God’s Word at Work

ELIJAH AND ELISHA
Transfiguration Sunday
2 Kings 2: 1 – 12(a)

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text for this mornings meditation is recorded in the 2nd Book of Kings, chapter 2, verses 1 through 12, particularly these words, “As they still went on and talked, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My Father, my Father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him on more.” This is our text.

In the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, dear Christian friends. Again today, our appointed Old Testament Lesson is a familiar story. However, it may not be as familiar as we think. Read the Scripture lesson again. Elijah did NOT go to heaven in the fiery chariot like our bulletin cover shows — but in a whirlwind as the text says clearly. But this passage does present a problem in preparing a sermon. It is NOT a moralistic story that teaches a lesson. It is not a great prophecy that points to the Savior Jesus Christ. It doesn’t have a great example to which we can point, and say, “Now we should be like that.” This is simply a beautiful passage of Scriptural History, which tells us the story of how God called one of his faithful servants home.

This text was chosen for today’s old Testament lesson because it tells us about Elijah’s last day on earth. That prepares us for the Gospel lesson for today, where we read of Jesus’ transfiguration and the appearance of Moses and Elijah with Jesus. But as we look at the Old Testament lesson of Elijah and Elisha, there are some similarities with Jesus and his disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration.

First of all, there was the great teacher, and miracle worker, with his disciples. Elijah had healed the sick/ had foretold the future, had preached of God’s love, God’s grace, and God’s judgment. Elijah had with him his faithful disciple Elisha. Jesus went to the Mountain after busy weeks of healing the sick, teaching his disciples about what lay ahead in the near future, and preaching of God’s love, God’s grace, and God’s judgment. Jesus took with him his three closest disciples: Peter, James and John.

Secondly, they were in a secluded, out of the way place. Elijah and Elisha passed over the Jordan River, away from the crowds. Jesus and his disciples went up into the mountain away from the crowds.

And Third, Something very great, something very important happened on both occasions. Both times, God revealed his power and his glory to man.

Today we want to look at these two stories from the Eyes of Elisha and Jesus’ Disciples.

Elisha knew that Elijah would soon be leaving him. The Sons of the prophets, both at Bethel and at Jericho, told him Elijah would soon be gone from this earth. Elisha stayed close to Elijah, because he knew that while with this man he would see God in Action through Him. Jesus’ disciples were up on that mountain with Jesus, because they knew that he often did things that only God could do. Peter had even made the statement only six days prior to this that Jesus was “The Christ, The Son of the Living God.” So neither the disciples nor Elisha were at the scene by accident.

You and I too can be where the action is — by, “seeking first the kingdom of God.” God is still doing great things in this world — and much of this he is doing through His people. When we are in the company of God through Scripture reading and Bible Study, when we are in prayer and devotion, when we are in the company of the family of God through regular church worship, then like Elisha and the Disciples, we will be at the right place at the right time. Because through that Word of God, and through His Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion, God still does great things. Through Word and Sacrament, we see God’s love, God’s grace, and God’s power, just like Elisha did, and just like Jesus’ disciples did. Jesus promised, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Great things happen in the presence of God.

Can you imagine what went on in Elisha’s mind as the Chariot separated them and the whirlwind too Elijah away. Elisha had to be both frightened and astounded by this great act of God. And what about the Disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration? They were standing there talking with Jesus when Jesus’ clothing begins to glow, and standing there with him are Elijah and Moses, two of the greatest men in Jewish history. The Gospel lesson itself fells us how the disciples were reacting. It said, “They were exceedingly afraid.” The text even tells us Peter, of all people, doesn’t even know what to say.

I fear that in our day and time we have reached the point where spectacular events have become commonplace. Special effects in movies let us stand right in the middle of storms, and car crashes, and avalanches, and all kinds of catastrophes. We are not shocked by events of life as people were years ago — because through the miracle of T.V., we not only hear what happened in our world today, but we also see it. We see our soldiers in Baghdad and what they are doing. We see the rockets flying into Gaza. We see and hear the ball player confess his use of performance enhancing drugs. All the spectacular stories of the week and even that day are seen every night, on the six o-clock news. The spectacular becomes commonplace.

So when church is a little dull, the sermon a little dry, the meeting a little too long — we get bored with it all — and so, some of the greatest events in our history we overlook. Like when a child is baptized — that is a spectacular event, the work of God changing the sinful, old Adam, into the forgiven new man. When we confess our sins to God and are forgiven, that is something spectacular — as the grace and love of God are revealed to us. When one lost sinner comes to faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, there we see a spectacular event of God’s grace, as that sinner is changed into a Christ forgiven Saint. God’s power is all around us. God’s works are all around us. All we need do is to open our eyes and look around us to see God’s love and action at work today, and every day.

The experience which Elisha and the disciples saw, changed their lives forever. Elisha took Elijah’s coat, and returned to his work with a double share of Elijah’s Spirit. The Disciples had seen the power and majesty of God on the mount, but Jesus told them to tell no one until AFTER the resurrection. But they later gave powerful testimony concerning the God/man Jesus Christ.

How has our experience with God changed our lives? God sent his son to die for us. God loved us even while we were yet His enemies, sinfully doing our own will instead of his. God made us his children. We have been eyewitnesses to the miracles of God as he continually cares for us, guides us, loves us, and forgives us. How does that change our lives?

Today, through God’s Word, we have been with Elisha as Elijah went to heaven. Today, through God’s Word, we have stood with Peter, James, and John and viewed Christ’s transfiguration. We have seen the glory and majesty of God. Let us now go down from the mountain and proclaim that “Jesus is Lord.” Let us “live our lives in such a way that men may see our good works, and glorify our Father, who is in heaven.” God has revealed great things to us. God has done great things for us. Christ lived, died, and rose from the dead for us. Let us give Glory to Him and Bless his holy name. Amen.

May the peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting. Amen.

Mark 1:40-45

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“Soar Like Eagles”
Isaiah 40: 21-31
Fifth Sunday after Epiphany

Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text for this morning’s meditation is from Isaiah, chapter 40, verses 21 through 31, particularly these words: “They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” This is our text.

In the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, dear Christian friends. Years ago there was a “Charlie Brown” comic strip, which showed Snoopy, sitting beside the smoking remains of his dog, house which had burned down. Lucy, the series psychologist and theologian, said to Snoopy, “You know why your dog house burned down? It’s because you sinned. That’s why your dog house burned down.” Snoopy sticks out his tongue and goes “Pheeeee” and says, “Her kind deserve to be Pheeeeeeed.”

he truth of that comic strip we see every day in the sinful world around us. We live very much in a world that teaches “You get what you earn” and “You get what you deserve.” Some even quote the Bible to prove that if you suffer, you deserve it – “What you sow, so shall you reap.” That’s exactly what Job’s friends tried to tell him in the Old Testament. Eliphaz, Bildad, Elihu, and Zophar came to comfort Job in the loss of his children and the loss of his fortunes. Eliphaz was the first to speak, “Job, think how you have instructed many, how you have strengthened feeble hands. Your words have supported those who stumbled; you have strengthened faltering knees. But now trouble comes to you, and you are discouraged; it strikes you, and you are dismayed. Should not your piety be your confidence and your blameless ways your hope? Consider now: Who, being innocent, has ever perished? Where were the upright ever destroyed? As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it. At the breath of God they are destroyed; at the blast of his anger they perish.” Or to put it into the words of Lucy – “You know why your children died? You know why your crops were destroyed and your animals stolen. You sinned – that’s why!” If you were good enough God would protect you! If you were innocent you would not suffer! If you had not sinned these things would not have happened! That’s the way our sinful world looks at things. That’s the advice and council of sinful mankind.

Job gets defensive and proclaims his innocence and his trust in God. The Bible even says of Job, “In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrong doing.” But Job did ask God “Why?” It’s a question people ask all the time – “Why do bad things happen to good people?” And the right answer is “SIN”. Job’s friends were right. It is sin that brought bad things into this world: pain in Childbirth, weeds in the garden, work that required sweat, thorns on the bushes, sickness, pain, and death. Bad things happen in this world because of the sin of Adam and Eve, because of the sins of all people, because of your sins and mine. The Bible is clear that there is no one who does only good and does not sin, not even one. And the soul that sins, it shall die. The wages of sin is death. We sometimes forget that death is what we really do deserve because of sins. As we confess in our worship, we do indeed deserve God’s wrath and punishment because we are poor miserable sinners. But the point of our lesson for today is that we cannot, and must not, trust in our own goodness or in our own righteousness. For if we do, we will fail.

Job asked God “Why”? And God answered Job with a question: “Who do you think you are to question me?” “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid it cornerstone – while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?” That’s exactly the same thought in our text for today in Isaiah. “It is he (Almighty God) who sits above the circle of the earth. It is he who stretches out the heavens like a curtain. It is He who brings princes to nothing, and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness.” God is still in control of our world. He may allow certain things to happen that are not good as we see it at any given time – But God has his purpose and his reasons for all that happens.

No, the Lord hasn’t forgotten about us! No, the Lord hasn’t turned away from us! That’s what the people of Israel thought in the days of Isaiah. Isaiah said in our text, “Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God?” The people of Israel were always in trouble and always having trouble, because they always looked somewhere else for strength, for courage, for help. They looked to other gods like Baal for spiritual strength. They looked to other countries to be their allies so they would be stronger in battle together with others. They looked to bad leaders to give them good direction. They looked to their own keeping of the law as their righteousness as they ate the right foods, observed the right holidays, worshiped at the right times, and offered the right kind of sacrifices. And when all of these other things didn’t work – then they looked to God and wondered why He had left them!

Nothing has really changed at all. People today go to churches that offer nothing more than motivational speeches telling them now to be perfect. The religion section and the self-help sections at the bookstore have become one and the same. Many of our people are looking to the government these days to bail them out of all their problems. And then when nothing works – they blame God for abandoning them.

And our God given conscious makes this terribly hard to bear. We know we are sinners. We know we haven’t been the perfect people that God expects us to be. And then the devil and our sinful nature says to us – “Well, try harder! Do better! Change your ways!” And because of our sinful nature, we don’t — and we can’t. And that pushes us toward despair – Like Paul saying, “O wretched man that I am, who can save me from this body of death?” But Paul looked in the right direction, away from himself, away from others, and toward God. He said, “Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Or as Isaiah said in the Text, “The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.” It is Jesus who heals Peter’s Mother-in-law. It is Jesus who casts out demons. It is Jesus who heals diseases. It is Jesus who walks on water and stills storms. It is Jesus who raises the dead to life. It is Jesus who suffers, dies, and rises again so that sinners like you and me might have forgiveness of sins, life and salvation.

That’s where the Prophet Isaiah told the People of Israel to look in our text: “They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” He who created this world is the one source of all hope, all strength, all joy. Hope is not found in the creation – but in the creator. “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not perish, but will have everlasting Life.” That’s God’s promise. That’s our sure and certain hope. God forgives us for Jesus sake. God gives us the strength we need to both to WILL and to DO his will, those good works that “he prepared in advance for us to do”.

Live in the grace and the mercy of God and you will soar like the eagles, run and not be weary, walk and not faint. For the Lord Almighty is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge and our strength. To God be the glory now and always. Amen.

And may the peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus unto life everlasting. Amen.