Back Down to Lent

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Grace to you and Peace from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

“Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands.”

Today’s gospel is a long one for us in a Lutheran worship service, we usually read just a snippet of scripture at a time.  But it is part of the gift of the narrative lectionary that we begin to embrace how those snippets fit together to make the whole story of the Good News of God. 

Notice how in our reading today there are several bridges from one scene to the next.  It starts off with “Once Jesus was praying alone…” as the gospel writer begins a new section of his story.  Then these bridges, “Then he said to them all,” “Now about eight days after these sayings,” “On the next day,” and “While everyone was amazed” serve to connect the action in the story.  What happens in one scene connects to the next.

Today’s good news is incredibly basic to our Christian faith, and also the greatest stumbling block for many.  So much so that Jesus has to tell the disciples three separate times.  Two of them frame our story this morning.

The story begins with Jesus in a time of prayer, engaging his disciples, his students, in the primary lesson of his life.  “They say I am John or Elijah reincarnated, but you know differently…” and Peter confesses, “Jesus, you are the Messiah.”  Then, their teacher
reminds me of an adult speaking to children who need to understand the dangers they may find themselves in if they are not careful: The fact that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of Man, as Jesus says, is a dangerous idea.   If caught thinking this way, the students will be in danger.  When the authorities hear this dangerous idea, Jesus’ life will be threatened.  In fact, Jesus clarifies.  It isn’t just a threat.  This will happen.  He will suffer, be rejected by their own beloved tribe and be killed.  Then, on the third day be raised. 

I wonder if the students could even hear that last bit.  By the time Jesus had brought the danger of the situation to their attention, could they even hear through their own hearts beating in their throats that Jesus would be raised again after death?

But Jesus plows ahead, apparently disregarding their level of comprehension. Or maybe he’s trying to make them understand? 

“If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. ²⁴ For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. ²⁵ What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves? ²⁶ Those who are ashamed of me and of my words, of them the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. ²⁷ But truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”

These are powerful words: Shame, Deny yourself, Take up your cross, voluntarily lose your life for Jesus sake.  Jesus doesn’t mince words.  Following Jesus is not about getting power, profit and glory for ourselves.  Being a student of Jesus is about learning from him how we should live, even to the point of denying ones’ self for the sake of Jesus.  The sake of those in whom we see Jesus.  The sake of our neighbors, like us and unlike us – for this is where we know Jesus comes to us. 

Now about eight days after that conversation.  That’s when they go up to the mountain to pray.  Goodness knows, I am looking for more opportunities to talk with God after hearing that speech from Jesus. 

Since there is nothing between these two scenes, it leads us to believe that even if there was healing and preaching going on in those 8 days, everyone was a little distracted by that speech.  And I have to wonder what God was doing.  Did God make sure to put some space between the speech and this Transfiguration moment?  Did God give them plenty of time to excuse themselves from being Jesus students any longer?  Certainly, God knows we humans cannot handle all the information at once – and a little time between these events helps us to integrate them into our experience. 

On that mountain, there they are praying and Jesus starts shining – and it probably makes those students think about the other time in their Israelite history that someone’s face glowed – when Moses was up on the mountain getting the ten commandments from God!  And then, lo and behold, who shows up?  But Moses himself!  And Elijah, the whispered name of the prophet that people have been thinking Jesus might be. 

Then Peter, the spokesperson for the bumbling disciples, says “let’s build some houses up here!”  What was Peter hoping to do?  Mark the place like Jacob did at Peniel?  Naming that place “the Face of God”? But as the words are falling from his mouth, a cloud comes over them, they are terrified – because our God is a Fearsome God.  And they hear these words, “This is my Son, my Chosen;^[i] listen to him!”  

It’s true!  Jesus is the Son.  This isn’t just an amazing experience of encountering God on the mountain, this is God revealed in the human before them!  It isn’t even just that Jesus is the Messiah, the human who would save them from their oppression.  Jesus is actually God’s Son. And all he has been teaching them is more than just another wise man’s words.  This is divinity.  Fearsome, Awesome, Overwhelming divinity. 

“And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.”

Because wouldn’t you?

Then on the very next day.  Peter and the rest of the disciples, still grappling with the reality that has been revealed to them once again, and a father comes to plead with Jesus.  I imagine the disciples, continuing their stunned silence, gazing every so often at Jesus, the God-Man.  I imagine they have no doubt that Jesus can heal this child, though they could not when they were sent on their missionary journeys earlier.  And I imagine that they have a whole new understanding and empathy for Jesus when he says, “You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you?”   And they notice when he also says, “Bring your son here.” 

For this God does not leave the desperate father and the tortured son.  This father IS the desperate father and the tortured son.

…though they may not yet be able to comprehend it.

“Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands.”

Let us enter Lent this week, letting it all sink in… God the desperate father, God the tortured son, God the one who will not let us go. 

Amen.