Transfiguration Sunday “A Flash of Light”
February 11, 2024 Mark 9:2-9
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Dear brothers & sisters in Christ,
Have you ever noticed how difficult it is not to turn your head at a flash of light? Somewhere along the line, advertising people figured this out too. Bright & colored lights illuminate signs. They put chasing lights around signs. There used to be those searchlights in front of theaters, shopping malls, & car dealerships. Advertisers use light to say, ‘Hey you, look here! Notice us! We have something special for you, you’ll be impressed!’
On the Mount of Transfiguration, the Father used light in a similar way; to draw the disciples’ attention to the Son of God in a way they hadn’t seen Him before. This man, their teacher, was not just a carpenter’s son from Nazareth, not just another rabbi; AND not just for them. He was far more. The light emanating from Jesus says, ‘Look here!’. Then the Father’s voice proclaimed, “SEE my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”
Now, we didn’t have to be there, back then; because this morning, God uses the light that shone from Jesus once again. His light shines from The Living Word, we see it; & the Father -once again- draws OUR attention to The Son. The light says: ‘Look here, and Jesus will impress you again.’ And once again that Voice speaks for us to hear: ‘Listen to him!’ says our Father. In the Transfiguration, God gives US a glimpse of Jesus’ Glory so that we listen to Him.
As Mark tells it, there had been very little rest for the disciples. They’d been chasing after Jesus from town to town, all around Galilee & beyond. Jesus was stirring up faith in unlikely people, & stirring up anger from His enemies. The disciples knew that Jesus was something special == and yet, for them it was a gradual thing. It’s like that two-stage healing of the blind man at Bethsaida. When Jesus first touched the man, he could ‘see,’ but he said people looked like trees walking around; until Jesus touched his eyes again & he could see clearly. The disciples had been seeing Jesus, but what they saw didn’t always make sense = it wasn’t clear. But each time they heard him teach & saw him do things, it made their faith clearer.
Such as what happened just six days before the Transfiguration. As they were over in Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked His disciples who the people thought He was. And then Jesus asked them point-blank, “But… Who do you say I am?” To which Peter famously replied, “You are the Christ; the Son of the living God.” So, Peter saw pretty good. But then, when Jesus explained that, as the Christ, He would have to suffer at the hands of the teachers of the law, be put to death & rise on the third day, what did Peter say? ‘Lord, this will never happen to you!’
What Peter thought he saw just didn’t make sense with a cross in the picture. So now, six days later, Jesus took Peter, James & John up a very high hill. I’m sure they thought they would be looking at a couple of hours of prayer, since it was something they’d done before. They didn’t see that as too special; & St.Luke tells us that the disciples fell asleep.
Until something special happened; then they could hardly believe their eyes. Jesus’ clothes became impossibly white, and Elijah & Moses arrived to speak with him. Why would they be terrified at that? Because they were not worthy to be there, & they knew it! Fear fell on them, like the fear Isaiah felt in his vision of seeing the Lord. He said: ‘woe is me; I’m finished! Because I’m a man of unclean lips & my eyes have seen the King.’
Then that cloud surrounded Peter, James & John and that Voice came from the cloud: ‘This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!’ Then, as suddenly as it all happened, it was over. No more dazzlingly white clothes, no more heavenly visitors or voice. Now they saw only Jesus. So now, was their vision of Him more clear? They had seen underneath the veil; this man was far more than a prophet who was able to do miracles. Heaven itself had commanded: “Listen to him.” They had been awakened by the light to glimpse a glory; but what did it all mean? For now, they still couldn’t quite see it all; & Jesus ‘charged’ them not to speak of it. Jesus was both ordinary and extra-ordinary; & how can that be explained?
On the one hand, we might think that those disciples have an advantage over us. They were there, and we were not. They saw the light, & felt the fear, heard the voice, & talked with Him after, but they were left a bit confused. The transfiguration is accounted for in all four gospels; and Peter mentions it specifically in his second letter. It IS a very important event; but its like a flash of great light, it gets your attention. But then suddenly, it’s all over. It was difficult to put into words, & they didn’t exactly know what to think about it, at first.
It wasn’t until much later that John was able to say what it means when he wrote: “We have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (Jn 1:14b)
To have been there must have been spectacular and awe-inspiring. We imagine that, if we had a time machine, that might be one event we want to go back to – to see what they saw, and hear what they heard on that mountain. And we imagine that if we would’ve been there, it would’ve changed, or transformed, us. Altho it didn’t transform them at that time.
And therefore, on the other hand, WE have an advantage over what the disciples were able to recognize & understand that day. The clearer view that they had to wait for to unfold, we have right in front of us to see the whole wider picture of what the glory of God is, and how Jesus brought that glory with him – as he did all the things necessary for our forgiveness and salvation. For our faith, seeing that event is not as important as seeing Jesus for who he fully is & what he did at the cross.
On the mountain, the disciples were treated to a glimpse of what Jesus had brought among them: heavenly glory. By peeling back a corner of the plain brown wrapper of Jesus’ human nature, they get a glimpse of the glory that would be His after His cross & resurrection. That final glory will be His because of His suffering, death & resurrection for our atonement; because then His name will be above every other name, in heaven & on earth, and under the earth; then every knee will bow & every tongue will confess Jesus Christ as Lord ~ to the glory of God the Father. (Phil.2)
It would all be done at the right time, & in the right way. Those poor disciples were on the front line, at times confused because they couldn’t see clearly how things would be worked out. However, what they saw over time, and what we read & believe, is the same faith:
Jesus really IS ‘God in the flesh.’
Those disciples needed this event in order to endure the other events that were about to unfold, and which were also a bit confusing & unclear. Especially Jesus’ rejection by the religious leaders – who should’ve recognized the messiah; and the crowds of God’s people – who had been waiting & should have welcome the promised one. But now all those important events have been fulfilled, and we can see & know who Jesus is, and believe the promise of the forgiveness & kingdom he has brought to us. So, do we still need this event?
Yes, we do. And that’s why it’s found in all 4 gospels; so we don’t miss it. It is important for two reasons:
First, WE NEED this story because it’s one of those flashing lights that catch our attention every time we read it. It’s a very brief story, yet like the flash of lightning on a dark night, it demands that we look here & see something vital. And when we look =even tho we’ve looked before= we see Jesus robed in brilliant light. That calls us to consider again who he really is; not just ‘was’ back then, but is now; and what that means in our current life & troubles.
One danger, for Christians, is that we become so accustomed to hearing about Jesus & what he did, that we get sleepy about it, & these events are just old ‘stories’. Well, that’s our fallen nature. You’ve heard the old saying: Familiarity breeds contempt. Being so familiar with this event tempts our old nature to become indifferent to it; AND to become bored with the things Jesus did, leads us to become bored with what Jesus says, which leads us to not care whether we are still listening to him & obeying him. That’s our resistant nature.
We need to keep in mind that our faith can always learn something new, resist more sin, & live with more wisdom & godliness. Faith should not say, ‘Oh, I already know that; there’s nothing more to learn.’ == that’s our sinful nature talking.
Our living faith in Christ should be like breathing. Breathing is not optional & not a mere habit; it’s vitally important. But we can take it for granted. Stop breathing for a mere 30 seconds and you will be reminded to be thankful for regular breathing. So it is with God’s Word for our living faith. If we allow our faith to be tempted to treat God’s word of Jesus like a dull history, or just bible stories for little kids, then we will miss the continuing transformation that the Holy Spirit intends for us. This faith is a living thing which brings the blessings of God into our life.
As God’s people, in our living faith, WE are to always be growing in maturity & wisdom; and that comes from only one source: Jesus Christ: by listening to him. Says Paul in Col.2: in Christ is hidden all the treasures of the wisdom & knowledge of God, and of life itself.
So again today, as Jesus is Transfigured before US, our faith beholds the eternal Son of the eternal Father in order to transform our lives. Our lives are constantly being challenged with distraction away from our God; this is the evil work of sin – either our sin or other’s sin.
This is why we constantly need to be called back to hear who Jesus is, and see what he did & listen to him. Our mind may know it, but our faith needs to hear it again. Only our God-given faith can properly deal with the sin in our lives. As breathing is to our body, so faith is to our soul. We need this event because -first- it gets our attention again.
And so, Second, we need this story because our faith needs to hear again the Father’s voice of hope & instruction: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” These are not just words; Only the Father can draw us to His Son, and he does this by His own Spirit & thru His Word. we need the Father’s voice to hear & believe that the crucified Messiah is our only hope = that in his death & resurrection is our very life. We need to hear that ONLY by believing & being baptized into him is there real life; and in growing up in him, and in following his teachings, is the only real living.
Our old nature needs to hear again, so that it will realize our unworthiness. Our old nature fears the powerful Son of God, our Judge; but his light still draws our attention so that we will see more than power, we will see merciful Jesus, our Savior, who came among us, to save us. This is the treasure we’ve been given which is in this old clay jar. That’s why our faith needs to be nourished again & again. With God’s Word, the Spirit has promised to keep us with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. That’s how much it means to us that we get to hear again a few verses from Mark chptr 9.
Jesus’ Transfiguration is so much more than just a ‘flashy story’ that we’ve heard before; it has become a spiritual light, that God uses to draw our attention again to the truth of who Jesus is. He is the Christ, our Savior, the very embodiment of God’s mercy & wisdom, the Son of glory, the One we listen to, and The One in whom we live & more & have our being.
Amen
Transfiguration Sunday is the day toward which The Epiphany Season has been moving. Jesus has been demonstrating that he acts with the works of God, and teaches with an authority that is from his own divinity. He has been doing the very things the prophets foretold would be the marks of God’s New Covenant; those signs of the Messiah & salvation, and his eternal kingdom. At his Transfiguration, the Father discloses his Son’s glory, and gives his own glowing approval to what Jesus has been preaching & teaching. This is our context and theme for the day. ++++++++++++++