Tis Good to Be Here :: Matthew 17:1-9
And Peter said to Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here (v. 4).
What is it about a space that makes it “holy” and “good”?
Is it appearance only? Is it the nature of the place ... or the inner being?
Is it something given to the object that makes it sacred?
Does it have to include something tangible like paraments, bread and wine, stained glass, special candelabrum, vestments, or a particular font used in holy baptism? Or can it be intangible like this large rectangular room that was moved to the corner of Locust and First Street 117 years ago? Are these why it’s good to be here?
It seems that we often think of the sacred in terms of people, places, or things. The word sacred itself describes something that is dedicated or set apart for the divine. Sacred is holy and good. Holy and good is sacred.
The temple in Jerusalem was designed with the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies. Every Sunday ... and I pray, every day ... we return to Holy Baptism. Twice a month, we receive Holy Communion. Many of us were united in holy matrimony ... in this sanctuary from the world. Holiness is good.
1. So it is good to be here, isn’t it?
This morning, we celebrate the Transfiguration of our Lord. Perhaps you’ve never thought about this day in the church year. Perhaps it has never struck you as sacred, or a special holy day. Maybe you’ve never given that any thought.
But it is good to have come to this day ... to be in this place ... on worship on this day.
The Transfiguration of Jesus occupies a most sacred space and time. This day is at the apex of Epiphany, the season of the church year that shines the light upon who Christ really is ... the only son of God, who provides the best for us. Here, God reveals to us that he is with us in Christ. He reveals to us his holiness. And it is good.
Today, like at least seven other days of the year, we are left in awe ... and reverent fear by this revelation of who Jesus is. Like on Christmas, Epiphany, the Baptism of our Lord, Good Friday, Easter, and the Day of Pentecost, our Lord is glorified in no unmistakable terms. The light of Christ is brilliant, his face shining like the sun itself, with a luster not of this earth; his clothes become as white as snow, with the essence of light itself ... Luke says it’s like lightning ... beyond the power of anything we have ever seen. He glows with a Holy Fire on his mountain, where heaven and earth meet.
This day all happens in a space and time that seems remote from the lowly manger of Christmas and the horrible darkness of Good Friday.
2. So it is good to be here.
And Peter said to Jesus, If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah. (v. 4)
Let’s face it. We love it here. We want to stay here. This place and this time is safe. Here, in this place, in this hour of our lives, all our worries flutter away. We hear the whisper of his word. We are reminded of his promises. We get to forget that others are suffering. Here, I get to check my anxiety at the door as I sing
Tis Good, Lord, to be here. Thy beauty to behold,
where Moses and Elijah stand, thy messengers of old.
Like Peter, James, and John ... Jesus has led us to this sacred time and place to give us insight into his sacred truth that there is something very different about Jesus.
I don’t doubt for a second that Peter, James, and John knew who they were following. The Transfiguration of our Lord takes place in the middle of Jesus’ ministry on earth. They had already borne witness to the truth of Jesus healing our world, calming the storm, walking on water, raising the dead, turning water into wine. His word left them clamoring for more.
Peter had already given us our great confession, that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the Living God (16:16). But now after leading them up a high mountain by themselves (v. 1), Jesus gives Peter, James, and John authority to bear true witness that he is not just a good man with a good word about good living. He is not just a model or a guide teaching us to ask ourselves What would Jesus do?
Instead, as they marvel that Jesus was the center of attention between Moses and Elijah, Behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said: This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased; listen to him. (v. 5)
Too often we continue to try to turn salvation into something we do for ourselves. We want things our way. We’re too busy trying to establish sacred places or spaces in our lives. Too often, we think that even how we conduct our lives here at Trinity Lutheran Church deserves some sort of merit before God.
Instead, listen to Jesus, in whom God is well pleased. He’ll do something we can’t.
He has seen the affliction of his people. He has heard your cry. He knows your sufferings. He has walked a mile in your shoes. He knows you’re tired ... tired of masks, tired of politics, tired of restrictions. He knows your poverty. He knows your sin.
So listen to him: Confess your sin and believe the gospel, he says.
3. This is why Tis why it is good to be here.
This is what brought you today.
Judaism wanted their Christ to affirm their law; instead, He came to fulfill it.
Judaism wanted a Messiah who would respect tradition; He came to replace it.
The world wants a theology of glory; instead, He offers a theology of the cross.
Now we see Immanuel, the only son of God on the mountain preparing to go to the altar of wood in the Father’s great sacrifice.
As Jesus leads his disciples back down from this mountaintop experience, he then tells Peter, James, and John: Tell no one the vision until the Son of Man is raised from the dead (v.9).
Yes, it is good to be here, because that is where they’re headed.
As Jesus heads to the cross to suffer and die, he bears up ... our idolatry and inhumanity ... our love for ourselves ... our insistence to think first about how we will pay for tomorrow and take care of the needs of others, and our refusal to trust in God alone.
4. So it’s good to be here. Listening.
As Jesus reaches out and touches us ... just like he did with Peter, James, and John ... he says ever so calmly Have no fear, (v.7). The peace of the Lord is with you always. Then he raises us up to new life, so that we can see only Jesus.
God does this for us daily in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. In those waters of holy baptism, he has given you the full forgiveness of sins. He has united himself with you. He has adopted each of you. He has made you one with him, heirs of eternal life. His peace is yours.
As he brings us back to baptism, where we confess our sins and receive absolution, where the saving faith he gave us is strengthened, our Lord is again declaring to us that in his infinite mercy, He has opened the kingdom of heaven to you.
And now in these words, we can see Jesus only, hear the Father’s voice only, and believe the words and promises that our Lord has sealed you, marked you for redemption. He has placed his name upon you, and he has led you to this place.
5. It is indeed good to be here.
By here, that is not to say 300 East 1st Street in Appleton City. There is not anything special about this corner of the world, or even the interior of this building with all the trappings of tradition ... many of which were built by Pastor Rohlfing some 80 years ago. These could all just as easily be used for ill as for good.
What makes it good ... what makes it good to be here ... is that he has led us here to this time and place to listen ... not to a disembodied voice from a cloud of overshadowing light ... but to the voice of one of his ministers. He has sent his ministers to you to speak the word of Christ to you given through the apostles for you, and also to administer the sacraments commanded by our Lord.
6. These words and sacraments make it good to be here.
Because they give you the forgiveness of sins in tangible means that you see and feel and touch and taste.
As Peter tells us so boldly, we didn’t follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. ... We have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention. (2 Pet 1:16, 19)
It may seem that we can’t stay on the mountain forever. We will soon return to the valleys and struggles or on the plains of our routine. But as we go, all that is holy and good goes with us.
This is why it’s good to be here.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, receive this sacred gift with joy.
Then, as you go forth ... back into the world, let his light shine through you. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and His innocent suffering and death for our forgiveness. Tell the world what Jesus has done ... how he has lived for you, died for you, overcome death for you, and through word and sacrament, how he provides all who believe these words and promises eternal life.
He is leading us to this truth.
As the psalmist reminds us, my soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord. Blessed are those who dwell in your house ever singing your praise! (Ps 84:2, 4) ... because ...