Between Mounts Tabor and Sinai: Both Holy, Neither Tame
Matthew 17:1-9
17 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and Johnthe brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
Exodus 24:12-18
12 The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.”
13 Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God. 14 He said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur are with you, and anyone involved in a dispute can go to them.”
15 When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it,16 and the glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from within the cloud. 17 To the Israelites the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. 18 Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain fortydays and forty nights.
This Sunday’s service can be view on our Facebook page @ Sunday, February 19, 2023
Greetings everyone,
In my household, we are in a time of transition. Career refinement for me, future plans for my wife, our kitchen remodel is almost done. Our cat is the only one that doesn’t seem touched by all the recent movement around the house. Of course, at NewDay, we are also navigating a time of prolonged and continuing transition. In these times, we look for something that lends stability.
As any Sunday School student would pipe up to say around this time, if you have a need in your life, Jesus is the answer. – of course, young friend. But that truth is often a bit more awe-inspiring and unpredictable than we’d bargained for.
This Sunday, we’ll be sharing a message about the Transfiguration of Jesus, which tradition tells us took place on Mount Tabor. This moment in Jesus’ ministry is one of those key moments of transition. Jesus now begins his march towards the cross and his death and, in the lectionary calendar for this year, comes before Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent.
As we begin our march towards Good Friday and Easter Sunday, we’ll confess that God’s presence is with us through life’s many transitions and wonder at how we are transformed because he is beside us. Of course, the process of transformation in the time of transition is understandably distressing, but on the other side comes growth and hope, the fruition of God’s faithfulness, and the better footing for our shared future.
Peace,
Zach