"Life Moves On"

Rev. Clyde B. Smith
Scripture Reference: Luke 9:28-36

28And it came to pass about eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.
29And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.
30And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
31Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
32But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.
33And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.
34While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.
35And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
36And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.

Life moves on. This interpretative remark is not in the other gospels – this is written by Luke, a doctor.

Perhaps their being asleep is looked upon as either stupidity or indifference.

Rather, it was proof of their great attachment, and their deep sympathy in His sorrows. Luke says – “sleeping for sorrow” – on account of their sorrow – their grief was great.

*A symptom of grief is profound, deep sleep – (we see this in patients when things get uncomfortable. Some people use this escape from sermon lectures!

The agony of Jesus in prayer:
- His impending death
- Their loneliness which they already anticipated when he had gone. (It is often more difficult for those who stay than for those who go.)
- They were heavily invested in Him and they felt the grief deeply. [This is a commitment we must make ourselves in order to be in the “inner circle” of the apothein life [lovers of life] , to be open to hurt.

I think we already experienced this as our group life comes toward an end. My mother has passed away (Mary Smith).

Luke 9: 33 says: “There are no stopping places in life. Life moves on! Physically, the organs of the body must continue in the function for one to continue to live. When they stop functioning – physical life is over.”

Emotionally, life in its fullest sense, means that one feels, is aware, is sensitive. [I once visited a woman in a hospital whose heart had stopped during surgery. The doctors were able to get her heart to beat again but her brain had already been damaged. She was alive plysically - but emotionally she was dead; no awareness, no feeling.] If one lives a marginal life emotionally – then life is not full and meaningful.

LIFE MOVES ON! That is, it is headed somewhere. There are plans and goals. There are hopes. What are your goals? Do you have any? Life has always meant more when you were working, planning, and had definite goals! School, work, marriage, promotion, discharge from hospital, etc. This is the essential optimism in the Bible; Abraham, Israel (even today) others.

We see in v. 33 that Peter wanted life to somehow stop where he was. He said – “without knowing what he was saying “ – [probably because he was so bewildered in his state of ecstasy]. We would probably have been the same. Peter remarked, “Let’s construct three booths here – for You, Moses, and Elijah!” [In Lev. 23:42, there is a reference to “booths”: …dwell in booths after being brought out of Egypt.]

Now, let us consider again, what had been the subject of Jesus’ conversation with Moses and Elijah.

Now, let us consider again, what had been the subject of Jesus’ conversation with Moses and Elijah. He had been talking with them about his “deciose.” This word comes from 2 words – “Ex” – “out of”; and “odos” – “A journeying.” EXODUS. The word used of the migration of the Jews from Egypt

This was a journey out of Egypt (bondage, enslavement’ and also, a destination which was to the Promised Land.

So when Jesus was talking of His exodus, it covers the ideas of death and ascension. In light of this – the idea of building three tents for the six of them to live on the slopes of Mt. Hernron shows truly that Peter “didn’t know what he was saying.”

Peter learned that life moves on!!! They heard a voice! Matthew records that they fell to the ground – Jesus came and touched them and said “Don’t be afraid.” For the pleasant moments that we would like to hold forever – life moves on! We can remember but we can’t hold on.

I have had many disappointments and so have you. But perhaps we need this message even more – for the moments of darkness and despair and loneliness change one circumstance – LIFE MOVES ON! Our lives are not stagnant. In times such as these, the child of God can know that life is a pilgrimage; it is going from the Egypt of life – to the promised land. Jesus is the Joshua who leads the way.

To Peter and the other disciples – after telling them to get up and not be afraid – “Jesus was found alone.” Alexander Maclaren wronte: “So all other teachers, helpers, guides, are lost in His sight, or drop away as the ages roll on, and He only is left. But He is left, and He is enough and eternal. Happy are we if in life we hear Him, and if in our experience, Jesus is found alone, the all-sufficient and unchanging companion and portion of our else “lonely and restless spirits.”
PREACHED:
Geriatrics 01/16/69
Trinity 3/30/69
Chapel 1/16/71
Chapel 10/17/76
Chapel 3/6/77
Chapel 6/25/77
Chapel 9/79
Goshen 12/31/89