Transfiguration- Who is Jesus?
The Gospel reading that concludes this season is the Transfiguration. … This season has been all about revealing who Jesus is. … Right before our Gospel reading today Jesus asks his disciples the question,
“Who do the crowds say that I am?” And they answer, “John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again” (Lk 9:18-20).
This question is the central question of this season- ‘who is Jesus?’.
Jesus then asks them a more important question. His second question is not about what people say, but what they say as his disciples. He asks,
Jesus then asks them a more important question. His second question is not about what people say, but what they say as his disciples. He asks,
“Who do you say that I am?” (Lk 9:20).
This is the more important question- For the disciples, as well as for us. There is a big difference between thinking a lot about Jesus in a theoretical abstract way … and committing ourselves to him as our ‘Lord’- as the one who has the rightful claim to direct our lives. … Peter, representing the disciples, answers that Jesus is “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 from a man of a different culture and time. … But, if we declare Jesus to be the incarnate God on earth, … well, that will change everything because what he says has authority to direct our lives. For us to call him ‘Lord’, and then ignore what he says about living life, is contradictory. What we say about him will change how we listen to him.
Immediately after Peter’s declaration that he is the Messiah, Jesus begins talking about how he will suffer. He says,
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 from a man of a different culture and time. … But, if we declare Jesus to be the incarnate God on earth, … well, that will change everything because what he says has authority to direct our lives. For us to call him ‘Lord’, and then ignore what he says about living life, is contradictory. What we say about him will change how we listen to him.
Immediately after Peter’s declaration that he is the Messiah, Jesus begins talking about how he will suffer. He says,
“The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised”.
… He then extends this to anyone who desires to follow him- he says,
“If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words, of them the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. But truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God. (Luke 9:23-27).This issue of the suffering of Christ, and his disciples’ suffering (by extension), is central to these questions of identity- Who is Jesus? Yes, he is the Christ of God … AND he will have to suffer and be rejected because of it. … The image 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 weren’t a part of that image.
This is when we get to the Transfiguration story. Jesus brings three of his disciples up a mountain to pray. To ancient people, mountains seemed to be a bit closer to heaven. That's why they are often the place where people go to meet with God.
Suddenly, they see Jesus transfigured. His face is changed and his clothes become white and radiant. 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 a huge deal. They see this event as Jesus revealing his divinity. … When Moses went up the mountain he came down with his face shining, but it was a borrowed glory. It came from being with God. … The shining from the face of Jesus comes from within him. It isn’t borrowed, the way it was for Moses. … This is the revealing of who Jesus actually is. Divine light shines from him. Something hidden is revealed and the disciples see Jesus as he truly is. He is the bridge between heaven and earth- the true Temple, the place where heaven and earth overlap.
In our epistle reading, Paul is speaking about the shining face of Moses after being with God on the mountain. He says,
“And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another” (2 Cor 3:18).
Following Paul, the Eastern Orthodox also see the Transfiguration as a glimpse of who we are being called to be. This is the image of ‘theosis’- being transformed into the same image- a human infused with the light of God- humanity partaking in the Divine nature- a person being the place where God breaks into the material world.
Two others appear with Jesus- They see Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus. Both of them encountered God on mountains. 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 (represented by Moses) and the Prophets (represented by 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.
Luke says that they are talking with him about his departure that he would accomplish in Jerusalem. In Greek, the word “exodus” is used. So, Moses is talking with Jesus, and they are talking about an ‘exodus’ that Jesus is going to accomplish at Jerusalem. The Exodus was about rescuing God’s people from slavery and bringing them to the land God promised them. Through his death and resurrection, Jesus rescues his people from slavery to sin and offers them a place in his kingdom.
Peter, not knowing what to do, but feeling he should do something, speaks up.
Two others appear with Jesus- They see Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus. Both of them encountered God on mountains. 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 (represented by Moses) and the Prophets (represented by 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.
Luke says that they are talking with him about his departure that he would accomplish in Jerusalem. In Greek, the word “exodus” is used. So, Moses is talking with Jesus, and they are talking about an ‘exodus’ that Jesus is going to accomplish at Jerusalem. The Exodus was about rescuing God’s people from slavery and bringing them to the land God promised them. Through his death and resurrection, Jesus rescues his people from slavery to sin and offers them a place in his kingdom.
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 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. Maybe they can even leave out that whole unpleasant suffering bit.
While Peter is still speaking a cloud overshadowed them. This is the cloud of glory that rested on Mt. Sinai and filled the Temple. The cloud of glory envelops 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 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.
As we draw this season after Epiphany to a close, lets continue to reflect on the epiphanies we have encountered that point us to the true identity of Jesus—from the Magi’s reverence, to the voices of Anna and Simeon in the Temple, from the miraculous signs at his baptism, and the miracles and teachings as his public ministry began, to the awe-inspiring moment of the Transfiguration. … His shining face on the mountain reveals his divine glory and invites us into a transformative relationship, where His light can change us from the inside out. … With the disciples, we too are called to decide how we will answer the question: “Who do you say that I am?” … When we proclaim Jesus as Lord, and are willing to follow where he leads —even when it means bearing our own crosses— we participate in the Divine life, becoming reflections of the light we have seen shining from Jesus on that mountain. Amen.
While Peter is still speaking a cloud overshadowed them. This is the cloud of glory that rested on Mt. Sinai and filled the Temple. The cloud of glory envelops 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 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.
As we draw this season after Epiphany to a close, lets continue to reflect on the epiphanies we have encountered that point us to the true identity of Jesus—from the Magi’s reverence, to the voices of Anna and Simeon in the Temple, from the miraculous signs at his baptism, and the miracles and teachings as his public ministry began, to the awe-inspiring moment of the Transfiguration. … His shining face on the mountain reveals his divine glory and invites us into a transformative relationship, where His light can change us from the inside out. … With the disciples, we too are called to decide how we will answer the question: “Who do you say that I am?” … When we proclaim Jesus as Lord, and are willing to follow where he leads —even when it means bearing our own crosses— we participate in the Divine life, becoming reflections of the light we have seen shining from Jesus on that mountain. Amen.
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