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He Ascended!

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“He Ascended!”

Acts 1:6-11 (1:8-9) – June 1, 2025

            I love butterflies! I love their different colors, their delicate wings, and how they are such a beautiful part of nature. I respect them so much for their help in pollinating flowers and flowering vegetables. All in all, butterflies are a marvelous part of God’s creation!

            Butterflies can help us think about our Scripture reading for today, too. We just heard the narrative from Acts chapter 1, where the resurrected Lord Jesus meets with His disciples for the very last time, and is taken up into heaven. Jesus rises, or ascends into heaven. Just as we proclaim in our Apostles Creed – “He (meaning Jesus) ascended into heaven.”

            But, wait. Before we get to this reading from Acts, let’s backtrack. We are still celebrating Eastertide. We are still thinking about the Resurrection, and how amazing that was! Like a butterfly bursting out of a cocoon, Jesus was resurrected from the dead.  This whole situation after Easter was totally unprecedented. The Rabbi Jesus, God’s Anointed, the Messiah, come back from the dead? Being resurrected, and brought back to life?  How can such a thing be? It was a blessed miracle of God, that’s how!  

            Many school children see when they watch caterpillars in their classrooms, the caterpillars eat all the time! This can be compared to the typical human concerns for food, shelter and taking care of our basic needs. Yet, what happens with a caterpillar and the metamorphosis? “The butterfly has long been a Christian symbol of the resurrection; it disappears into a cocoon and appears dead, but emerges later far more beautiful and powerful than before.” [1]

            We can compare this metamorphosis to what happened with our Lord Jesus. After the crucifixion, our Apostles Creed tells us “He died and was buried.” After His resurrection, the Risen Lord Jesus had now burst on the scene in a marvelous Resurrected body. As the disciple Thomas said to Jesus in the Upper Room, “My Lord, and my God!”

Jesus walked and talked for forty days with His disciples. We do not know for sure, but I suspect He gave them further information about why He had come down from heaven, setting aside His divinity, being born of the Virgin Mary as a human baby. From the Gospel reading from Luke chapter 24: “44 Jesus said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.”

            Just imagine. What a marvelous gift that was for the disciples! They were given the gift of understanding all the Scriptures from the Hebrew Bible, that predict the coming of the Messiah Jesus. Whereas the Rabbi Jesus before His crucifixion and resurrection was walking and talking among them, as they thought, a very special man. But now?

Wouldn’t that be absolutely fantastic, to have the resurrected Jesus, the Word made flesh, interpreting Scripture so that we could more fully understand it? Talk about an in-depth bible study! Those would be some awesome conversations. I know I would be sitting at our Lord Jesus’s feet, like Mary of Bethany, hanging on His every word.

I also suspect our Lord Jesus significantly affected and touched His followers while He realized His time was becoming shorter and shorter. Don’t you think Jesus must have told them He would be going away—soon? We know how upset the disciples became when Jesus told them such things before His crucifixion. In John 16, at that Last Supper the night Jesus was betrayed, He spoke plainly about His departure. But, that was the last thing His followers wanted to hear about, or think about, either!

            If we reflect more deeply on that thought—the thought of Jesus going away—it’s similar to the idea of our loved ones dying and going away. Many people become deeply distressed at even the thought of it, much less the actuality. Even if we know our loved ones have died and gone to heaven, and we will eventually be reunited with them, it still can be distressing, even traumatizing for us to contemplate their departure from earth.  

            Often, we are in a quandary on how to help children understand the death of a dear loved one. A grandparent, or a parent, or another dear loved relative or close friend. One high school-aged Girl Scout wanted younger Sunday school and preschoolers at her church to see and understand the connection of a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly, and how it reminds Christians of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. So, she constructed a teaching tool for all ages to visit at her church, First Presbyterian Church of Virginia Beach.

            Emma Reed “completed the butterfly garden and accompanying instructional materials as part of her Girl Scout Gold Project Award. She said, ‘Allow me to pose this question: How often do you see kids wanting to run around the backyard or go on an outdoor adventure?’

            “In addition to constructing the butterfly garden, Reed’s project includes educational posters, felt board and drawing activities on the butterfly life cycle for Sunday school students as well as preschoolers at the church’s Beach Day School. ‘I sincerely hope that my project will spark interest in these kids to want to learn more about butterflies, gardens and anything about nature,’ Reed said. ‘As important as it is to get young kids involved in the outdoors, it is just as important to bring the whole community together in these endeavors.’”  [2]

            Yes, it is important for the whole community, the whole church to come together and to see the glorious truth of the Resurrection. And, if butterflies can help us in the telling of the Gospel truth, so much the better! Plus, the beauty and wonder of a butterfly garden is a marvelous way to spread God’s message!

We all are familiar with the words of the Apostles Creed. I quote again: Jesus Christ, “born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty.” These words are the very words I am preaching about here, today. They are not just stuffy old words found in some theological tome or some stilted book of creeds of the church. No! These words are faithful, true, and powerful.

            Jesus had the cosmic, heavenly view in mind. In other words, here in the first chapter of Acts, it is like the glorious, resurrected Jesus is telling His followers, “Forget that other stuff. Look, I am going now. I will send you all a Helper, an Advocate, to help you in the important work of being My witnesses. So, BE my witnesses!”

The followers of Jesus did not know what to expect. But, we know.  This ascension may be the end of Jesus’s time on earth, but no fear! We are going to celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit next week, on Pentecost Sunday. Talk about coming attractions! Praise God, today we have the power and help of the Holy Spirit assisting us as we share the Good News of Jesus, reconciling us to God. That is something we can all celebrate! Alleluia, amen!

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

[1] https://www.springbranchpres.org/how-is-a-butterfly-a-symbol-for-easter/

[2] https://pcusa.org/news-storytelling/news/2020/12/2/educational-green-space-teaches-about-butterflies-and-resurrection

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Dazzling White!

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“Dazzling White!”

Luke 9:28-36 (9:35) – March 2, 2025

Have you ever seen a caterpillar? I know that crawly caterpillars are not particularly exciting to look at. Walking around on multiple little feet, eating big hunks of leaves and generally being crawly – some might say a bit creepy. As caterpillars begin to go through the process of changing from a rather ugly crawly thing into a breathtaking, lovely butterfly, that multiple-day process is called metamorphosis. How remarkable to see a new butterfly coming out of a chrysalis! As it has turned from a crawly caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly!  

I know, this natural process takes a great number of days, and we cannot closely compare the caterpillar-to-butterfly to our Bible reading today. Except – in a marvelous, unexpected way, we can. As we stop, look and see our Lord Jesus transforming His appearance on top of the mountain, I am reminded of the beautiful butterfly we see coming out of the chrysalis.

Christian tradition tells us Luke was a doctor—and a Gentile, a Greek. The only non-Jewish writer of two books of the Bible. Three of the Gospel accounts show us the Transfiguration. But, Dr. Luke is the only one who adds the description of Jesus leading the other three disciples up on the mountain. Let’s take those three disciples, Peter, James, and John, his brother. Jesus asks them to climb with Him to the top of a mountain to pray. This was a regular thing that Jesus did—not the mountain part, but going away by Himself—or with a couple of other people—to pray and meditate in depth.

And, what is the reaction of the three disciples? Where do we find our faithful friends, Peter, James and John? Fast asleep. Again. We do not know why or how they wake up, but they did. They wake to the sight of Jesus looking dazzling bright, whiter than snow, brighter than anything they had ever seen.  

Dr. Luke says, “The appearance of his face changed” (Luke 9:29). “The appearance. He didn’t look like what they were used to looking at. He looked different. He looked … more. Transfigured is the word that we are used to reading here. That sounds more holy somehow, more theological than to say simply that he changed. But the Greek word here is metamorphothe, from which we get metamorphosis. Or change.” [1]

This event is truly a situation where I can say: Oh. My. God!!

I do think our friends the disciples have a bit of a problem. Here they have their Rabbi Jesus, the best example of Godly living the world has ever seen. The best example of living with a close and deep relationship with God, with prayer and meditation front and center in His life. And where are they at this significant time in the life of Jesus? Asleep at the switch. Not paying attention, not getting involved or participating.

Remember, even though the disciples followed Jesus, the disciples were not exactly sure who the Rabbi Jesus really and truly was, before the Transfiguration. True, they understood the Rabbi Jesus was especially anointed by God, and was a definite prophet and miracle-worker, and anointed preacher. They had been traveling with Jesus. They ate with Him and even bunked down by Him at night. You get to know a person very well if you do that for long enough. The disciples knew that Jesus was something special.  However, these earnest disciples may have been confused about the exact identity of who they were following.   

Our Lord Jesus did not need the Transfiguration, certainly. He was rock solid in His identity, and knew He was God’s Son. He understood His mission here on earth. Who needed the Transfiguration, then? God did this special showing or metamorphosis in particular for the disciples, for Peter, James and John. And for those who would later read about it – all of us.

Yes, our Lord Jesus appeared all dazzling white, and was deep in conversation on top of the mountain with a transfigured Moses and Elijah. These disciples had been eye-witnesses to some really big miracles, even before this mountaintop experience! Except … these three certainly were puzzled and amazed here. And, I get the feeling that these three and the other disciples at the bottom of the mountain looked that way most of the time!

 “They knew Jesus was special, but they were never quite sure what that meant.  By wrapping Jesus in a shiny cloud and incredible clothes, God was telling the disciples, ‘Jesus is more than a special person.  Jesus is God with you.’” [2]

What happened on top of that mountain was much more than just a spectacular laser, fog and lights show, with fancy costumes. As Jesus – and Moses and Elijah – appeared in dazzling white, glorious robes, the essence of Jesus became more visible, more obvious. Our Lord Jesus was the same Person who climbed the mountain, the same Person who went down again. He displayed even more of Himself on that mountaintop. He is always who He is, just as Jesus is always present in the fullness of His being.[3]  

And, if that picture is not mind-blowing, I do not know what is!

How can we open our ears and take this narrative into our hearts and lives today? Remember, Jesus took the disciples away to pray with them, there on the mountain top. What happened, again? They didn’t pay attention. They fell asleep. How often do we do the same thing? How often do we just go through the motions? How often do we want the same old experiences and are hesitant to accept any change in life or church or a new part of the service? How often are we more concerned with what our fellow believers are wearing than the condition of their hearts?  Their souls? Their emotional lives? Their physical well-being? Wouldn’t Jesus concern Himself with real people’s lives, with prayer and word and praise? Or would Jesus get sidetracked like the disciples? Going through the motions?

Hard to imagine our Lord Jesus doing anything of the kind.

As we gather in this place for communion today, we remember. Jesus said, “Do this to remember Me.” Do what? Pray together. Participate together. More specifically, all of us are to participate in the communion meal, where Jesus is revealed in the breaking of the bread.

And afterwards, we are sent forth to bring Jesus into the world. Jesus, God’s Chosen One! Jesus, the hope of the nations! Jesus, the Prince of peace.  Alleluia! Amen.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my other blogs: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

(Many thanks to the website www.umcdiscipleship.org for their preaching notes for Transfiguration Sunday! I am very grateful to this wonderful website for several significant ideas for this sermon.)

[1] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/where-you-are-far-horizons/transfiguration-sunday-year-c-lectionary-planning-notes/transfiguration-sunday-year-c-preaching-notes

[2] http://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2013/01/year-c-transfiguration-of-lord-february.html

[3] https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/worship-planning/where-you-are-far-horizons/transfiguration-sunday-year-c-lectionary-planning-notes/transfiguration-sunday-year-c-preaching-notes

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Jesus Says Don’t Be Afraid!

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“Jesus Says Don’t Be Afraid!”

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Matthew 17:1-9 (17:7) – February 23, 2020

Have you ever been really scared? I know I have. Most of us can relate when we hear about people being terrified. I mean, shocked, totally frightened out of your shoes!

What is it that terrifies you? Is it gunfire? Perhaps a gang shootout, on the street? Thankfully, most of us are fortunate to live in safer neighborhoods. What else could scare you to death? A huge fire in your house or work building? Or, what about a natural disaster here in Illinois, like a tornado, or in the Philippines, like a volcanic eruption?

Any of those events could terrify people. We heard about an event today that terrified the onlookers, too: the Transfiguration of Jesus. Peter, James and John were scared out of their sandals! Our Gospel reading from Matthew 17 tells us so.

Let us step back from this reading, and take a long view on the situation in Matthew 17. Jesus is not too far from the end of His ministry, His final trip to Judea and to Jerusalem. It’s only a matter of months before the culmination of Jesus’s time on earth. For the past three years, the itinerant Rabbi Jesus has been preaching, healing, performing miracles, telling parables, and generally doing the things we are used to Jesus doing.

I know Jesus’s typical daily schedule might seem different to us, today, but Jesus had been doing the same thing for quite a number of months.

Yes, He might be an itinerant Rabbi, traveling from place to place, but Jesus had a number of back-up people, ready to take care of His itinerary and check out possible places to stay and eat, not to mention travel. Did you ever think about that? There must have been at least a few people in Jesus’s traveling group of disciples who must have had some expertise in travel arrangements, and setting up food and lodgings.

And, that isn’t all. We understand from references in the Gospels that Jesus regularly took time out for prayer and meditation. At the beginning of our Scripture reading this morning, we see Jesus taking His inner circle of disciples away with Him to the top of a mountain. Did the three disciples have any idea of what would happen later that day? Do we? Do we really know what happened, there on that mountain?

Whatever the event in Matthew 17 was, it was absolutely amazing to see. Our other reading this morning from Exodus 24 also took place on a mountain. Try to see this scene in your imagination. If you will, picture it on the video screen in your head.

In Exodus, the Lord invited Moses up to the mountaintop, to get the tablets of stone with the Ten Commandments inscribed on them. Also, Moses was supposed to be on the Mountain with God for some time. Both events took place on top of a mountain, in the presence of the glory of God. As the face of Moses shone with that glorious light, so also shone the face of Jesus. Matthew tells us so!

But, it isn’t only the face of Jesus that gets all lit up. No, His clothing becomes brighter than bright, too! A Transfiguration is how the Gospel writer translates the word. In Greek, this word is actually “metamorphed.” We might recognize that word from metamorphosis, the changing of a caterpillar into a butterfly, from an earth-bound creature into something totally and radically different. That is how much Jesus transformed.

For us, today, this sort of transforming effect is not too uncommon. With modern stage lighting, and special effects in the movies, and fancy costuming, we here in the United States in the 21st century might be surprised, but not scared. Certainly not terrified. But, Peter, James and John knew nothing of elaborate lighting or fancy costumes, or even electricity. Imagine, if you can, what an absolutely unbelievable – preposterous – sight Jesus showed to His three disciples. Plus, Moses and Elijah showed up next to the transfigured Jesus, on top of that mountain. Far, far beyond the disciples’ experience. No wonder they were terrified!

If you remember, we had a wonderful Summer Sermon Series in 2018 where we focused on many times in the Bible where people were told, “Be not afraid!” Here is another instance of those powerful words. Powerful, because they almost always come as a result of people seeing the glory of God or the presence of an angel. Memorable, because our Lord Jesus said them to His friends, to Peter, James and John.

We might wonder: how could the disciples possibly relate to Jesus again with any sort of naturalness? Any kind of normalcy, after this clearly supernatural experience?

The answer? Jesus transformed back into regular, human form, and touched His friends. He encourages them with the words “Don’t be afraid!” By touching them and reassuring them that it was really and truly Him, just as He was before? It wasn’t the glorified, “glowing” Jesus who touched them, but the all-too-human, relatable Jesus.

The Rev. Janet Hunt tells us that, as she understands it, “when Jesus tells them to ‘get up’ he is using the same words he also used in raising the dead.  No, Jesus does not leave them there ‘dead’ in their terror and their confusion.  For while they may find themselves in the midst of something unlike anything they have ever seen before.  They may be so afraid that they are as paralyzed as though they were in fact, dead. And yet, Jesus does not leave them there.  He tells them to get up and to leave their fear behind.” [1]

Fear of what, I wonder?

  •   Fear of the unknown?
  •   Fear of the incomprehensible power of God?
  •   Fear of their own inadequacy in the glare of that overpowering bright light?

How many of us are frightened or anxious, and need to hear those words today? How many of our friends or family members find themselves in difficult places, or walking through scary situations, and could be encouraged by those words today? Listen to Jesus! Hear His words to the disciples. Hear His words to us, too.

Sure, we, today, can be dazzled and awestruck as we see the marvelous, miraculous event unfold on the Mountain of the Transfiguration.

How much more do we need this healing, life-giving, transforming touch from our Lord Jesus? The words of Jesus—“Be not afraid!” are surely for each of us, too.      

Alleluia, amen.

 

[1] http://dancingwiththeword.com/get-up-and-dont-be-afraid-revisited/

(janet@dancingwiththeword.com)

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my regular blog for 2020: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and my other blog,  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!

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How Not to Be Terrified

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“How Not to Be Terrified” 

Jesus Transfiguration Georgian relief Luke 9

Matthew 17:1-9 (17:7) – August 19, 2018 – from Dave Ivaska’s book Be Not Afraid

Have you ever seen a true transformation? I know we are familiar with tadpoles swimming in water changing to frogs as amphibians, comfortable in water or on land. I know we all are familiar with caterpillars, living their earthbound, wormlike existence…and after a time of preparation in the cocoon, out comes a butterfly! Two transformations. We will look at another marvelous transformation today: what we know as the Transfiguration.

Let us set the scene. Our Lord Jesus has been on the road with His disciples for a long time now. I am certain they are accustomed to His teaching, preaching and healing. To His separating Himself for times of prayer, and of Him worshiping with groups of people in the synagogue. So, when Jesus taps the three disciples—Peter, James and John—on the shoulder and asks them to come apart with Him for a time of private prayer and worship, I suspect it comes as little surprise to the three men.

I remember two years ago I preached on Luke’s account of the Transfiguration, and I brought out the worship aspects of this marvelous account. Yes, Jesus withdrew to the mountain for a time of private prayer and worship with His three friends. But, there was more to this time than prayer. Much more!

The account from the gospel of Matthew doesn’t waste any time, because the marvelous thing happens as soon as Jesus and His disciples are on top of the mountain. Listen: “After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the 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.”

What on earth is “transfigured,” anyway? What does it mean?

In Greek, the word used in this passage is metamorphomai, or transform. So, from the three disciples’ point of view, it is a total transformation not only of appearance, but also of bodily form.

Again, I am bringing up the fact that first-century Palestine did not have electricity. The people of that time were completely unaware of the fancy special effects that we have today in stage shows, much less in the movies. When their leader and Rabbi suddenly became shining bright and His clothing as dazzling white as snow, well…that must have totally frightened these disciples. So much so, that they began to cower and hide their eyes.

What is more, Jesus wasn’t the only person to be transformed, shining bright in front of them. This Scripture passage also mentions Moses and Elijah, bright as the sun, talking to Jesus.

It is true, the three disciples had been traveling with Jesus for some time. They had observed Him preaching, teaching, and healing. They knew their Rabbi was a great teacher, perhaps a mighty prophet, and even a miracle worker, But, this unbelievable metamorphosis was something completely outside of their experience.

Of course, Peter tries to make sense of this amazing situation. He stutters and stammers, and wants to put up three tents or places of worship.  “On top of the mountain, Peter recognizes that Jesus’ dazzling appearance in the presence of Moses and Elijah is significant–‘Lord, it is good for us to be here!’–but he does not fully understand what he is seeing. One might imagine Peter, jumping up and down with his hand in the air, like an elementary student who is desperate to give the right answer, but who cannot quite get it right because he does not fully understand the question.” [1]

I might be scared to death, too. Imagine, seeing our almighty Lord Jesus, coming down to earth in glorified form. Seeing His majesty, this spectacular view of our Lord. I don’t blame these guys for cowering and hiding their eyes, not one bit.

One commentator has a fascinating insight into this instance of “Be Not Afraid,” happening at this momentous time in our Lord’s life. “Did this glorious ‘vision’ produce faith in [the disciples]? No, it caused extreme fear. Being in direct relationship to God, hearing the voice from the cloud did not produce faith, but fear — so much fear that the disciples literally ‘fell on their faces.’” [2]

Jesus recognizes that fact immediately. He encourages the disciples with the words “Don’t be afraid!”

We might wonder: how could the disciples possibly relate to Jesus again with any sort of naturalness? Any kind of normalcy, after this clearly supernatural experience?

The answer? Jesus transformed back into human form, and touched His friends. He encourages them with the words “Don’t be afraid!” By touching them and reassuring them that it was really and truly Him, just as He was before? It wasn’t the glorified, “glowing” Jesus who touched them, but the all-too-human, relatable Jesus.

How many of us are frightened or anxious, and need to hear those words today? How many of our friends or family members find themselves in difficult places, or walking through scary situations, and could be encouraged by those words today? Listen to Jesus! Hear His words to the disciples. Hear His words to us, too.

How much do we need this healing, life-giving, transforming touch from Jesus? The words of Jesus—“Be not afraid!” are surely for each of us. Yet, there is more. “In addition to our need for this divine touch, I think that we are also called to offer it to the world. For our congregations and our people, rather than seeking to appear ‘glorious’ as God’s people, perhaps it is more helpful to be simply human beings who offer a healing and life-giving touch to the scared, worried, anxious people with whom we come in contact.” [3]

We can have a view of Jesus as more than just an untouchable, glorified, majestic being. He is also a relatable, human being. The incarnate Son of God. Jesus reaches out to you and to me. He reaches out to everyone we meet, too.

Listen to Jesus! Hear His words to the disciples. Hear His words to us, too.

Be not afraid. Jesus is with us always. Amen, alleluia.

[1] http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=27

Commentary, Matthew 17:1-9, Audrey West, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2008.

[2] http://www.crossmarks.com/brian/matt17x1.htm    Exegetical Notes by Brian Stoffregen at CrossMarks Christian Resources.

[3] http://www.crossmarks.com/brian/matt17x1.htm    Exegetical Notes by Brian Stoffregen at CrossMarks Christian Resources.

@chaplaineliza

(Suggestion: visit me at my regular blog for 2018: matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers. #PursuePEACE – and my other blog,  A Year of Being Kind . Thanks!)