Matthew 17:1-9
This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent; that makes this Sunday the last Sunday of Epiphany, the Sunday on which we celebrate the transfiguration of Jesus. Jesus' transfiguration marks the pivotal point in his story. Up to this moment, Jesus had gone about healing the sick, raising the dead, and teaching others about the Kingdom of God in the area surrounding the Sea of Galilee. But after the transfiguration,
"he intently set his face to go to Jerusalem" (Luke 9:51)
The story of the transfiguration of Jesus is one of only a few that appears in all three gospels. This transfiguration takes place about three years into Jesus' three-and-a-half-year ministry. The disciples had followed Jesus for months and years; they had seen his miracles; they had done miracles in His name. They knew something about the power and the reality of who Jesus was, yet, when He began to talk about dying, it was staggering to the disciples, and they began to wonder if He really was the Messiah.
Jesus took Peter, James, and John to a high mountain away from the others. Together with Peter's brother, Andrew, these three disciples have been with Jesus the longest since Jesus called them away from their fishing nets alongside the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 4:18).
"Transfiguration" is "a state change from one thing into something quite different while retaining one's original nature."
The purpose of the transfiguration of Jesus was so that the "inner circle" of His disciples could gain a greater understanding of who Jesus was. Jesus underwent a dramatic change in appearance so the disciples could behold Him in His glory. The disciples, who had only known Him in His human body, now had a greater realization of the deity of Jesus, although they could not fully comprehend it. Transfiguration would give them the reassurance they needed after hearing the shocking news of His coming death.
A face shining like a sun, clothes of dazzling white, a voice from a cloud: something powerful was occurring on that mountaintop, but it was difficult for the disciples to comprehend. They had known Jesus as a teacher, a healer, and even a prophet like Elijah or Jeremiah; each of these was a role that Jesus filled, but none alone captured his complete identity.
Matthew tells us:
"Just then, there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus." (Matthew 17:3)
Remember that Peter, James, and John were just small-town fishermen, not educated scholars. But even they knew that Moses and Elijah were not only the two most influential figures in Jewish history but were the two people who would one day announce the arrival of the Messiah. Moses and Elijah had both been dead for a thousand years or so. Yet, there they were.
The appearance of Moses and Elijah symbolically represented the Law and the Prophets. But God's voice from heaven said
"Listen to Him!"
- clearly showing that the Law and the Prophets must give way to Jesus. Jesus is the new and living way replacing the old, the fulfillment of the Law and the countless prophecies in the Old Testament. Also, in His glorified form, they saw a preview of His coming glorification and enthronement as King of kings and Lord of lords.
The voice from heaven instructed Peter, James, and John to do one thing:
“listen to Jesus.”
Forget your thoughts and plans; listen to Him. As God had declared from the heavens,
"He is My Beloved Son." (Matthew 17:5)
Above all else,
"Hear Him." (Matthew 17:5)
And while they were lying there, quivering with fear, Jesus touched them and said,
"do not be afraid." (Matthew 17:7)
The second thing they saw in the transfiguration was the promise of eternal life. In Jesus' earthly life, he was a humble carpenter and rabbi. But when Jesus' face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light, Peter, James, and John got a glimpse of his true identity as our resurrected Savior. Soon, they would see him arrested, put on trial, beaten, spit on, and nailed to a cross. They would witness him die an agonizing and shameful death. If only for a moment they needed to see the resurrected Jesus in his glory and majesty. They needed to know that God's story would end in victory and everlasting life.
Peter was the one who noticed it first. He just always seemed to be the one that caught things more quickly. Matthew said that while they stood there:
"He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light." (Matthew 17:2)
They were trying to figure out what was happening; they needed some assurance of their future.
We all need that assurance.
I am sure we've all faced change that has caused us to stumble and fall, paralyzed us, or left us overwhelmed. We need to regain our balance and get our feet back under us, stepping into a new life when we aren't sure what that looks like or if there is a new life awaiting us.
Jesus speaks a word to and for you and me. Are we listening to that word, to his voice?
"Get up." (Matthew 17:7)
"Get up."
But it's more than "get up."
A more literal translation would be something like "be raised up,” "be aroused from the sleep of death," or maybe even "be resurrected."
If that's true, and I believe it is, then it means that every change – whether good or bad, wanted or unwanted, joyful or sorrowful – is illuminated with divine light and filled with God's presence.
Listen to him. Be raised up. Do not be afraid.
What if those words are holy wisdom for times of change?
What if they are how we step into our own transfiguration?
Maybe it wasn't Jesus who changed on the mountaintop; perhaps it was Peter, James, and John. The transfiguration opened their eyes, and their seeing changed so that everywhere they looked, they saw Jesus for the first time as he had always been.
What If?
What if the church lived out its life in such a way others could not help but see the transfiguration?
What if Christians were so different that society looked to see the working of the congregation?
What if Christians were the people, children and adults pointed their fingers at and said, "Hey, look at that!"?
What if we so lived the love, salvation, peace, and hope of God that we seemed out of place in the world around us?
What if we were truly transformed into the very people of God? Wouldn't it be fun, exciting, and wonderful if people lined the sidewalks around our churches to see what makes us so odd?
Transformed people – that is what is needed now!
Transfigured people who let their lights shine, have radiant smiles, and tell glowing reports of what God has done in Christ and continues to do in the Holy Spirit. Transformed Christians need to share with others the coming attraction of God's reign.
The transfiguration story says there is only one voice to listen to. The voice of God speaks from the bright cloud overshadowing Peter, James, and John,
"This is my Son, the Beloved; with him, I am well pleased; listen to him." (Matthew 17:5)
What if, during change, we sought to hear and listen to that one voice, the voice of Christ? What if we kept our ears open to what He is saying in our life and world today? We must let ourselves become aware of, and attentive to what He is saying and doing, let His concerns and desires become our concerns and desires, and let His way of engaging life and the world become our way of engaging life and the world.
It would mean that whatever changes come upon us do not have the final word. There is another voice. Jesus’ voice is always larger and more powerful than all the other voices. Amid change, Jesus speaks of a word of life, a word of hope, a word of forgiveness, a word of mercy, a word of beauty, a word of generosity, a word of courage, a word of love, a word of healing.
Jesus moved down from the Mount of Transfiguration and toward Jerusalem, where He would be lifted on another distant hill and die. And there, He would give forgiveness for this world's sin, banishing death, and conquering the devil. So, we, too, move forward, bearing our crosses in faith, trusting not in our self or efforts but in the grace of God to see us through and to bring us at last into His glorious kingdom.
And that is enough. He has loved us enough to die for us.
Let us pray:
Lord, we thank you for all you’ve done for us. We pray that you would guide our hearts, and help us to grow into the persons you want us to be. Rather than following our own ways, please purify our hearts and make us more like you. Guide our paths and help us take steps that will guide us toward your plan for our lives and not our own whims.
In Jesus’ name, we pray,
Amen
Delivered at Saint John’s Episcopal Church, Columbus, OH; 19 February 2023
