On A Natural High, March 9, 2014

On a Natural High

Exodus 24:12-18, Matthew 17:1-9

Grace Presbyterian Church

March 9, 2014

Rev. Dr. Richard E. Miller

Getting High  As you may recall, two Sundays ago, we heard about the need for us to live within God’s physical, emotional and spiritual boundaries. This morning I have a confession to make. I’ve been with you for over a year and I know you well enough that I hope you won’t think less highly of me when you hear what I have to say. When I was young, my parents supplied me with drugs and I got high many times a week. They also taught me to use four letter words.

My drug problem was that my parents drug me to church on Sunday mornings, drug me to family reunions no matter what, drug me to Sunday School and youth group at church, drug me by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults and teachers, and drug me to the woodshed when I disobeyed them.

And I got high every time I climbed the windmill to grease it or scooted around the edge of the silo to shift the silage elevator or scampered up on a barn rafter to jump into the loose hay. I got high when I watched the sun setting over the corn field or swam in the pond just beyond the orchard. I got high when I listened to the meadow lark or chased fireflies in the evening dusk.

And the four letter words that my parents taught me? They were words such as love, play, give, kiss, obey, help, grin, care, pray and Holy.

These were the natural drugs and highs and vocabulary of my childhood. Many of you here can identify with such natural highs and no doubt are reminded of John Denver singing “Rocky Mountain High.”

Disciples   I mention these natural highs because I’ve often thought about the disciples and the fact that during the three years they were with Jesus, they were on one natural high after another.  

1. First they are called from their homes and occupations to follow a man called Jesus.  The excitement of leaving home and exploring new, strange lands must have filled their hearts with excitement and anticipation of what might happen.

2.   Day after day they listened to Jesus preach and teach.

3.  They were there when Jesus healed people with all kinds of ailments - they watched paralytics walk, deaf hear, blind see, lepers cleansed, and dead raised to life. 

4. They were astounded when he changed water into wine at a marriage in Cana of Galilee.

5. They were amazed when Jesus fed 5,000 people with a few loaves of bread and a few fish.

6. They were in awe when Jesus calmed the great storm on the sea.

Can you imagine walking about the countryside for three years with someone who could and did such things? The disciples watched, listened, learned, and were transformed by one natural high after another.

Lows However, as we know, the sojourn of the disciples with Jesus wasn’t a continuous series of highs. There were moments of sadness and despair as well. For instance, Peter was filled with anguish and guilt when he denied ever knowing Jesus. All of them were in shock when the soldiers came to arrest Jesus the night before he died. They couldn't believe it when Jesus was charged with sedition and sentenced to death. And they were filled with sorrow and helplessness as Jesus was nailed to the cross as a common criminal.

Their tears flowed easily and their spirits sank to rock bottom when Jesus breathed his last. They were as sheep without a shepherd. It seemed as though three years of their lives had been spent for nothing.

High  However, three days later, the word went forth. Jesus is alive! He has risen from the dead!  And now the mourning of the disciples is transformed into exalted joy. And later, at Pentecost, the disciples are filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.  And they go forth in Christ's name to preach and teach the good news of the gospel.

As we can see, their life with Jesus was never boring. They never knew what to expect. Their lives were filled with both natural highs and lows.

The Transfiguration  This morning I’d like to focus upon a natural high that Peter, James and John had with Jesus. Jesus took them up a mountain to pray. When they reached the top, an amazing thing happened. Matthew tells us about it in these words: “There Jesus was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.” [Matthew 17:2]

The altering, or transfiguring, of both his clothing and countenance signified the presence of God. To say the least, Peter, James and John were bowled over by the sight. It was an emotional and spiritual high that they’d never forget.

Moses and Elijah appear  While they were there, another equally amazing thing happened. “And behold, two men talked with (Jesus), Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure which he was to accomplish at Jerusalem.” The appearance of Moses and Elijah is significant.

In Deuteronomy, Moses says to the people, "The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brethren - him you shall heed." (Deuteronomy 18:15) Through his prophet Malachi, God says, "Behold I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes." (Malachi 4:5) 

For the Jews, Moses represented the Law and Elijah the prophets. At the Transfiguration, their presence with Christ bound the Old Covenant to the New Covenant, the Old Testament to the New Testament.

Then Moses, Elijah and Jesus talked. About what? Luke says that the three men spoke of the upcoming departure of Jesus. (Luke 9:31)  By this time, Peter, James and John must have been delirious with awe and wonderment. Before them stood Moses and Elijah and Jesus! It is no wonder, then, that Peter wanted that moment to last as long as possible. With that goal in mind, he said, “Master, it is well that we are here; let us make three booths, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” Now a booth was like a tent made from tree branches and considered more permanent than a tent. It implied that a person was going to stay in that place for fairly long time. Peter thought it would be wonderful if the three men could remain together for a while and visit. After all, this was a divinely-directed meeting of glory! But before Jesus could respond to his suggestion, they heard the voice of God say, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!’

The only other time in the Bible that God said that Jesus was his son was at Jesus’ baptism. Peter, James and John heard it now for the first time.

       Once God spoke, Moses and Elijah disappeared. As a result, the event ended and didn't last nearly as long as Peter would have liked. And slowly but surely, Jesus and his three disciples walked down the mountain to the valley and the crucifixion that awaited below. The moment of glory that Jesus had on the mountain top wasn't for him to keep. Instead, it came to give him strength for whatever lay ahead.

Glimpses of glory  Just as the disciples and Jesus encountered God in glimpses of glory, so do we. Our individual encounters with our Creator may not be as impressive as the Transfiguration of our Lord, but they change us just the same. For example:

1. When you first fell in love and when you said "I do" to your beloved.

2. When you heard moving arias of music which lifted you to unexpected ecstasy.

3. Holding your new-born child or grandchild in your arms.

4. When you shared a quiet evening with good friends.

5. The delicate aroma of a rose or of freshly-baked bread.

4.  The time when you accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior.

5.  When resentment was transfigured into forgiveness and reconciliation;

Experiences, sounds and smells such as these are transfiguring moments for us. Each of them changes us a little bit. No, they didn't last very long, but they still lay glistening in our memory ready to surface at a moment's notice. Each of these and more make up our personal collection of glimpses of glory.

Open to receive  Such moments occur when our hearts and minds are open and recognize such divine encounters. Many are missed because we aren't always open to the unexpected glimpses of glory that come our way. Far too often we are so caught up with the busyness of living that we don't recognize the many transfigurations taking place all around us. Bob Dennison forwarded the following to me. Some of you have read it and realize how true it is.

The man whispered, “God speak to me” and a Meadowlark sang. But the man did not hear.

So the man yelled, “God, speak to me” And the thunder rolled across the sky, but the man did not listen.

The man looked around and said, “God let me see you.” And the sun shined brightly. But the man did not see

And the man shouted, “God show me a miracle,” and a life was born. But the man did not notice.

So the man cried out in despair, “Touch me God, and let me know you are here.” Thereupon, God reached down and touched the man. But the man brushed the butterfly away and walked on.

I would like to adapt these thoughts to this outpost of God’s kingdom known as Grace Presbyterian Church.

A woman whispered, “God speak to me” and our Choir sang. the woman heard the voice of God and her spirit was raised to a natural high.

A man prayed, “God, speak to me.” And his wife whispered in his ear, “I love you.” And his spirit was raised to a natural high.

And an old man looked around and said, “God, let me see you.” And his grandchild crawled up on his lap and went to sleep. And his soul soared in a natural high.

A woman shouted, “God show me a miracle.” And her daughter was baptized, and the woman’s heart was filled with God’s glory.

Then the youth said, “Touch me God, and let me know you are here.” And five members came up and gave her a hug. And she experienced a peace that passeth all understanding.

So the next time you are hugged and loved and hear the choir sing, inhale the fragrance of a rose or hear a bird sing, forgive and are forgiven, are spiritually nourished by the scriptures and daily prayer, recognize them for what they are - God-given natural highs that raise us into his presence and transform us a little bit more into person God would have us be. Amen.

Exodus 24:12-18 NRSV

The Lord said to Moses, ‘Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there; and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.’ So Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. To the elders he had said, ‘Wait here for us, until we come to you again; for Aaron and Hur are with you; whoever has a dispute may go to them.’  Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. The glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud. Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.
 

Matthew 17:1-9 NRSV

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!’ When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, ‘Get up and do not be afraid.’ And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, ‘Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.’