Loving God, we give you thanks for the glimpses of glory that you have provided throughout the ages.  Provide us, too, all that is needed as we journey through this world, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

         Today we hear about two amazing, other-worldly experiences.  In our reading from 2 Kings, we heard about Elijah being whisked away into heaven by some fiery horses pulling a fiery chariot, as his apprentice Elisha looks on.  Then, in today’s gospel, three of Jesus’ disciples get to witness a revelation of Jesus’ true identity, as he shines with a heavenly light, converses with Moses and Elijah, and is declared to be God’s beloved Son.

         There are all sorts of things going on in this gospel reading:  Some obvious connections with Moses and Elijah – the Law and the Prophets.  A little glimpse of Jesus in all his heavenly glory.  A meeting with God on the mountain-top (which seems to be a favourite meeting place) – and, God showing up in a cloud, which has certainly happened before.  All of this is to point to Jesus, to confirm his identity as God’s Son, and to point to how Jesus is fulfilling the Law and the Prophets.

         However, it is not this part of the story that was catching my attention this week.  Rather, the part that kept coming to mind is the ending – the part where the disciples come down from the mountain and are ordered not to tell anybody about what they have just witnessed.  Can you even imagine what that would be like?  Here they have been, quite literally, in the presence of God, have been shown Jesus’ true identity, have seen Moses and Elijah, no less, and have heard the voice of God speaking from the cloud – and they’re not supposed to tell anybody?  Even when they encounter all kinds of people who are questioning Jesus’ authority and asking who he thinks he is?  They must have been so tempted to spill the beans – but they were ordered to wait – to wait until “after the Son of Man had risen from the dead” (Mk. 9:9).

         We know from some of the events that follow that the disciples had no idea what Jesus was talking about.  In fact, every time that Jesus tries to tell them about his crucifixion, death and resurrection, they fail to understand what he is saying.  Peter, James and John have this amazing experience on the mountain top, and then have to come down into the same troubled world that was there before.  This is the hard part of mountain-top experiences, and is not all that different from what things must have been like for Elisha after witnessing his master being taken up into heaven.

         In this case, as well, Elisha would have had a hard time after Elijah’s departure.  In spite of getting to see Elijah ascending into heaven in a fiery chariot and a whirlwind, Elisha was left without his mentor and is grieved at his loss.  Not only that, but Elisha encounters a group of prophets at Jericho who want to send out search parties to try and find Elijah.  Elisha knows it is useless to search, but they insist, and of course, they do not find him.  Elijah is no longer in this world.

         It is no accident that we celebrate the Transfiguration of our Lord right before Ash Wednesday.  It is the culmination of the season of light – the season in which Jesus is revealed as a light to the nations.  And so, today we have white garments and stoles and heavenly light, and anything that shines – and on Wednesday, we begin Lent.  The heavenly and the earthly are side by side, as we continue to live in the same troubled world as before.

         Undoubtedly, many of you, too, have had times when you were – either literally or figuratively – on the mountain top and then had to come back down to earth.  Whether it is a vivid spiritual experience, or an amazing vacation, or a youth gathering, or a pilgrimage, or an exciting performance, or even winning a championship, it is always hard to come back to our everyday lives.  However, there are hints in both stories today as to what makes this transition bearable.

         In Elisha’s case, he carries Elijah’s mantle, which was left behind.  With that same mantle, Elisha strikes the waters of the Jordan River, and the water parts in order for him to walk across.  It soon becomes obvious that the spirit of God that rested on Elijah is now resting on Elisha.  Thus, the power and the spirit of Elijah – and of God - are still with Elisha throughout the days to come.

         In the gospel, which is a little closer to our experience, the key is in the verse where the disciples look up after hearing the voice from the cloud.  “When they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus” (Mk. 9:8).  Jesus was still with them – that is the key.  Coming down from the mountain – keeping it all to themselves – continuing life in this troubled world – the thing that made it all bearable is that Jesus was with them.

         For our part, Jesus is with us, as well, through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.  Thanks be to God, as we make our way through both the highs and the lows of life in this world.  Amen.

Transfiguration of Our Lord (B)      Mark 9:2-9

February 11, 2024                           2 Kings 2:1-12

St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church

Pastor Lynne Hutchison

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