Into the World (Matthew 17:1–8)                                                        Feb.15’ 2026

Rev. Hyung Jae Lee (Senior Pastor, St. Francis UMC)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It is a great joy to worship with you and share God’s Word on this 37th anniversary of the founding of Immanuel Korean United Methodist Church. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to Pastor Park and to all the beloved members of this congregation.

Above all, we give thanks to God who has been with us throughout our journey of faith. As I reflect on the past 37 years, I can only imagine what Immanuel Church has gone through. In the midst of many hardships, there must have been times when the pastors who served here and all the members wept together and clung to God in prayer. At other times, there must have been overwhelming joy and gratitude in the church and in your families—precious memories of celebrating together as a community, sharing laughter and thanksgiving. Such is the journey of life.

According to the church calendar, today is Transfiguration Sunday. It commemorates the event when Jesus went up a mountain with a few chosen disciples and was transfigured before them, shining with radiant glory. It is the day that reveals clearly that Jesus is not merely human, but the beloved Son of God. In verse 1 of chapter 17, the names of the chosen disciples appear: Peter, James, and John. As we live our lives of faith, we may sometimes think that we chose God, but Methodists in particular believe in “Prevenient Grace”—that God first bestowed the grace of salvation upon us before we ever sought Him.

In my own case, I was born and raised in a Christian home through my parents’ faith, naturally experiencing God’s love in a family of faith. Sometimes we think that only ordained ministers are called by God, but all of us here have been called and chosen by Him. Peter, James, and John were chosen among the twelve disciples to go up the mountain with Jesus. Today we also had an ordination service for church officers; those newly ordained as deacons or stewards should remember your calling and election. It is not due to our merit or ability, but solely the result of God’s calling and grace.

These three disciples climbed to the mountaintop with Jesus and had an astonishing spiritual experience: they witnessed His transfiguration. Suddenly His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became dazzling white as light. Not only that, but Moses and the prophet Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus. The disciples were astonished and overjoyed, overwhelmed with emotion. Peter then made a suggestion to Jesus: “Lord, if you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. It is good for us to be here” (v. 4).

Have you ever had a mountaintop spiritual experience like these disciples? Some may have experienced mysterious tongues or prophecy. Others may have received remarkable gifts of healing. Some may have felt an overflowing river of grace poured out when stepping forward in faith. Beyond miracles or dramatic life changes, there are mountaintop experiences where joy, hope, love, and gratitude overflow in our lives. I am sure many such experiences have occurred among you and here at Immanuel Church. When you had those wondrous encounters, how did you respond? Did you react like Peter—“Lord, this is so wonderful. Can we stay here longer, just as we are?”

When I first experienced speaking in tongues, I was so surprised that I simply kept my mouth shut and could not pray at all. Later my mother advised me to receive it with gratitude as a gift from God and pray more earnestly. Once it came, I discovered how sweet prayer could be. Previously, after praying for 30 minutes I would run out of things to say and my mind would wander. But praying in tongues, time flew by and prayer flowed freely. I thought, like Peter, how wonderful it would be to keep praying and communing with the Lord without ceasing.

In fact, as we gather here at Immanuel Church for worship today, doesn’t it feel wonderful? After a week of stress at work in a foreign land, speaking imperfect English, we come here, understand everything in comfortable Korean, address one another with respect, sing praises, hear God’s Word, converse in our native language, and share delicious Korean food in fellowship. Perhaps we too are tempted, like Peter, James, and John, to remain on this mountaintop.

It is indeed a beautiful time when believers gather to pray, learn the Word, and share fellowship. If we were to hear God’s voice from heaven saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him,” we might respond with endless “Amens” and gladly give everything we have to build three shelters on that mountain.

Yet Jesus did not even respond to Peter’s proposal. Soon after, He quietly came down the mountain. Verse 8 says, “When they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.” Then in verse 9, Jesus and the disciples descend the mountain together. This is very important. Leaving behind the astonishing events of the mountaintop, the disciples returned to the world below. The radiant face of Jesus, His shining garments, the presence of Moses and Elijah, and the holy voice of God—these would remain forever as an unforgettable spiritual experience in their lives.

Here I want to share several important points. What relationship did Moses, Elijah, and Jesus share? Moses was the holy leader who delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and led them toward the Promised Land. Yet the people did not follow him at first; he was rejected and disregarded. Elijah was a great prophet and miracle worker, but his life was not easy. After delivering God’s message to the king of Northern Israel, he had to hide for his life. Yet ultimately, he was taken up to heaven without seeing death. And Jesus? Though He came as the Son of God, He too was not welcomed and eventually suffered crucifixion.

This passage teaches us that walking God’s path does not mean only experiencing His glory on the mountaintop; it also involves hardship, suffering, and trials. Moses, Elijah, and Jesus all endured pain, rejection, and betrayal, yet faithfully continued on God’s path.

To become a Christian does not mean walking a path of ease, but a narrow road of hardship and difficulty. The end of that road is God’s glory, but the process is never easy. Even when our journey of faith is painful, we learn that God ultimately leads us to victory in His presence.

Like Peter, we may desire to remain in the glory of God’s presence on the mountaintop, but the place for Jesus’ disciples is not the mountaintop—it is in the world, bearing suffering, endurance, hardship, and even persecution.

I remember speaking with my father, who pastored in Sillim-dong, Seoul, when I was young. I asked, “Why are churches in busy, complicated cities? Wouldn’t it be better to be in quiet mountains like Buddhist temples, where prayer might be easier?” Perhaps I pitied my father ministering among the struggles of city life. He smiled and said, “Christianity does not abandon or turn away from the world. The church must not withdraw into the mountains but live among people’s pain and struggles to be a true church of God.”

Beloved congregation, that is right. Jesus does not want us to remain on the mountaintop of mystical experiences. He calls us into the world—to be light and salt among ordinary people who struggle and suffer. No matter how wonderful our worship, fellowship, or teaching may be, the Lord does not want us to stay within the church walls. He commands us to go into the world, to share in people’s hardships, even when it exhausts us. The purpose of gathering as a church is to be sent back into the world to proclaim the gospel. That is the mission given to us by Jesus Christ.

But as we go into the world, there is one thing we must remember: the Lord does not send us alone. Jesus goes with us. When the disciples trembled after their mystical experience, Jesus touched them and said, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw “no one but Jesus only.” Then He came down the mountain with them.

The one we need most as we go into the world is Jesus Christ. Jesus alone is sufficient. When we suffer and struggle in this world, He is always with us. That is His covenant of love and the power of His abiding presence.

As I conclude, remember the voice of God the disciples heard on the mountain: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.” The Word of Jesus Christ is enough. If He walks with us, wherever we are will be all right. On this 37th anniversary of Immanuel Korean United Methodist Church, I pray that you will step boldly into the world with Jesus. With faith in Him, let us go forth into the world together.