Transfiguration- Last Sunday after Epiphany

Exodus 34:29-35; Psalm 99; 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2; Luke 9:28-43

Today we have reached the end of the season of Epiphany. “Epiphany” comes from a Greek word meaning something like “manifestation”. Many medieval calendars used the Greek name “Theophany” for this season, which means ‘manifestation of God’. This season is about how God was made manifest in the person of Jesus. … The season is bookended by two major events. The first is the visit of the Magi to Jesus and his parents, and the last is the Transfiguration of Jesus before his Apostles on the mountain. …

Right before our Gospel reading today Jesus asks his disciples the question, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” And they report back the rumours that have been circulating, “John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again” (Lk 9:18-20).

Jesus then turns and asks them a more important question. His second question is not about what people say, but what they say as his disciples. … This is a challenge. We can hide behind the opinions of scholars and friends, but there comes a point when we have to decide who he is- and that will determine his power in our life. …

When I was in university studying for a degree in Religious Studies we primarily studied what religious people believed and thought. What is the history behind Pure Land Buddhism, and what do they believe? We never really asked the question “is this true?” We bracketed that question out. … It was a bit of a shock when I got to seminary and I was asked to write essays about what I believed to be true, … rather than the history of what those people over there believe.

So Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” (Lk 9:20). This is the more important question- For the disciples, as well as for us. We can spend a lot of time theorizing about who Jesus might be without actually committing ourselves to an answer. Just as I spent time learning the history and philosophy of Buddhism without committing myself to it- we can do that with Jesus too. We can learn about him, without committing ourselves to him. … There is a big difference between admiring Jesus in an academic way and committing ourselves to him as our Lord. … Representing the disciples, Peter answers, “The Christ of God” (Lk 9: 20).

If we say, “Jesus was a kind and idealistic young man who lived a long time ago” our lives won’t be that altered. We can feel free to ignore his directions as mere suggestions. … But, if we declare Jesus to be the “image of God on earth, and our Lord- our master, who knows best how to be human. The one who speaks the most true things that have ever been said.” … Well, that will change everything because what he says is actually the final word of authority on all subjects he addresses. For us to call him Lord, and then ignore what he says about living life is hypocrisy. … We either ignore his words and reject him as our master. Or we apply his words as having authority in our life and he is seated on the throne of our life to rule our life as our master. … Anything else is hypocrisy.

Immediately after Peter’s declaration that Jesus is “The Christ of God”, Jesus begins talking about how he has to suffer, be rejected, and then killed. … He then extends this to anyone who desires to follow him- they must deny themselves and pick up their cross, as well. … This issue of the suffering of Christ, and his disciples’ suffering (by extension), is central to these issues of identity- Who is Jesus? Yes, he is the Christ of God … AND he will have to suffer and be rejected because of it. … This is not easy to accept. The identity of the messiah at the time was a kind of warrior king, like King David, who would remove the oppression of Rome and restore the dignity of the nation of Israel. Suffering and dying wasn’t a part of that image. Raised as they were with this image, they might very well be asking themselves if this is really the Messiah that the Scriptures speak about. It’s understandable if they doubt when this image is shattered.

This is when we get to the transfiguration story. Jesus brings three of his disciples up a mountain to pray. Mountains to ancient people were almost like suburbs of heaven. That's why they are often the place where people go to meet with God. And our modern minds might think that's a bit silly, but when you stand on top of a mountain you can start to get a sense of why people might have thought that way.

Suddenly they see Jesus transfigured. His face is changed and his robe becomes white and glistening. He looks like a heavenly being, which is (of course) who he is. He came from heaven, he existed before his own birth. …

The Eastern Orthodox Church sees the transfiguration as Jesus revealing his divinity- Jesus is God. This is the revealing of who he actually is. Divine light shines from him. Something hidden is revealed and the disciples see another level of truth about Jesus.

Two others appear with Jesus- They see Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus. Their appearance shows that what Jesus is doing is in line with what God has always been doing. What Jesus is doing is supported by the representatives of both the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah). Jesus is not starting a new religion, though he is leading God's followers to a new covenant- a new stage in their life with God. And what are they talking with him about? His “exodus” that he would accomplish in Jerusalem. Just as Moses led the exodus of the Hebrews out of slavery in Egypt to the promised land, so Jesus is going to lead an exodus out of slavery to the power of Sin and death. In a way, the people were saved from physical slavery in Egypt, but they remained spiritually enslaved to the ways of Egypt. Their hearts constantly yearned to go back. Jesus was going to continue the work of that Exodus, and bring spiritual freedom.

Peter, not knowing what to do, but feeling he should do something, speaks up. "Should I set up three tents- one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah?" Peter still isn't getting it. Peter might be thinking that his image of the messiah as the warrior-ruler is coming true. Tonight, they set up camp and tomorrow they head to Jerusalem with Moses and Elijah to set up the kingdom on earth- leaving out that whole unpleasant suffering bit.

While Peter is still speaking a cloud overshadowed them. This is like the Glory of God that rested on Mt. Sinai and that filled the temple. This cloud surrounds them, and they hear a voice, "This is my beloved son. Hear him!" They hear the voice of God the Father, and he declares that He has a special and intimate relationship with Jesus. Jesus is His beloved Son. These words echo the words we hear at Jesus’ baptism. The disciples are reassured that Jesus is indeed in line with God's will. … The implication is that they have to be willing to adjust their image of the Messiah.

There are parts of who Jesus is that we sometimes don't want to see. There are things he says that we want to soften. There are things he says that we want to harden. There are things he is silent on that we wish he spoke about. And there are things he addresses that we might wish he didn’t. There are parts about Jesus we want to emphasize and follow, but there are also parts we are just unwilling to incorporate into our life. … At that point we have to ask ourselves what we mean when we call Jesus our “Lord”. Is it just a word? Or, do we actually believe he has the right to tell us how to live our lives. Does he actually know the best way to be human? Or do we know better than him? … The Apostles had to adjust their image of messiah. Are their ways in which we need to adjust our image of Jesus? Sometimes we try to use him to support our cause- our political position, or our ideological stance. But that is not a Lord. That is a servant. What does it mean for him to be our Lord?

Perhaps as we prepare to enter into Lent we could hear the Father's words with a new kind of gravity, “Listen to Him!” Perhaps we can allow those words to change how we hear every Gospel reading as we hear with hearts that desire to live out his teachings. AMEN