Seasonally, the text forms a bridge to the ascent of Jesus to Mount Tabor and, ultimately, to Calvary, so we can receive the Gospel of God which saves us.
In chapter 24 of Exodus, we have some pretty key details and events that move us along in this redemption narrative which sets us up for the transition from Epiphany to Lent. Brevard Childs notes, “First, chapter 24 brings to completion the sealing of the covenant which had been first announced in 19:3.”(502-503) The largest result of this first move in the narrative is Moses as the mediator between God and Israel. This theme can help with setting up typology or even gospel foreshadowing in the form of Gospel Handles for the sermon. Childs continues, “Secondly, chapter 24 serves as the connecting link with the preceding themes of the book while at the same time pointing forward to the succeeding themes. The chapter forms a bridge to the account of the ascent of the mountain to receive the instructions for the tabernacle.” Seasonally, the text forms a bridge to the ascent of Jesus to Mount Tabor and, ultimately, to Calvary, so we can receive the Gospel of God which saves us.
In terms of a helpful sermon structure to get toward the Gospel in a typological way for this text, I would suggest a Dynamic Structure that is Imagistic. Mainly, an Imagistic structure called The Central Image.
“This sermon structure uses a single image throughout the sermon and fosters devotional contemplation of an image. In the opening of the sermon, the preacher describes the image for the hearers,” which in this case would be the image of the Mountain. “The preacher then uses that image as a source for continuing devotional contemplation throughout the sermon. The image serves as a lens through which one views the textual exposition, the theological confession, the evangelical proclamation, and the hearer interpretation of the sermon. Having a single image lends coherence to the sermon,” which means that in the sermon you would start from the text with the image of Mount Sinai where they have access to God with the blood (24:8) and God is gracious and invites Moses and the elders to commune with Him on the Mountain (24:9-11). God, in His mercy, does not strike them down for being in His presence.
Homiletically, opportunities abound to talk about communing with God or even communion. This development of the image from the text is helpful here for the theological confession of the sermon. Then the sermon progresses as you go to Mount Nebo in the Pisgah Valley (Deuteronomy 34:1-12) which is developed with a story from George Periman (see below). Follow that image as it brings us to Mount Tabor from our assigned Gospel lesson in Matthew 17:1-4. The way you develop that moment again is anchored in the story of George Periman. The illustration of my visit with George brings us, finally, to Mount Calvary and the conclusion of the sermon. So, as you return to the image of the Mountain periodically throughout the sermon, you could approach it in one of two ways: Through a single focus or a multiple focus. I am suggesting for this sermon a multiple focus so, “Each time the preacher returns to the image, he focuses on a different aspect/place and time in the bible of that image. The preacher may begin by looking at the whole image and then focus on one detail and then another. Or he may look at smaller details and, at the conclusion of the sermon, consider the image as a whole. If the image is displayed, the preacher may crop the image so that only a small detail is revealed, helping the hearers focus on a particular aspect at that point in the sermon. In terms of the progression of the sermon, the image itself serves as a map of the ideas of the sermon, each portion meditated upon at different points in the sermon.”
So, using Mount Sinai to set the frame, we utilize the liturgical context and the story of George Periman to walk the hearers through the text. You can slow down the progression of the story with George’s story to meditate on various people such as Moses, Elijah, Jesus, and even ourselves and their experience of the event which all took place on a mountain. I find that stories are the best way to take people through thoughtful experiences of images. I also always like to leave you a story, so you have something to use or connect the concepts for the sermon.
The story of George Periman is as follows:
His name is George Periman and with his permission I would like to share with you his story. George is a north Idaho, jack of all trades, all American tough guy. There was no job he would not be willing to tackle, and he loved hard work. However, in the wintery years of his life his body betrayed him with something the doctors could only describe as Parkinson’s like symptoms. What that means is he was “all there” in his mind but his body had a habit of betraying him. You see, he would stall out. He would either have the hardest time getting started or he would be going along and, if he were interrupted or distracted, he would stall out and have the hardest time starting up again. The only thing these doctors could think of doing for his situation was to give him a walker (the idea of which made him furious) that would project a thin, red laser line on the ground every time he would hit the brakes. So, when he stalled out, he was instructed to hit the brakes and focus on that thin, red line and keep telling himself to just step over the line. It kind of worked and it kind of drove him crazy.
After a while, he just did not want to go out anymore. Since this included church, I would bring church to George and his wife in their assisted living facility. I remember this one particular time I was visiting them, and the Transfiguration was my text for the Sunday sermon. Being an active preacher, I would often share my sermon devotionally with those who could not make it to church. When I came to visit George with this text, I realized I did not have any good news to share with him. For sure it was a solid sermon theologically because it had the requisite amount of law and gospel and the correct teaching that the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah) testify to Jesus. But for that reason, it did not really speak into George’s life. Cut to the quick realizing I would be guilty of “singing songs to a heavy heart,” I prayed that God would help me find a way to share this with George.
After Confession and before Communion, George shared that he had a struggle he just could not shake. One day he got so frustrated with his body not doing what God had made it to do that he actually swore right in front of his grandson! The sincere shame he felt prevented me from trying to minimize his guilt. He knew he wanted to be a better role model for his grandson. He felt like he failed. To this I shared with him that there was somebody in the Gospel lesson from the Transfiguration who he could really relate to. To his surprise he asked, “Who?” “Moses,” I said. “Moses was a man who knew what it was like to get frustrated with his situation. He felt like he could not get Israel going through the desert. All he wanted to do was get to the promised land, but they kept stalling out. Moses even called down a curse that time at the waters of Meribah (Exodus 17) when the people complained about the water and Moses struck the rock and said, ‘I’ll give you water,’ and for that failure to properly revere God as holy, Moses at the end of his life didn’t get to cross over into the promised land. Moses felt like a failure at the end of his life. So, as he stood there at the top of Mount Nebo in the Pisgah Valley he looked out and saw the promised land. All Moses wanted to do was to cross that thin blue line called the Jordan. But no, he died there believing that failure is how his final days of ministry would be remembered.” But then I told George: “But you know Moses made it to the promised land!” He looked at me with confusion as to what I meant. I asked him to remember who was present with Jesus at the Mount of Transfiguration. We both talked about how Moses was there. The phrase I wanted him to focus on was: “Yeah, Moses was there... because Jesus got him there.”
We talked briefly about Elijah as well. Who at the end of his ministry believed he had failed as well (1 Kings 19:4) and actually left the promised land (2 Kings 2:8) getting a CASEVAC out of there. But I assured George that even Elijah made it back to the promised land. By this time he caught on and said with me, “Yeah, because Jesus got him there.” I told George that Moses and Elijah made it to the promised land not because of what Jesus did on Mount Tabor, though, but because of another mountain Jesus went up on later. The reason anybody makes it to the “big, promised land” in Heaven is because of what Jesus in shedding His blood on Mount Calvary. Because of what Jesus did by shedding his blood on that mountain and because of what He did on the third day in rising from the grave we are invited by God to hear and believe the best news that I got to share with George.
I told him that, though I was uncertain as to whether or not George was going to keep having this frustrating illness and even if George died with this illness, he too would make it to the promised land. And with conviction in his eyes, he said “Yeah, because Jesus will get me there.” To be honest, I cannot think of the Mount of Transfiguration the same again. There is hope for people who have highs and lows in life and with the Lord. Everyone who has struggled, or suffered, or experienced failure has good news. Those who have Jesus will make it to the promised land because Jesus will get us there.
Fair gospel to preach to those who are leaving Epiphany on a mountaintop in Tabor and about to travel to Mount Calvary through the penitential valley of Lent. Before we set out for that Lenten journey, though, we meet with God on this mountain (Exodus 24) at this moment and in this holy gathering where our vision is transformed, looking forward to Jesus and knowing He will lead us all the way from death to life to a new life now and a life in the promised land of Heaven forever.
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Additional Resources:
Craft of Preaching-Check out 1517’s resources on Exodus 24:8-18.
Concordia Theology-Various helps from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO to assist you in preaching Exodus 24:8-18.
Lectionary Kick-Start-Check out this fantastic podcast from Craft of Preaching authors Peter Nafzger and David Schmitt as they dig into the texts for this Sunday!
The Pastor’s Workshop-Check out all the great preaching resources from our friends at the Pastor’s Workshop!
