Martin Luther, at the beginning of his commentary on Galatians, wrote, "Most necessary it is, therefore, that we should know this article [the Gospel] well, teach it unto others, and beat it into their heads continually." Why would we need the Gospel—the good news that Jesus died and rose for us—beat into our heads continually? Because we forget.

Our text for this Transfiguration Sunday is Luke's account of the event in Luke 9:28-36. On the mountain, Jesus talked with Moses and Elijah about His "departure." What is meant by His "departure"? Why does Jesus speak about it with Moses and Elijah? And finally, what does it all mean for us?

Our text for this Transfiguration Sunday is Luke's account of the event in Luke 9:28-36. On the mountain, Jesus talked with Moses and Elijah about His "departure." What is meant by His "departure"? Why does Jesus speak about it with Moses and Elijah? And finally, what does it all mean for us?

In our Gospel text from Luke 6:27-38, Jesus tells us to "love our enemies." That's just not the way the world works! We are taught to do good to our friends and do harm to our enemies, but Jesus tells us to do something completely different. He can't be serious! He doesn't know what He's asking...or does He? Jesus has enemies (they're not who you might think) and He knows exactly what it means to love them.

We try to avoid suffering at all costs. Why do we hate it so much? If we dig deep enough, we realize that we're stubborn and refuse to believe that we need saving. In our Gospel text from Luke 6:17-26, Jesus invites us to embrace our suffering and trust Him, putting to death any trust that we have in ourselves. After all, God's office, as it has been said, is at the end of your rope.

Peter, in our Gospel text from Luke 5:1-11, realized that he was a sinner before Jesus and became afraid. Isaiah, in our Old Testament text from Isaiah 6:1-8, had a similar realization and reaction before God in His temple. Adam and Eve were afraid after they doubted God's word and hid. Sin causes us to push God away and hide in fear because of punishment. But, while we rightly deserve the worst, we instead receive grace upon grace. Jesus speaks these words to us in our fear: "Do not be afraid."

If Jesus cares when we get sick and He has the power to do something about it, why doesn't He bring healing when we ask for it? Our Gospel text from Luke 4:31-44 points us to the answer. We need more than the equivalent of "band-aid" on our problems. Jesus came to make all things new.

When Jesus came back to His hometown of Nazareth, the people received Him and His words until He made it clear that He wasn't going to do what they wanted Him to do. In their anger, the people of Nazareth tried to throw Jesus off a cliff. If He wasn't going to do what they wanted Him to do, He might as well be dead. What do we do when God doesn't do what we want Him to do?

Jesus provided an overabundance of choice wine for the wedding party in Cana of Galilee. He is the God who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think. Our cup overflows with His grace toward us.

John was baptizing sinners in the Jordan River. Why was Jesus baptized? Crosses were the execution reserved for sinners. Why was Jesus crucified? The answer to both questions is the same: Jesus came to stand in the place of sinners.