Loving God, just as the disciples glimpsed your glory on the mountain top, so grant to us glimpses of your glory and strength for the journey; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The transfiguration of Jesus is not just any event. It is an event with meaning and purpose. It is not just a supernatural experience. It is an experience that tells us quite a bit about Jesus and also serves to strengthen Jesus and the disciples for the difficult times ahead. Let’s spend some time reflecting upon both of these things today, for we, too, need experiences that will strengthen us for the difficult times.

First, though, it might be easy to miss some of the things that this event tells us about Jesus. A transfiguration is like a supernatural transformation. It is as if Jesus suddenly shines like the sun, and the light itself seems to come from within him. (Not from above, like on Touched by an Angel, but from within him.) As you probably know, this doesn’t generally happen to people. Jesus, it seems, is different.

In the book of Daniel, the wise and the righteous “shine like the brightness of the sky” in the resurrection (12:3). The “Ancient of Days” also has clothing as white as snow and hair like pure wool as he sits on the throne on judgment day (Dan. 7:9). The connections to resurrection and to God himself are unmistakable. Could it be that Jesus really is the Son of God and really will be raised from the dead?

Of course, then there is the presence of Moses and Elijah in this story, both of whom were rumoured never to have died. Moses seems to represent the law, and Elijah, the prophets. Could it be that the law and the prophets point to Jesus? Could it be that Jesus is the fulfilment of the law and the prophets?

At the same time, Moses and Elijah both had experiences where they met God on a mountain top (Ex. 24:12-18; 1 Ki. 19:4-18). Could it be that those three disciples were also in the presence of the living God? No wonder they were afraid! It was a commonly held belief that anybody who actually saw God would die. And so there they are, in the presence of God, with Jesus shining like the sun, and Moses and Elijah having this conversation with Jesus.

In Deuteronomy (18:15), Moses tells the people that a prophet just like him will come from their own people, and that they are to listen to that prophet. Could it be that Jesus is that prophet? At the same time, Elijah was supposed to herald the coming of the Messiah and the end of the age (Mal. 4:5-6). Could it be that Jesus is that Messiah, and that the end is near? After all, even the voice from heaven speaks the words that would have been addressed to the Messiah (Ps. 2:7; Mk. 9:7)!

And so, through this experience on the mountain top, Jesus is identified as the Son of God, the Messiah, the fulfilment of the law and the prophets, and the one who will sit as judge. He is also the one who will be raised from the dead, the prophet like Moses, and God’s Beloved One. In spite of all of these exalted titles, the most difficult thing that Jesus will ever do still awaits him.

Right before this experience on the mountain top, Jesus was telling his disciples what must happen to him. He will suffer greatly at the hands of the religious leaders, and will be rejected and put to death (Mk. 8:31). He will go to the cross and will give his life for the sake of the world.

Afterwards, Jesus tells his disciples the same thing: suffering and contempt and betrayal and death await him. Jesus also reminds his disciples of what happened to John the Baptist, who was imprisoned and then beheaded. Jesus may be the Messiah and the Son of God, but the world will not recognize him and will treat him worse than most criminals. The messiness of the world has not disappeared, in spite of the heavenly experience on the mountain top.

I mentioned at the beginning that the experience described in today’s gospel has both meaning and purpose. We have explored much of the meaning in terms of what this story tells us about Jesus. However, God also had a purpose in mind in giving this experience, both for Jesus and for the disciples.

In Jesus’ case, undoubtedly he would need this assurance and this glimpse of glory in order to carry him through the difficult days ahead. He would need to remind himself of his identity and purpose in order to complete his mission on this earth. One has to think that if even Jesus needed this reminder in order to have strength for the journey, how much more do we need to be reminded of our identity and purpose! In fact, do we even know our identity and purpose?

According to God’s message to us in Scripture, each one of us is created in the image of God (Gen. 1:27). Although we are sinful, we have been redeemed and forgiven through Jesus Christ. In Baptism, the sign of the cross is put upon us as God says to us, “Child of God, you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever.” For all those who are baptized and believe in Jesus Christ, we are children of God, forgiven sinners, and imperfect saints.

As such, we are part of God’s mission in this world. Possibly the simplest way to state our purpose is this: We are to glorify God through service to others. Is this not what it means to love God with our whole heart and soul and strength and to love our neighbours as ourselves (Mk. 12:28-31)? Glorify God through service to others – this is what children of God do! This is how the world will know about Jesus. And we, like Jesus, need to be reminded periodically and need to be strengthened for the journey.

That’s why we gather together for worship as often as we can. That’s why we gather with other Christians for prayer and for study and for fellowship. That’s why we are nourished at the Lord’s Table. That’s why we need to spend time in prayer and immersed in the Scriptures. These are some of the ways that we help ourselves to carry the light of Christ with us.

As for the disciples, while they did carry this experience with them into the dark days ahead, they really didn’t understand it until after Jesus had risen from the dead. Later, Peter writes about how they had been eyewitnesses of Jesus’ glory and had heard the voice from the cloud on the mountain top (2 Pet. 1:16-19). For them, this whole experience was further confirmation that Jesus was, indeed, the Son of God, the Saviour, and the Messiah.

In the mean time, though, the disciples needed lots of reminding. They still didn’t understand when Jesus talked about his coming suffering and death and resurrection (Mk. 9:30-32). They definitely didn’t understand when Jesus was arrested and tortured and sentenced to death. And even when they first encountered Jesus after his resurrection, they couldn’t seem to figure out who he was or what it all meant. However, later they remembered, and it all became clear.

May we see Jesus with that same clarity as we worship together today. May we carry the light of Christ within us by the power of the Holy Spirit. May we be strengthened for the journey and reminded of our identity and purpose. May we know God’s presence and power with us, even in the midst of the messiness of this world. Amen.

Transfiguration of Our Lord (B)      Mark 9:2-9
February 22, 2009
St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church
Pastor Lynne Hutchison

© 2009 Lynne Hutchison  All Rights Reserved