Text Luke 9:28-36 Hymn This coming Sunday we remember the transfiguration of Jesus.

As we just read in the text, Jesus while on a high mountain with the disciples Peter, James, and John, was transformed in his appearance. His glory was made manifest before he set out on his way to the cross. So this transfiguration serves as a fitting bridge between the epiphany season which is coming to an end and the season of lent which will begin next week with Ash Wednesday. It s the climax of the epiphany when Jesus' glory is manifested, and it sets the stage for the Lenten season, when Jesus heads to Jerusalem to suffer and die. As we travel along with Jesus and his disciples, we see Jesus, only he does not look normal. His face has changed. His face is glorious and radiant. His clothes are as bright as a flash of lightning. It is a spectacular sight. Here we see a glimpse of Christ's glory as the son of God. The glory he has always had from eternity. The glory that he has, for the most part, kept hidden during his days on earth, the days of his earthly ministry. What else do we see? There are two men with him, Moses and Elijah. Two of the greatest figures from Israel's past. Moses, the deliverer out of Egypt, the law giver at mount Sinai, the leader to the promised land. Moses, the great prophet of God, the one The Lord knew face to face. Moses who said, " The Lord your god will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him." Then there is Elijah the greatest prophet to come after Moses to that point. Now they are standing there with the one who is greater than Moses, greater than Elijah. Jesus alone is the one we end up seeing. Moses and Elijah served their purpose. They pointed ahead to the Christ that was to come. Now he is here and they gladly fade from sight. They yield the spotlight to Jesus. But, before they go, we here their voice. Moses and Elijah are having a conversation with Jesus. Our text says that they are speaking of "his departure". The departure that he was about to accomplish in Jerusalem. The word choice here is significant. From what I understand, the Greek word that is translated as departure, is the word exodus. In other words, Jesus was about to accomplish his departure,his exodus by going to Jerusalem. Now, let's compare this to the first exodus, the one led by Moses. God's people were in slavery, in bondage in Egypt, under the oppressive Pharaoh. They were traped with no way out. Their burden was heavy, their labor was hard. They cried out in distress and were unable to save themselves. This is the same situation you and I were in. We were slaves to sin. That was our condition, a state of distress and death, a heavy burden and hard labor. But then, God sent a deliverer. He sent Moses. Moses led Israel out of Egypt and out of slavery. That was the first exodus. God told Moses to have the Israelites offer up the Passover lamb. It was by the blood of that lamb that their households were spared. Moses then led the people on the way out to freedom and forward to the promised

land. Moses did not get their himself. He was not able to cross over and lead the people in. His successor would do that. However, the real successor to Moses, the true leader out of bondage and into the promised land, that would be Jesus, the one who is standing here on the mountain next to Moses. Jesus leads the ultimate exodus. Jesus brings us out of the hard labor of our sin. Jesus says "come unto me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Jesus leads us through the wilderness of this world on our journey to the promised land of heaven. Unlike Moses, he will lead us all the way in. He has gone their ahead of us through death and back to life again. Eternal life. So, here at the transfiguration, we see Moses and Elijah and Jesus. They are speaking of Jesus departure, his exodus which he was about to accomplish at jerusalm. By going to Jerusalem to die on the cross as our Passover lamb, rise from the dead and return to his father, Jesus brought about the ultimate exodus. Through his crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, Jesus has brought us out of our bondage to sin and death. He has led us into the promised land of eternal life with him. Next, we see a bright cloud appearing. It is the glorious presence of God the father. From this cloud we hear the father's voice. We have heard this voice before. At Jesus' baptism we heard these words, "this is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased." Now , similar words are spoken. "This is my son, my chosen one; listen to him." The father is emphasizing the mission of the son. The fatherr's voice calls us to listen to his son's voice. Listen to him! About a week earlier, Jesus said something his disciples did not want to hear. He said, "the son of man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised." Talk about a suffering messiah, a dead executed messiah, this does not sound good. We do not want to listen to Jesus when he is talking like this. But God says "listen to him. He is the one I have chosen. What he is saying is true and necessary. It is necessary for Jesus to go to Jerusalem to suffer and die. There is no other way. It would take nothing less than the death of god's own son to pay for the sins of the world. To pay for my sins, to pay for your sins. You cannot do it yourself. All your good works are not enough to pay for your sins. All of your good intentions cannot save you from death. Jesus is our only hope. This is why we need to listen to him. Jesus Christ is your salvation, it all depends on him. He is the one and only savior that God has provided for all people. This is why the father says, "this is my son, my chosen one; listen to him" we look and now we see Jesus alone. So the father is calling our attention once again to his son. " oh, come, let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the founder and perfector of our faith." See him, see the glorious son of God as he is about to walk the Lenten road of suffering and shame for you. See him go all the way to the cross, there to purchase our redemption. See him the risen living lord. Let us open our ears to hear Jesus. Listen to the one who speaks words of life. Listen to him when he says "your sins are forgiven. You have eternal life, follow me".