The Rev. Paul J Cain, Jr.
Hebrews 3:1-6
Faithful in All God’s House
The Transfiguration of Our Lord, Last Sunday after Epiphany
14 February 2010
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming
In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Introduction
Moses. When many Americans hear that name, they picture Charlton Hesston in the movie, The Ten Commandments. When the movie was made in 1956, the special effects where the highest of high-tech. They portrayed events we read about in Holy Scripture, and can only imagine what they really looked like: the burning bush, the staff becoming a snake, the plagues, crossing the Red Sea on dry ground, and receiving the Ten Commandments.
This is the day we remember the Transfiguration of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Last Sunday after the Epiphany. Today we see Jesus revealed in glory as God’s Son and Chosen One. Moses and Elijah are there, talking about Jesus’ departure, or more literally, His Exodus. We are to listen to Him.
Moses & Christ
3:1Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, 2who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God's house. 3For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. 4(For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) 5Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, 6but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.
Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later. Where would we be without Moses? He wrote Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. This chosen servant and prophet of the Lord reluctantly answered the call into the Lord’s service, but answer and serve he did. And Aaron came along as an additional blessing—and later, as high priest. Moses was a sinner. He had a past—not just by being a Hebrew boy raised by Pharaoh’s daughter in Pharaoh’s house. He killed a man, an Egyptian, and fled Egypt at 40. At 80 the Lord spoke from the burning bush. Moses was sent by the Lord—He was an apostle. In the next 40 years, Moses led the Exodus from slavery and oppression under Pharaoh, through the Red Sea, to the wilderness where he received the Ten Commandments for the people.
But the people couldn’t wait—not even forty days while Moses was on the mountain with the Lord. They made a golden calf and called it the Lord, who brought them out of Egypt. Idolatry. And they didn’t stop there. They grumbled against the Lord and His servant. They complained and the Lord gave them manna from heaven. They grumbled again and quail overwhelmed them. They kept complaining and even water was given them. The Lord was faithful even though they were not. They saw giants in the land the Lord promised them and lost faith yet again. Forty years were to pass before their descendants were to follow Joshua into the promised land. There are consequences for sin.
It is the lack of faith that condemns. Moses, too, was a sinner. Not that we had forgotten, for we are sinners, too. Moses was told to speak to the rock and water would come forth. Instead, he put on a magic show and touched the rock with his staff. On that occasion, he did not follow the Lord’s Word. And as a consequence, another prophet, Joshua, crossed the Jordan. Moses was taken home to the Lord. Moses was forgiven, and therefore is rightly called faithful in God’s house as a servant and more.
Jesus is even more faithful. No sin in sight. Not a sinner. He, too is a servant, but not exactly like Moses, who was in God’s house. Jesus serves as a Son over God’s house.
Jesus is your apostle and high priest. It took both Moses and Aaron to do those two jobs, but Jesus fills them both.
What Is Our Hope?
In our day, hope is often in short supply. Tragedy strikes. Our future plans lay in ruins and disappointment. Wars continue. Terrorists threaten. Bad things happen to good people, and sadder yet, bad Christians happen to good people. We face an uncertain future.
We have hope that things will get better. And they will, provided we understand that sentence in the right way. If we’re looking for a sinful world to someday shape up, it’s not going to happen. The thing about both good times and bad is that neither one lasts for long.
In this life we trust that the Lord will give us our daily bread—everything that we need to support this body and life. God will provide everything we need, but not necessarily everything we want. He does this to increase our faith and trust in Him, that we would look to Him alone to provide our every need.
God also blesses us with every spiritual blessing in Christ. No, spiritual blessings won’t fill up your gas tank, grain bin, or checking account, but that is missing the point. You have been reconciled to God. Forgiveness means that we are to be reconciled to one another—as much as it has to do with us. We can’t control how the other person will react or respond.
Ultimately, we have hope beyond our decades on this earth. We have the hope of heaven and all of the rest and peace we can handle. And Jesus. And Moses. And Elijah, and Peter, James, and John, and all those who died confessing Christ as their Savior.
Yes, there is more. The Resurrection means the beginning of true eternal life in the New Heaven and New Earth with soul and body reunited again, glory everlasting. That’s our hope.
What is the Basis of Our Hope?
Jesus. Jesus. Only Jesus.
3:1Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, 2who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God's house. 3For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. 4(For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) 5Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, 6but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.
Jesus is your apostle, sent to you for your benefit by your Father in Heaven. Descending from the mount of Transfiguration, Jesus set His face toward Jerusalem. He knew why He was going. He knew what would happen—unbelief, rejection, ridicule, betrayal, suffering, crucifixion, and death. Again, there’s more. Good Friday isn’t good without Easter and an empty tomb because of the Resurrection.
Jesus is your High Priest. Jesus offered a better sacrifice than lambs, bulls, or goats. Unlike the previous High Priests like Aaron, his sons, and the Levities, Jesus did not have to offer a sacrifice for His own sin. He had none. That made Jesus the perfect sacrifice, a mature, adult male with no imperfections, just the kind of Lamb of God that would, did, and does take away the sin of the world—including my sin and your sin. Jesus is not only the High Priest, but the once-for-all Sacrifice, and the Temple. Jesus is the Temple that was destroyed but rebuilt in three days.
Jesus came as a servant, not to be served, but to serve. That is why Lutherans call the service of Word and Sacrament “Divine Service.” It is all about Jesus present for you to serve you with the Lord’s good gifts.
Jesus is the Son who does His Father’s will. Jesus is the Chosen One of God, chosen to do His Name. “He will save His people from their sins.” Jesus leads you in a new exodus out of sin and the oppression of Pharaoh Satan into the new Promised Land of Eternal Life. Jesus is Joshua—the names mean the same thing—who leads battle in the wars of the Lord to their final victory over sin, death, and hell.
Having a bad day? You need more Jesus. God wasn’t kidding when He said of Jesus: “Listen to Him.” It is the devil at work who tells you “The Bible can’t be true. Bible study isn’t important. How can a dusty old book help?” It’s not about it being a book. It is not the ink, the paper, or the gilded cover. It’s the Word of God used by the Holy Spirit to give and renew hope within you.
Conclusion
CPR, Rossow: In order to achieve any [progress] (success) in our everyday lives, we need to see the big picture. We first take a look at where we are. [We may even look at where we’ve been.] Then we take a look at what’s ahead. Finally, we make a mental picture of where we’ll end up. That’s the big picture. A physical fitness program includes this big picture. We look at where we are now. We have an idea of where we want to end up. But it’s very important that we come to terms with all the pain and sweat en route to that culminating goal. We need that entire perspective. In the transfiguration of our Lord, we see His glory. In the resurrection and ascension, we see His glory, too. But it is imperative that we also see the pain and suffering of our Lord in between these glorious accounts.
The Mount of Transfiguration leads to the beginning of Lent this Wednesday, Ash Wednesday. Along with the disciples we say, “’Tis good, Lord to be here! Yet we may not remain; But since Thou bidst us leave the mount, Come with us to the plain.” We walk along with Jesus on a road of repentance, reflection, and faith, confident that the Lord’s hand is leading us and His love is supporting us through Jesus Christ, our Lord, faithful for you over all of God’s House. Amen.
In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
