Making a Grand … Exit

Because first impressions matter so much, people, when they’re out on display, want to make grand entrances. During the televised Academy Awards, many tune in early to watch the actors walk down the red carpet and make a grand entrance into the auditorium. When a state dinner is held the President of the United States is brought into the banquet with much fanfare and there is a grand entrance. During sporting events, home teams love to file through adoring fans and fawning cheerleaders so theirs will be a grand entrance. The truth is, we are greatly influenced by first impressions and grand entrances. I remember considering this back when I was a senior at Grand Haven High School in Michigan. In order to catch the eye of a female classmate I made a grand entrance into Mr. Smith’s physics class. Waiting until a few minutes after the class bell had rung, I threw open the door, leapt inside and yelled, “And now we’ll go on without further ado; and it’s my great pleasure to introduce to you; held over for years and ready to review, it’s Bill-the-thrill, the king of the blues!” Without missing a beat, Mr. Smith pointed to the door and ordered me out of his class. I certainly was noticed, but not in the way I had hoped. Needless to say, my grand entrance flopped.

It’s interesting that Jesus the Son of God was not about grand entrances when He entered our world. He came through a little hamlet called Bethlehem, not a cosmopolitan and metropolitan city. He was born in a stable, not a palace. He was placed in a straw-filled manger, not a silk and satin, lace laden cradle. Jesus’ first visitors were stable animals and shepherd boys, not the “high- faluting,” fancy, and famous of His day. Nope, Jesus was not about making a grand entrance.

But here’s what Jesus was about: He wanted to make a grand exit. Jesus was more concerned about being noticed and seen in how He left this life and world than how He entered it. Oh, to be sure, the incarnation and birth of Jesus is important to be understood, believed, and confessed; this is foundational for our faith in Jesus as the God-Man. But for Jesus, He chose not to enter our world with trumpet blare and fanfare-oh, this will be His style when He comes again. But His first Advent into our world was subtle, soft, and nearly silent. Indeed, Jesus does want to be known for His birth, but even more He wants to be known for His death; for here is where He takes away the sins of the world. Jesus made a wonderful entrance. I so love celebrating Christmas. But today, Transfiguration Sunday, we shift focus. We begin to look toward Jesus’ grand exit!

Jesus’ grand exit-His death on the cross-is part of the most important event in the world. Indeed, this event would not be done without preparation. Today we see Transfiguration is some of that preparation. On the mountain where Jesus turns dazzling white in the brilliance of God, announced by the heavenly Father as the One to be listened to, He is joined by two of the greatest Old Testament heroes: Moses and Elijah. St. Luke, in his Transfiguration account, tells us why Moses and Elijah are with Jesus. He says the two Old Testament prophets spoke to Jesus about His departure. They came to encourage. They came to support. They came to help prepare. And oh, this is wonderful!

Who better to help Jesus do this? Who better to talk about Jesus’ grand exit, His departure? See, the Greek word Luke uses for departure is the word “exodus.” Who better to talk about Jesus’ exodus than the two prophets who had incredible “exoduses” themselves.

Moses’ exodus from Pharaoh and the slavery in Egypt is important for understanding the whole of God’s plan in showing the mercy, strength, and control of our Lord. God leads Moses and the Israelites out of Egypt through the Red Sea to Mount Sinai and then beyond in a spectacular exodus from slavery to freedom.

Elijah’s exodus is different. His exodus happens when he departs this world. One of only two people recorded in Scripture who did not die but were taken straight into heaven, Elijah makes a grand exit before the eyes of his successor, Elisha. A fiery chariot drawn by fiery horses of heaven collects Elijah and launches him heavenward in a windstorm.

To be sure, both Elijah and Moses stand on the Mount of Transfiguration speaking about Jesus’ departure because they must have understood how God the Father is faithful in using departures for His glory and His will accomplishing. They stand with Jesus and speak with Him knowing that Jesus’ exodus will be the greatest of all. By His death and departure from this life, our sins will be taken away and our punishment for breaking God’s Law will be paid. Jesus will deliver us from the slavery of sin, death, and hell and will launch us heavenward because He rose from the grave, ascended into heaven, and is preparing a place for us in His Father’s mansion.

Transfiguration is about Jesus being readied to make a history changing, life-giving exodus. This event was Jesus preparing to make a grand exit.

But let me ask you now, are you prepared for your grand exit from this life? I’m not asking about funeral arrangements, I’m asking about soul arrangements. Sadly, many people have failed to be prepared for their grand exits. You can tell a lot about people’s preparation, or lack thereof, by what they say on their deathbeds. Here are some famous last words: Henry VIII said, “All is lost;” Jean-Paul Sartre complained, “I failed;” Winston Churchill asserted, “I’m bored with it all;” W.C. Fields stated, “I’m looking for a loophole.” Sadly, because sin has ravaged bodies and souls, despair and failure are the resignations of many as they stand at death’s door. Regrets abound as thoughts of “Wish I would’ve…” “I suppose I should’ve…” and “I think I could’ve…” flood the brain. Worse yet is the conviction that left to ourselves we cannot keep living in this world and we deserve eternal punishment for neglecting, rejecting, and disrespecting God.

Our text today brings Good News. We can be prepared for our grand exit from this world because Jesus’ grand exit has freed us from the punishment of hell and has paid for our entrance into heaven. Jesus entered our world to place Himself as our substitute under God’s Law. By dying in our place on Calvary’s cross, Jesus atones for our sins and offers us the forgiveness, love, and welcome of our most gracious God. Our Baptism connects us to the Savior and this forgiveness.

Some time ago, I was blessed with the task of preaching the message at a dear friend’s wedding in Detroit. Because the groom had been blessed with means, he provided and paid for housing for the whole wedding party (my family included) at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Dearborn, Michigan. The reception was to be held at the same hotel and it was to be a formal, black tie event. (This remains the only wedding I officiated at where I rented a tuxedo and my wife bought a new formal gown). On the morning of the wedding, I left my sleeping family in our opulent hotel room and made my way downstairs to the restaurant to eat breakfast and memorize my sermon. Looking at the menu, I was somewhat perplexed-there were no prices accompanying the entrees. But I wasn’t too concerned; after all, how expensive could scrambled eggs with salmon, bacon, coffee, orange juice, and toast be? All too soon I found out. The waiter deftly slipped me my bill after I assured him the breakfast had been delicious. Turning over the bill, I almost choked. If memory serves me, this bill was about four times the price of what I normally paid. To my embarrassment I only had a $20 bill on me and the cost of the breakfast was much more than that. Beginning to sweat and panic, I stared at the bill not noticing the waiter approach until he stood next to me clearing his throat. Looking up shame-faced at him, I noticed his embarrassment. Gently removing the bill from my hands he said, “Excuse me Rev. Yonker” (I wondered how he knew my name), “but I was not supposed to give you this bill. Please forgive my foolishness. Your bill has already been paid, including the tip, as is everything you may want or need in this hotel.”

Stunned, I replied, “Oh don’t worry at all about me seeing the bill,” (I was only too willing to surrender it) “but tell me, how do you know my name?”

Glad for my letting him off the hook, he winked and said, “It is our privilege and pleasure to know all of our guests’ names.”

Now I tell you that to tell you this; our Lord and Savior Jesus, who claims us and calls us by name, welcomes us into His heaven. Knowing we could not afford the price of heaven’s admission, He paid the price in full with His own blood and death, and continues to assure us that everything in heaven will be delightfully delicious and phenomenally free.

Without a doubt, we mere mortals consider much the importance of first impressions and grand entrances. Jesus considers more. Transfiguration reminds us He was more concerned with leaving a lasting impression by making a grand exit. The Good News is, because of Jesus’ grand exit on the cross and His grand exit from the grave, we will make a grand exit from this world when we die and will be given a wonderful entrance into heaven to await our own resurrection.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

LUTHERAN HOUR MAILBOX (Questions & Answers) for February 26, 2006
TOPIC: Prophecy-After the Fact?

ANNOUNCER: Now, Pastor Ken Klaus responds to a listener’s question. I’m Mark Eischer.

KLAUS: Hi, Mark and hello, listener. And thanks again to Pastor Bill Yonker for being our guest speaker today.

ANNOUNCER: Indeed, thanks to Pastor Yonker. Well, going to our subject for today-today’s question is based upon a statement that was made in the news shortly after the prime minister of Israel suffered a major stroke. A certain well-known American religious leader said this stroke was God’s punishment for certain political decisions the prime minister had recently taken.

KLAUS: So, what’s the question? Whether Israel should have pulled back, maybe, from the Gaza?

ANNOUNCER: No, no, that’s not the question.

KLAUS: OK. So much for my gift of prophecy.

ANNOUNCER: But actually, prophecy is the topic. Do you think this religious leader’s statement was an example of prophetic speech?

KLAUS: OK, and, Mark, you said you wanted to have that question broadened out a little?

ANNOUNCER: That’s right. Just as we’re not here to discuss the politics of the prime minister’s decision, we’re also not going to discuss the particular personality of this religious leader. The question really is: Does the Holy Spirit still speak to us today with prophecies and new revelations?

KLAUS: OK, that we can tackle. Let me ask a couple questions. First, when did this person make his statement? I mean, did he say what he did before or after the prime minister’s stroke?

ANNOUNCER: He did it after.

KLAUS: OK. Now, let me ask one more question. When you read about God’s prophets in the Bible-spokesmen who were entrusted by God to give warnings to His people-did they give their warnings before or after the punishment occurred?

ANNOUNCER: They always spoke before.

KLAUS: Now, do you see any difference between God’s prophets way back then, and what we often see with those who claim to be speaking for God nowadays?

ANNOUNCER: Well, one gave his warning before and the other gave it afterwards.

KLAUS: OK. And what kind of prophecy is it, if you make it after the fact?

ANNOUNCER: I guess you would have to say that’s not really a prophecy at all.

KLAUS: I guess not. You see, the truth is, if you wait long enough, and if you watch hard enough, every person is going to have something bad happen to them. They’re going to get sick, or they’re going to have an accident, and all of us are going to die. It’s real easy then to say, “Ah ha! See, this is God’s punishment.” Now, if this American religious leader had said, a week before it happened, “God is going to punish the prime minister and He’ll do it with a stroke,” then we’d have to kind of take a second look.

ANNOUNCER: And in taking that second look, would you also believe his specific interpretation of this event?

KLAUS: Nah, probably not.

ANNOUNCER: And, why not?

KLAUS: Because the Bible says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God.” It doesn’t talk about any of us present-day preachers having that gift to add to the Bible. It says also that we’re supposed to test the spirits to see if they really are from God. Scripture says if somebody comes to you bringing another Gospel, even if that person is an angel, don’t listen to them, don’t have anything to do with them. I mean, the Bible is pretty specific about this.

ANNOUNCER: Why is it so specific? What’s so important?

KLAUS: Because God knows that people are going to try to bend, fold, spindle, and mutilate the simple message of salvation. That message that says Jesus alone has won salvation for us on the cross. They’re going to try to say this is the new message, and God doesn’t want that.

ANNOUNCER: If you had to sum this up for us today, what principle or what rule would you apply?

KLAUS: Well, God’s rule is simply this: Don’t subtract, or in this case add to, what is found in God’s Word.

ANNOUNCER: But let me make this clear. You’re not saying we shouldn’t listen to pastors, priests, and other spiritual leaders.

KLAUS: We all need to respect those who have been placed by God in authority above us. When it comes to our spiritual leaders, we should listen to them when what they say is based completely and totally on God’s Word.

ANNOUNCER: And also remember that the Bible is not some kind of secret decoder ring with which to interpret the news. Its main purpose is to give us the Good News of Jesus Christ, our risen Savior.

KLAUS: Absolutely, that’s the only way God has given us by which we can be saved.

ANNOUNCER: Thank you, Pastor Klaus. This has been a presentation of Lutheran Hour Ministries.

Music selections for this program:

“A Mighty Fortress” arranged by John Leavitt. Concordia Publishing House/SESAC

“Songs of Thankfulness and Praise” arranged by Henry Gerike. Used by permission

“Jesus on the Mountain Peak” by Brian Wren and Ted Beck. Concordia Publishing House/SESAC

“New Songs of Celebration Render” by Linda Cable Shute. Concordia Publishing House/SESAC