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February 3, 2008
Scripture: Matthew 17: 1-9
Sermon: "Coming Down the Mountain"

I don’t what it is about this passage that makes me think of my days at summer camp. I don’t know if it is because I went to camp in the mountains of North Carolina and I can relate to the mountaintop experience. Or maybe it because Jesus took three of the disciples up the mountain for a retreat. Regardless of the reason, my mind goes back to those days when our youth group would load up in a van and head to the mountains for camp.

And when I think of camp, I think of camp songs. You know those, funny, quirky songs that you would sing around the camp fire, before meals, to wake up the camp and annoy the counselors.
This week, as I thought about this sermon and camp memories ran through my head, one song in particular seemed to keep coming up the most. It was a song that never really made any sense to me as a camper, except that it was a funny little song. And I am sure that many of you have sung this song. “If I had a little green box to put my Jesus in, I’d take him out and hug his neck and put him back again.”

Like I said, it is a silly little song, sort of a catchy little song. Having a box with Jesus in it, wanting to hug his neck.

It is the part about putting him back again that stopped and made me think. How often do we keep Jesus in a box? A clearly defined box with clearly defined categories, with clearly defined definitions. How often do we keep Jesus in a box of our own making? How often do we refuse to let him come out of that box unless we pull him from it, to hug his neck and then we put him back again? How often do we let Jesus break through the clearly defined boxes in our lives and allow him to inspire wonder and awe in our lives? How often do we allow him to be the Son of God in our lives?

Jesus in a box with clearly defined categories, with clearly defined definitions, that is the way we like it. Jesus in a box so that we are in control, so that we can take him out and hug his neck, so that we can put him back again.

Jesus in clearly defined categories.

We are not different than the disciples that day on the mountain.

Jesus has been preaching and teaching. Jesus has been healing and living out the Kingdom of God. And he turns to his disciples one day and asks: Who do people say that the Son of God is? And they answer: Some say Moses. Some say Elijah. And then Jesus asks: Who do you say that I am? And Peter answers: You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.

And Jesus tells Peter that he will build his church on Peter as the foundation.

And for the disciples, the title of the Messiah becomes the box in which to keep Jesus, with defined walls, with defined categories, with defined purposes.

And then all of a sudden, Jesus starts taking about going to Jerusalem where he will undergo suffering. How he will be turned over and will be killed. How on the third day, he will be raised.
And Peter once again speaks up: Jesus, that can’t be right. You are the Messiah. What you are saying does fit into our categories. We don’t comprehend. Go back into the box labeled Messiah. We’ll pull you out when we get to Jerusalem, hug your neck, and then we will put you back when you topple the powers that be. Jesus, stay in the box labeled Messiah.

And now in our story today, we learn that six days after this conversation between Peter and Jesus, Jesus takes Peter, James and John up on a mountain. And then all of a sudden, he is transfigured. His face shines like the sun. His clothes become a dazzling white. And then if that is not enough, Moses and Elijah are there, standing beside Jesus, talking with Jesus!

You can just imagine the disciples at this point! Their jaws dropping open. Their eyes opened wide with amazement. Looking at each other, knowing that something amazing is happening right there in front of them!

And Peter speaks up: Jesus, this is so cool! here is what we are going to do, but only if you want to. I’m going to build three boxes up here on the mountain. One for Moses, One for Elijah, and one for you. We’ll keep it simple. We’ll label one: The Law. We’ll label one: The Prophets. And the Last one: once again we’ll label Messiah, Son of the Living God. That way, everything is back in its box. Everything has clear categories. Everything has clear definitions.

Jesus, we can stay up on this mountain, bring you out of your box when we need you, hug your neck, and then we’ll put you back when you have shown the world that you are the Messiah.

And as Peter is speaking, a cloud appears and overshadows them. And then suddenly, a voice comes from this cloud and says: “Listen! This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; Listen to him!! He will show you the Kingdom of God.”

And the disciples fall down in fear. Then Jesus comes and touches them, saying: “Don’t be afraid.” The disciples get up and they see that Jesus is alone.

And Jesus begins to show them the Kingdom of God by coming down the mountain and going into the valley below. And Jesus begins healing, preaching, and teaching. Jesus begins to break through the world’s clearly defined boxes that separate: Rich, Poor, Male, Female, Clean, Unclean.
Jesus comes down the mountain and shows the disciples that the Kingdom of God does not work with labels or limiting boxes. The Kingdom of God inspires awe. The Kingdom of God inspires passion. The Kingdom of God inspires community.

And all the disciples have to do is Listen! Listen to Jesus’ preaching. Listen to Jesus’ preaching. Listen to Jesus’ healings. And they will see the Kingdom of God.

The disciples were given an opportunity to recognize Jesus as the Son of the living God through his teachings, his preaching and his healings. The disciples were given an opportunity to bring Jesus out of his box and let him inspire them to be people of faith, serving God and actively working towards the Kingdom of God. The disciples were given an opportunity to break down the barriers that separate them and the clearly defined categories that limit them.

And today we are given the same opportunity. We are invited to experience the Transfiguration in our lives as people of faith. We are invited to let the Transfiguration urge “us [as] followers to claim a broadened notion of our baptismal journey as we celebrate times of growth in discipleship throughout our lives.” We are invited to see that the Transfiguration is “not a final destination, but a source of renewal for deeper engagement.” We are invited to see the Transfiguration as an opportunity for the Kingdom of God to break through our nicely defined boxes and categories that separate and divide our world.

And all we have to do is listen. Be inspired by Jesus’ teachings. Be in awe of Jesus’ healings. Be inspired by Jesus’ preaching. And commit yourself to working to bring about the Kingdom of God here on earth. Be disciples in awe of what the Son of the Living God can do in your life and in the world.

No longer can we place Jesus in a box. No longer can we only take Jesus out to hug his neck. No longer can we put Jesus back in the box until the next time.

Jesus has broken through our clearly defined categories and clearly defined boxes that we use to separate and divide. He calls to us to get up and to not be afraid. He calls to us to share this life changing invitation with all that we meet. He calls us to come down the mountain and into the valley where the darkness threatens to take over the light.

As we experience the Transfiguration in our lives, we must remember that we are not called to stay up on the mountaintop. We are not called to stay behind the doors of our church.

We are called to come down the mountain. We are called to break the world’s barriers that divide and separate. We are called to go down in the valley and actively work to bring about the Kingdom of God.

We are called to be awe-inspired disciples, actively working to break down the barriers of the world. We are called to recognize the extraordinary in the ordinary. We are called allow the Kingdom of God to break through the boxes of our lives. We are called to let go of our labels and be the people of God.

May we open our heads and minds to the Kingdom of God.

Amen.

Rev. Heather McColl
Midway Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

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