins next Wednesday, but our first stop is on Sunday at the mountain of Transfiguration.

Peter, James, and John are led up a mountain by Jesus. Now remember, Jesus does some amazing things on mountains--makes a few fish and some loaves of bread feed 5,000 people--so Peter, James, and John expect to see something amazing; and they are not disappointed. Jesus is transfigured in front of their eyes. A big word, transfigured. It means changed. Jesus looks different. Brighter. More like the disciples expect the Son of God to look.

Then even more amazing than Jesus' looks is that Moses and Elijah are there, talking to Jesus. We know Moses and Elijah from our Bible stories. They saw some amazing things God does on mountains too. Moses--God gave the commandments to him on a mountain--he represents the Law. Elijah was a prophet. He stood up against the false teachers and won--on a mountain. He represents the prophets. When Moses (the Law) and Elijah (the prophets) are there, you get the whole Old Testament! Peter, James, and John are amazed.

In fact, Peter wants to stay. Let's build a tent--a tabernacle, just like in the Old Testament! Let's stay on our mountain top together. Peter says for the disciples and us what we'd say if we were there. We're having a blast. Let's party here for a long time.

Uh oh. Now we have a problem. When we foret about Jesus and focus on ourselves, that's a problem. When we forget who Jesus is and why He is here, we have a problem. God the Father's voice reminds Peter: "This is My Beloved Son with Whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!" Peter, James, and John knew they were in trouble. Not because they interrupted Jesus' conversation. Not because they wanted to be with Jesus. They were in trouble because they put themselves before Jesus. They, and we, are sinners who want to put the focus on ourselves. We sinners cannot stand before Almighty God and not remember we are sinners. So Peter, James, and John fall to the ground, scared.

Then the cloud and voice pass, they look up, and they see only Jesus. Only Jesus is now their focus. Only Jesus saves. Jesus' death and resurrection are what the disciples have to look forward to. It is not a mountain where Jesus becomes bright as light, but a mountain where Jesus becomes the sacrifice. The cross is on the mountain where Jesus does the most amazing thing ever. He takes our sins, He takes our place, He takes our punishment. He takes our eyes off ourselves and turns us to look at Him. Our Savior.

Looking from this mountain of Transfiguration, the mountain of the cross looks a long ways away. Look harder. It is right here. Water changed into baptism by His Word. Jesus' forgiveness is here. Bread and wine changed into the Lord's Supper by His Word. You and me changed by His Word.