Dear friends in Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Prepare our hearts, Lord, to receive your Word. Silence in us any voice but your own that, in hearing, we believe and, in believing, we obey your will revealed to us in Jesus Christ. Amen.
I wonder if you’re all familiar with the phrase exit strategy? I suppose it’s possible that some of you’ve never heard of it…but then I’d wonder if you had Rip Van Winkle’s sleeping disorder or…maybe you were marooned for the last fifty years on Gilligan’s Island! The phrase exit strategy has been batted about in the news probably weekly since the first Gulf War back in 1990, and it was a huge part of the Vietnam War debate as well.
Would someone volunteer a short definition of exit strategy for us?
~a plan to get out of trouble, to leave well, to get free!!
And it’s not just a military or political term. Do you remember these lyrics?
Just slip out the back, Jack. Make a new plan, Stan.
Don’t need to be coy, Roy, just listen to me.
Hop on the bus, Gus, don’t need to discuss much.
Just drop off the key, Lee, and get yourself free.
Help me out, you baby-boomers. These lyrics are from a song by…(Paul Simon); and the name of it is…(50 Ways to Leave Your Lover). The title says it all—the song is a poetic and musical version of…an exit strategy.
Politicians, generals, counselors, investors—they all advise us that an exit strategy is a vital part of every plan that involves any kind of risk:
– armed conflicts; financial strategies; career moves; home changes;
– disagreements with co-workers, coordinators…and cops.
– any others?
The ultimate example of planning an exit strategy can be found, believe it or not, right in our Gospel lesson for today. This event has come to be called The Transfiguration and it relates the experience of Peter, James, and John on a mountaintop with Jesus.
The first amazing thing to happen is that Jesus is transfigured. Luke 9:29 says: the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Then, an even odder sort of mind-bending, reality-changing, earth-shaking event occurred: two men suddenly appear with Jesus…and not just any men—but two of the most important icons of Israel’s history: Moses—the giver of the Law, and Elijah—the greatest of the Prophets.
Then, of course, there’s Peter’s outburst, and God’s voice booming from the clouds…and, kind of lost in all the excitement, the topic of the conversation between Moses and Jesus and Elijah. Do you remember what the Bible says about their little chat? Those ultimately important individuals were speaking with Jesus…about his departure (9:31).
Here’s a little Greek quiz for you—it’s the language in which the New Testament was first written. If you can tell me the Greek word for departure, I will give you 100,000 points that you can redeem…in heaven!! Does anyone know the Greek word for departure? It’s exodus: ex = out of; and odos = way or road…so exodus = the way out = Jesus’ exit strategy.
Let’s stop here and take a quick look at the two men with whom Jesus is speaking. Now, I freely admit to being a Bible nerd, so it’s no surprise that I find this stuff fascinating. But I’m guessing you’ll find it interesting as well.
What do we know about Moses (the most dramatic things in his life)?
– Saved from death as a baby by Pharaoh’s daughter
– Led the Israelites out of slavery by defeating Pharaoh with 10 plagues
– Got the Torah (Law) from God and gave it to the people
– Spoke face-to-face with God on a mountain
And what do we know about Elijah?
– Saved a widow/son during drought
– Defeated the priests of Ba’al
– Spoke with God on a mountain
– Taken into heaven by a whirlwind
See, that’s what I’m talking about; those are examples of how exit strategies are supposed to work—defeat an enemy; lead people to freedom; be a mighty prophet; talk directly with God; and go straight to heaven!
So, what did THEY say…what can WE say about JESUS’ exit strategy?
The cross is nowhere near as glorious as Moses’ leading God’s people out of Egypt, across the sea, to dance in delight at the defeat of Pharaoh’s army. And it can’t even hold a candle to Elijah’s defeat of the priests of Ba’al, and being swept up directly into heaven. In no way is the cross more glorious...
…but it is infinitely more helpful, more meaningful, more beneficial for, oh, so many more people—you and me included.
For in Jesus’ exodus, over which is cast the shadow of the cross, we find our exit strategy and this strange truth about God’s gift of love.
There is no escape for us from life’s pain—caused by sin, death, accident, or evil. But we are comforted, forgiven, and forever blessed to see
– in Jesus’ suffering, our forgiveness;
– in Jesus’ death, our doorway to life;
– in Jesus’ resurrection, our gift of grace to love God with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind—and to love our neighbors as ourselves.
In this life, you and I cannot count on defeating God’s enemies with the miraculous powers of Moses or Elijah. But we can count on the crucified and risen Christ to walk beside us through life and to help us use our lives to proclaim God’s gift of love and grace for all people in all that we say and do. That’s an exit strategy that is good for us all! Amen.
Pastor Scott Fuller