Transfiguration- The Last Sunday after Epiphany
We have reached the end of the Season after Epiphany, which begins with the Magi kneeling before the infant Jesus, and ends with the Transfiguration. We have interrupted our usual readings to talk about practices that strengthen community. The usual readings show how Christ’s identity is revealed, and today we are returning to our usual readings, so we will be looking at the Transfiguration.
There is a lot of symbolism in this little passage, and I don’t think we can really appreciate the Transfiguration without spending some time looking at these elements.
We have Elijah appear in both our Old Testament and our New Testament readings today. Elijah was the prophet’s prophet. He was surrounded by supernatural acts of power. He famously faced off with King, Queen Jezebel, and the prophets of Ba’al. God miraculously consumes the sacrifice that Elijah offers, proving to be the true God. He fled that event because Jezebel wanted to kill him, and while he was hiding on a mountain he encountered God’s presence. … The passage we read today was about how Elijah didn’t die, but was instead brought to God in a flaming chariot. … And in our Gospel reading, Elijah appears again as a representative of the Old Testament Prophets that point towards Christ.
Moses appears, too, as one who encountered God’s presence on top of a mountain to receive the Law. Our reading mentions that Jesus went up the mountain with the disciples after 6 days. Describing Moses’ experience, we read this in Exodus 24:15-17-
“When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud.”
As we read the transfiguration story with the Old Testament in mind, we get familiar glimpses. As the one who received the Law and taught it to the people in the wilderness, Moses represents the Law.
So, on the mountain with Christ is the support of the Law and the Prophets. These two act as powerful witnesses that the Hebrew Holy Scriptures point to Christ.
In the Orthodox Church they see this event as a theophany. A theophany is a manifestation of God. This particular event is a manifestation of the divinity of Christ. The brightness that they see, is not like other light. The Orthodox call it an “uncreated” light- a kind of divine energy that emanates from God when God is present in a particular way. When we read about God being light (1 Jn 1:5), this is of course a metaphor, but they also see it as referring to this supernatural manifestation. It is a mysterious, heavenly light that is not of this world. Jesus’ clothes being transformed into an otherworldly whiteness that is difficult to describe is a similar manifestation. … The Roman Catholic theologian and Archbishop, Fulton Sheen says about this that
So, on the mountain with Christ is the support of the Law and the Prophets. These two act as powerful witnesses that the Hebrew Holy Scriptures point to Christ.
In the Orthodox Church they see this event as a theophany. A theophany is a manifestation of God. This particular event is a manifestation of the divinity of Christ. The brightness that they see, is not like other light. The Orthodox call it an “uncreated” light- a kind of divine energy that emanates from God when God is present in a particular way. When we read about God being light (1 Jn 1:5), this is of course a metaphor, but they also see it as referring to this supernatural manifestation. It is a mysterious, heavenly light that is not of this world. Jesus’ clothes being transformed into an otherworldly whiteness that is difficult to describe is a similar manifestation. … The Roman Catholic theologian and Archbishop, Fulton Sheen says about this that
“The wonder was not this momentary radiance around him; it was rather that at all other times it was repressed. As Moses, after communing with God, put a veil over his face to hide it from the people of Israel, so Christ had veiled His glory in humanity” (Life of Christ, p.213).
In this event we are seeing Christ in his reality. We aren’t seeing him being changed into something he wasn’t before.
The clouds also hint to an otherworldly reality. The presence of God dwelling with the people often manifests as a cloud and is sometimes associated with the Holy Spirit. A pillar of cloud led the Hebrews in the wilderness, and rested on Mount Sinai. When Moses met with God in the Tabernacle the pillar of cloud would move to the Tabernacle. A cloud of God’s presence filled the Temple (The Shekinah of God- from the Hebrew for “dwelling”). So these are no ordinary clouds.
Just as Moses heard a voice from the cloud, so the disciples hear a voice addressing them-
The clouds also hint to an otherworldly reality. The presence of God dwelling with the people often manifests as a cloud and is sometimes associated with the Holy Spirit. A pillar of cloud led the Hebrews in the wilderness, and rested on Mount Sinai. When Moses met with God in the Tabernacle the pillar of cloud would move to the Tabernacle. A cloud of God’s presence filled the Temple (The Shekinah of God- from the Hebrew for “dwelling”). So these are no ordinary clouds.
Just as Moses heard a voice from the cloud, so the disciples hear a voice addressing them-
“This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!”.
God, the Father, arrives as a witness to attest to who Jesus is. And Jesus is the beloved Son of God. Jesus has a very particular and intimate relationship with the Father. Usually, prophets are constantly telling the people to listen to the Word of God. And here, in Jesus, we have the incarnate Word of God, and we hear God tell the disciples to listen to him. … Keep in mind that Peter has just rebuked Jesus for misunderstanding the role of the messiah. Jesus said that we was going to suffer and die as a part of that role. Peter heartily disagreed. … But now God points to Jesus and tells them to "listen to him". … God’s words here may also allude to Moses’ words in Deuteronomy 18:15 (see also Acts 3:22-26; 7:35-37)
“The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him”.
Some even see here the presence of the Trinity, like at Jesus’ Baptism. At the beginning of his ministry, when he is in the baptismal waters at the Jordan River, the Father’s voice says something similar-
“You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mk 1:11).
And instead of the Holy Spirit descending like a dove, rather, we have the manifested glory of God in the cloud.
And three disciples witness this- Peter, James, and John. In the 2nd letter of Peter he refers to this experience-
And three disciples witness this- Peter, James, and John. In the 2nd letter of Peter he refers to this experience-
“We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’ We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain” (2 Peter 1:16-18).
… Peter didn’t know what to do, so he offers to build three shelters. This may have to do the Festival of Booths, which is a celebration where the Jewish people make outdoor shelters to remember the Hebrews living in the wilderness with God. Or, this may have been practical. Peter may have thought that Jesus was now going to travel to Jerusalem with Moses and Elijah on either side of him to establish his rule. Who would argue with him then? He’d love to see the face of the chief priest and the Sanhedrin when Jesus strolled into the Temple with this entourage.
The season of Epiphany closes with the Transfiguration because it is a revealing of Christ’s true nature. The main question in the Gospel of Mark is “who is Jesus?” It was very important that his disciples understood this. He needed the leaders of the disciples to see this. … It is very important for those who are reading the Gospel of Mark to see Jesus. The Gospel is asking us this question too, constantly. “Who is Jesus? Let me tell you another story. Now, tell me, who is Jesus?” … The Transfiguration is at the center of the Gospel of Mark and it answers the question, though, it will have to be filled out some more- the crucifixion and resurrection have to be included. … It is not insignificant that this event comes right after a healing of a blind man, and Peter rebuking Jesus for misunderstanding the role of the Messiah as involving suffering and dying (Mk 8:31). Mark is trying to help us see. He is trying to help us listen to him. Because to know who he is, is to prioritize listening to him. … And this is the point of the season of Epiphany. It is constantly asking us, who is Jesus? But we don’t answer this question out of idol curiosity. Answering that question has consequences for our lives. …
The season of Epiphany closes with the Transfiguration because it is a revealing of Christ’s true nature. The main question in the Gospel of Mark is “who is Jesus?” It was very important that his disciples understood this. He needed the leaders of the disciples to see this. … It is very important for those who are reading the Gospel of Mark to see Jesus. The Gospel is asking us this question too, constantly. “Who is Jesus? Let me tell you another story. Now, tell me, who is Jesus?” … The Transfiguration is at the center of the Gospel of Mark and it answers the question, though, it will have to be filled out some more- the crucifixion and resurrection have to be included. … It is not insignificant that this event comes right after a healing of a blind man, and Peter rebuking Jesus for misunderstanding the role of the Messiah as involving suffering and dying (Mk 8:31). Mark is trying to help us see. He is trying to help us listen to him. Because to know who he is, is to prioritize listening to him. … And this is the point of the season of Epiphany. It is constantly asking us, who is Jesus? But we don’t answer this question out of idol curiosity. Answering that question has consequences for our lives. …
So, who do you say that he is?
AMEN
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