“I Wonder”
I wonder. I wonder a lot of things – like how do most people manage to get out of bed Monday through Friday and make it to school or work basically on time but somehow come Sunday have trouble doing the same thing though they can make it to Costco before the crowds, to early morning games and practices, to home reno shows and the like. When I hear the first lesson about God showing Moses the land in which he’d never get to set foot, and then it says Moses died and God buried him – well I wonder - seriously just like the younger child that I can be - did God dig a hole or just say let there be and there was. I wonder too in the second lesson when the author says we are all His house - I wonder just what is he saying. Are we Christ’s house as in some designer brand like, “The House of Jesus?” Is it more like a massive condo with many different and unique suites, or is it some combination of both?
But any of that is nothing compared to what I wonder about when it comes to the Transfiguration of Jesus. I really do wonder what it was like to be there and see it firsthand. I can’t imagine what that would have been like and how or if my faith would be any different today. I wonder when they went up that mountain to pray did they use a circle prayer perhaps. I wonder about the other nine who were left behind – what did they say or think of the chosen three going off with their teacher? I wonder when it says the appearance of Jesus’ face was altered was that like a temporary makeover or just that it looked like it had changed. I wonder too about the fab three – handpicked by Jesus to be there but who fell asleep - of course that wouldn’t be the last time they’d do that either. And when they woke, I wonder did Moses and Elijah wear name tags so that Peter could recognize them, I mean there were no photos back then.
I wonder too, how did Moses and Elijah know about Jesus’ mission and His coming departure? Was it revealed in heaven just to them and nobody else, or in some way was all of heaven watching and waiting as the divine drama played out? That’s not so farfetched since later Luke records Jesus saying that there is much rejoicing in heaven over one sinner that repents than over ninety nine that don’t need to. I wonder too, did Peter ever think before he spoke?
More importantly sometimes I wonder in the course of our everyday lives with our individual worries and challenges, with the often ho-hum routine of daily life, do we truly and fully recognize Jesus for who He is. Do we see Him in all His glory and listen to Him? Do we recognize Him as King and Lord over heaven and earth and yet the very same One who gave up all He had so that we could be freed from the damning cost of our sin – freed to live the abundant life that He alone gives - filled with lasting peace and blessed with strength and joy no matter what? I wonder if we don’t - isn’t it time that we do?
It’s possible that we’ve become jaded to Jesus’ glory. Deafened to His voice, we eagerly listen to so many other voices around us. Have we in fact become calloused to moments in Jesus’ ministry like that of His transfiguration? Special effects via Spielberg and company, Star Wars, Transformers, Marvel’s Agent of Shield, or animated productions like Frozen, the Minions, and Inside Out have made all things appear possible – at least in our imagination - and as such not always as memorable. No matter if it’s children, youth, adults, or seniors, we’re just not that easily impressed any more. We know men have walked on the moon. We’ve watched video coverage from the land rover “Curiosity” on Mars, and heard about the possible miracles of Gamma knife surgery coming to the University Hospital. Have we stopped listening to His voice as we pay more attention to the pressure of our peers no matter what our age, the voices of public opinion, and the foolishness of our own rationalizations?
Oh - people still reflect on Jesus, or at least many do at Christmas, some still at Easter, and some like us, at lot more in between. But His glory, His power and might, His voice appear to be having less of an impact on our society, and closer to home, even on the lives of many who bear the name of Christ. The awe that Peter experienced may be something that’s pretty rare today. Is it because far too often we treat Jesus simply as a safety net when we’re in trouble and have made a mess of our lives? Is it because prayer could be just another name for a heavenly 9-1-1 – reserved for emergency use only? Do we see Jesus for who He truly is – our Saviour from sin and its consequences, or is He just a convenient acquaintance – someone we remember when we need a favour, someone we rant to but to whom we rarely listen?
Maybe we fail to fully appreciate Jesus’ glory because we don’t recognize the degree of our sin. Most people feel that they try to live a reasonably good life. Think of how many people out there believe that just because they try to be good people they will surely go to heaven. We do try not to harm others or speak poorly of them though sometimes we may think they deserve it, and we just can’t help ourselves. Besides there are so many other people that we know of whose sins are so much worse. Really??? Because someone else sins, how does that make our sin any less damning?
Just imagine if everyone who claimed the title of Christian lived in the glory of the Saviour, listened to Him and radiated His love and compassion. I wonder how those close to us, those who know us, who work with us, or who meet us even if only in passing – how they would be affected. I wonder what life would be like here at Grace, in our Oliver community or wherever we live, work or go to school. I wonder what difference it could make in our city, our country, and the world. But then I wonder too if we’re often not a little more than like the three who kept silent in those days and told no one about what they had seen.
We’re Peter, James, and John afraid the other disciples would accuse them of lying, of bragging, or at least of exaggerating – maybe even hallucinating? Do we fear being embarrassed if we dare to quietly, humbly, but openly and confidently live and practice our faith? Interestingly we have no trouble cheering for the sport team of our choice whether it’s the Eskimos who’ve won, or the Oilers who’ve not so much of late except for an occasional glimmer of hope, or maybe it’s a team from south of the border like the Panthers or Broncos – one of which will bask in fleeting glory and fame come the end of today. Well Jesus never played in a super bowl watched by millions but He did suffer and die, forsaken on a blood stained cross so that the whole world, you and I included, could have the opportunity to receive pardon and new life through faith in Him. He is God’s chosen One and we could do no better than to trust in Him and listen to Him.
As Moses and Elijah met that day with Jesus, He didn’t wonder just where this all was going. And when they disappeared from view, only Jesus was left to continue on His path to glory for our sakes. Peter overwhelmed by it all didn’t understand the significance of witnessing Jesus endorsed as the very One who fulfilled the law and the prophets, the Father’s own Son – the Chosen One. He was awestruck but earthbound with his ideas – ideas interrupted by a voice from heaven putting Him straight.
In a world that foolishly chooses to listen to itself and determine what is right or wrong even in matters of life and death – a world that acts so often on impulse and desire – I wonder if it isn’t time for us as children of God to stop and listen again to our Lord’s voice. I wonder if it’s time to turn down the volume of all the other voices that demand our attention – entertainers who speak out on so many things, of bloggers, politicians, opinion polls, our self-justifying consciences - and with disciplined time each day in prayer, to reflect on His word and listen to Him who deserves our full attention. I wonder if it isn’t time to stop and see that His glory far outshines anything this world could ever produce.
We may never in this life share the experience of Peter, James, and John. Yet by His grace we’ve seen His glory in the little and the big miracles of everyday living if we’ll only stop to realize it. We’ve seen it in the majesty and shimmering brilliance of the northern lights, in the glistening natural ice castles of a frozen Malign Canyon, in the glittering sparkle of hoar frost on winter’s trees, the giggling glee of a baby, and the wisdom etched face of a senior. We have seen it when we’ve prayed and prayed about something only to realize after the fact that God indeed responded when and how He knew was best for us.
I wonder? No, I know! I know it’s time to see His glory in our lives again, to listen to His voice, and continue our journey as we follow Him – struggling at times yes, confident at others certainly, but always with a sure hope knowing this - He is with us every step of the way - through the darkness and the light. Amen.