Transfiguration Sunday

Psalm: Psalm 50:1-6
Old Testament: 2 Kings 2:1-12
Gospel: Mark 9:2-9
Epistle: 2 Corinthians 4:3-6

In the Christian Calendar, the last Sunday before Lent is called Transfiguration Sunday.  Our Gospel reading from Mark this week is therefore from the story of Jesus’ transfiguration on a mountain. 

The story is rooted, like so much in the New Testament, in the Old Testament.  In 2 Kings 2 we have the story of Elijah being taken up to heaven by a chariot of fire in a whirlwind.  If you recall the story, Elisha, his pupil, was following him everywhere he went because Elisha knew that if they separated then Elijah would be taken to heaven. After traveling around, they decided to leave the Promise Land and follow in the steps of their ancestors by parting the Jordan River and crossing on dry land.

This story brings up so many questions and like much else in Bible, the authors didn’t seem to be as interested in the historical facts or the why questions such as: why did they cross the Jordan River and leave Israel?  Or a more basic question, why wasn’t there a bridge?  Israel used to be on both sides of the river and for hundreds of years, the only way across was by divine intervention and the parting of waters.  Despite the questions we might have, the writer wants us to know that Elijah never died but was taken up to heaven.  In this capacity, he joins the ranks only of Enoch to have never died; not even Moses or Jesus share this capacity.  Again, the Bible isn’t clear as to why these two never die or how that is possible.

As we move to the Gospel and Jesus’ transfiguration, Elijah and Moses appear on the mountain with Jesus and the disciples.  Elijah and Moses had become archetypes for the Messiah and some looked for them to return or someone like them.  In fact, Jesus confirms this by saying that John the Baptist was actually the return of Elijah. This sentiment is also expressed just one chapter earlier in Mark when Jesus asks the disciples, “Who do people say I am?” and “they replied some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” (8:27-28) It is at this point that Peter first confesses and understands that Jesus is the Messiah.  But Peter, true to character and as a man of his age, didn’t nor couldn’t understand that the Messiah was to be the Son of God and even God himself.  When Jesus is transfigured six days later, the disciples don’t get it and want to place Jesus, Elijah, and Moses on equal footing.  What happens next is mysterious, but the Father again affirms Jesus as his Son with the exhortation to listen to him.  Then, Elijah and Moses are no longer there. First, the voice from heaven repeats the message of Jesus with the added exhortation, for the disciples’ sake, to listen to him.  Second, the message is that Jesus is greater and succeeds the other prophets in time and importance.

So what are we to do with the Transfiguration of Jesus?  The apostle Paul gives us clues.  The light that transfigured Jesus is now possible for every believer.  We are to let this light shine forth from our hearts into a dark world.  Much like the transfiguration was secret event, only 3 of the 12 disciples witnessed it, the Gospel is veiled from so many. Elsewhere, Paul wrote that the message of the cross is “foolishness to those who are perishing.” (1 Cor. 1:18)  It seems from this passage that unbelievers have no hope because the Gospel is veiled and they are blinded, but I think what Paul is getting at is that people come to faith only because of the grace of God.  Paul was an evangelist who brought many people to Christ.  He himself was an example that what he previously considered foolish could become one’s sole purpose for being.  But Paul’s own conversion revealed to him that one only comes to Christ through the grace and work of God.  It took Paul to be blinded and to hear a voice for him to believe.

What we can take away from our passages this week is that all believers possess the light of Christ in our hearts and we are to let that light shine forth like Jesus did at his transfiguration.  Also, despite our efforts, it is Christ who saves and draws people to himself. We just have to be open and obedient for him to work through us.  Let us pray that this week are open to God's working in our lives and also in the lives of those around us.