Transfiguration
Exodus 24: 12-18; Psalm 2; 2 Peter 1: 16-21; Matthew
17: 1-9
Right before our Gospel reading today, Jesus asks his disciples the question,
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
And they answer,
“John the Baptist, others say Elijah; and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets” (Matt 16:13-14).
This question is the central question of the season after Epiphany- ‘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?” (Matt 16:15).
Peter, as the representative of the disciples, answers
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Matt 16:16).
Immediately after Peter’s declaration that he is the Messiah, Jesus begins talking about how he will suffer and be killed at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and on the third day be raised.
Peter responds by rebuking Jesus,
Peter responds by rebuking Jesus,
“Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.”
Jesus turns to Peter and says,
“Get behind me, Satan! You are a hinderance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man” (16:23).
Then Jesus tells them that not only will he suffer, but anyone who follows him will suffer,
“If anyone would come after me, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”And the Transfiguration comes right after this discussion about who Jesus is. This event is an answer to that question. … Yes, he is the Christ of God, and the Son of Man … AND he will suffer and be rejected. … 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. It seemed to be an indication of a failed messiah, but Jesus insists that suffering is a part of his mission as the Messiah. … The Transfiguration seems to be a response to this misunderstanding about his identity.
We read that “after 6 days” Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a mountain. The Transfiguration has hints of Exodus 24. Moses goes up the mountain. He also brings companions (Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the 70 elders), but they don’t go all the way up. They see God’s glory from a distance. For 6 days the cloud covers the mountain. Then, “after six days”, meaning ‘on the 7th day’, God calls Moses into the cloud to reveal his glory. … One of the interesting differences is that the disciples, Peter, James, and John, are permitted to enter the cloud with Jesus.
God the Father speaks in the midst of the cloud, both to Moses in (Exodus 24) and to Jesus and the disciples (in our gospel reading). Moses sees God’s glory, and the disciples see Christ’s glory. Moses’ face shines, and Jesus’ face shines like the sun. … This is a New Sinai.
This isn’t a reenactment of what Moses experienced. They are experiencing what Moses experienced. We might even say that this is a manifestation of the same God who appeared on Mt. Sinai. But Jesus isn’t exactly taking the place of Moses in this event. He seems to have a divine role. They see the glory of God in the human face of Jesus. it’s not a reflected glory, like was seen in Moses’ face. 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 light shining from the face of Jesus comes from him. It isn’t borrowed, the way it was for Moses.
Like in Jesus’ baptism, we hear the voice of the Father. The Holy Spirit has manifested, not in the appearance of a dove, but as the shekinah cloud that led Israel in the wilderness, that rested on Mt. Sinai, and that filled Solomon’s Temple. The Son is present as Jesus. … The veil is lifted so Peter, James, and John can see who Jesus really is. The Transfiguration is not about Jesus becoming something new, but about the disciples finally beholding what He has always been. Divine light shines from him. Something hidden is revealed and the disciples see Jesus as he truly is. They see who he has been all along. In John’s Gospel Jesus prays to his Father and refers to,
“the glory that [he] had in [the Father’s] presence before the world existed” (Jn 17:5).
This is what the disciples were witnessing.
Two others appear with Jesus on the mountain. They see Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus. Both of them encountered God on the mountain. 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’s version of this event says that Moses and Elijah spoke with Jesus about his ‘exodus’ that he would accomplish in Jerusalem. 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, the new Promised Land.
How does a person respond to seeing something like this? How can you show hospitality and service to such distinguished and holy people. Peter wants to express devotion and reverence. Peter offers to build tabernacles, which echoes the Feast of Booths, which celebrated God dwelling with his people in the wilderness. … Peter’s action is saying that the kingdom has come. He wants to stay in that moment, and who wouldn’t want to? Peter’s heart is in the right place, but he has the timing wrong. The cross can’t be skipped over. That’s where God’s mysterious glory will also be manifested.
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,
Two others appear with Jesus on the mountain. They see Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus. Both of them encountered God on the mountain. 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’s version of this event says that Moses and Elijah spoke with Jesus about his ‘exodus’ that he would accomplish in Jerusalem. 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, the new Promised Land.
How does a person respond to seeing something like this? How can you show hospitality and service to such distinguished and holy people. Peter wants to express devotion and reverence. Peter offers to build tabernacles, which echoes the Feast of Booths, which celebrated God dwelling with his people in the wilderness. … Peter’s action is saying that the kingdom has come. He wants to stay in that moment, and who wouldn’t want to? Peter’s heart is in the right place, but he has the timing wrong. The cross can’t be skipped over. That’s where God’s mysterious glory will also be manifested.
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.
The disciples are terrified, as most human beings who encounter the majesty and power of God seems to be. Especially Peter, who recently rebuked Jesus regarding his understanding of the role of the Messiah. They are face down in the dirt, when suddenly they feel Jesus touching them. … This man who was shining with the uncreated light of God bent down to touch them and tells them to get up and not be afraid. That same body that was vibrating with the raw power of God, was also human flesh that reached out to comfort his disciples.
On the way down they are told not to say anything about this until “the Son of Man is raised from the dead”. The voice of the Father told them to listen to Jesus and Jesus once again tells them about his death. His glory has to be connected to his cross to be truly understood.
Jesus says his identity is tied to his cross. And he invites anyone who wants to follow him to pick up their cross and follow him. But that isn’t a masochistic calling. It is a path to what is witnessed on the mountain. St. Athanasius taught that God became man so that man might become like God. … The Christian life isn’t actually about moral improvement. That is a by-product. The Christian life is a participation in the divine life. The glory that shines from Christ is the glory he intends to share with us. What Christ is by nature, he invites us to become by his grace. … But the way to get there is through faithfulness- by following, and listening, and obeying, right through the cross to the other side. AMEN
The disciples are terrified, as most human beings who encounter the majesty and power of God seems to be. Especially Peter, who recently rebuked Jesus regarding his understanding of the role of the Messiah. They are face down in the dirt, when suddenly they feel Jesus touching them. … This man who was shining with the uncreated light of God bent down to touch them and tells them to get up and not be afraid. That same body that was vibrating with the raw power of God, was also human flesh that reached out to comfort his disciples.
On the way down they are told not to say anything about this until “the Son of Man is raised from the dead”. The voice of the Father told them to listen to Jesus and Jesus once again tells them about his death. His glory has to be connected to his cross to be truly understood.
Jesus says his identity is tied to his cross. And he invites anyone who wants to follow him to pick up their cross and follow him. But that isn’t a masochistic calling. It is a path to what is witnessed on the mountain. St. Athanasius taught that God became man so that man might become like God. … The Christian life isn’t actually about moral improvement. That is a by-product. The Christian life is a participation in the divine life. The glory that shines from Christ is the glory he intends to share with us. What Christ is by nature, he invites us to become by his grace. … But the way to get there is through faithfulness- by following, and listening, and obeying, right through the cross to the other side. AMEN
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