Brinton/Swanton Novers 10-02-02
The Transfiguration – Mt. 17:1-13
Story: A man was arraigned for murder in Los Angeles about 60 years ago. It was a difficult case with a lot of circumstantial evidence.
The man’s defence lawyer, however, thought of an ingenious ploy. In his summing up speech, he said:
“Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, you must find my client not guilty of murder - if there is the slightest doubt in your minds that he is not the murderer.
And now I have one final witness. “The true murderer is about to walk through the door.”
All eyes swung towards the door but no one came in.
The lawyer continued: “You see, Ladies and Gentlemen, there is doubt in your minds, otherwise you would not have looked towards the door.”
The jury retired to deliberate and came back five
hours later with a “Guilty” verdict.
The lawyer was beside himself and before the judge could pass sentence he sprang up and said “But I proved that you had a doubt about my client’s guilt. How can you possibly find him guilty?”
An old wizened man in the jury stood up and said: “As everyone looked towards the door, I watched your client. His eyes did not turn towards the door.
He did not look towards the door because he knew no one was coming through. Because he himself was the guilty one.
In contrast to that Los Angeles Courtroom, where the star witness did not appear, this morning’s Gospel reading is all about a star witness who did appear.
And He came to answer the question that was on everyone’s lips: “Who is Jesus?”
Who was this star witness? He was none other than God the Father, who answered the question by revealing Jesus’ glory to the disciples Peter, James and John and by saying: “This is my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with him.”
And the relevance of all this for us was summed in three simple words “Listen to him”.
Jesus is God’s Son and we need to listen to him.
The Gospel reading is known as the story of the Transfiguration (from the Latin transfiguratio).
It refers to the “remarkable transformation that once took place in the appearance of Jesus.”
When I looked at the passage, my first reaction was
1. Why did the event take place?
I think a key to the answer can be found in the context of the story.
In the previous chapter Mt. 16, we read that people had been asking the question: Who is Jesus?
For example, Jesus asked his disciples:
“13Who do people say that the Son of Man is?
It is clear from their response that it was a hot topic.
14 “Well” the disciples replied, "Some say John the Baptist; some say Elijah; and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets."
If it hadn’t been “hot gossip” at the time, they wouldn’t have said that.
But it wasn’t just the crowds who were talking about Jesus. His own disciples were asking the same question. Listen to what Jesus said:
15Then he asked them. "Who do you say I am?"
16Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God."
The question “Who is this Jesus” was burning on everyone’s lips.
And in the previous Chapter, Mt. 16 we see human responses. Now in Chapter 17 we see a divine response.
I believe the Transfiguration took place, because God the Father wanted to answer the question. Definitely - once and for all. Who is Jesus?
2. Let us look at the Transfiguration in more detail
At the Transfiguration, three major events occurred
2.1. Jesus’ appearance was transformed.
2.2. Moses and Elijah appeared with him on the
mountain and
2.3. God the Father spoke to the disciples.
And all of these were part of the Father’s response to the question: Who is Jesus?
2.1. Let us look at the first significant event - the actual Transfiguration.
Jesus led Peter, James and John up a high mountain – probably Mount Hermon (2,814 m above sea level) near Caesarea Philippi.
“There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as
light.” (Mt. 17:2)
Part of the Father’s response to the question: "Who is Jesus?" was to reveal Jesus in his full glory. Jesus’ face shone like the sun and his clothes became dazzling white.
You may recall a similar incident that occurred in the Old Testament. Moses came down the Mountain having been in the presence of God and his face shone so much - reflecting the glory of God - that he had to wear a veil.
Let me read you the passage from Exodus 34:
“When Moses came down from Mt. Sinai with the two tablets of testimony – holding the 10 commandments – in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord.
When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses and that his face was radiant, they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him and he spoke to them…. When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. (Ex 24:29-33)
In the same way as the glory of God was reflected in Moses, so God the Father revealed to Peter, James and John - Jesus in his glory.
God the Father gave the disciples clear visual evidence of who Jesus is.
2.2. The second significant event that happened at the Transfiguration was that Moses and Elijah appear with Jesus
3 Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus.
Moses and Elijah represent the Law and the Prophets (our Old Testament) and I find it significant that after God the Father had spoken, Moses and Elijah disappeared and Jesus alone remained. (Mt. 17:36)
As one Bible Commentator put it:
The Law and the Prophets have served their turn and pass away. He, who is the fulfillment of both,
alone remains
Who is Jesus?
Another aspect of God the Father’s answer is that Jesus is the one who will replace the Old Covenant.
A new era is on the horizon. The Old Covenant, represented by Moses and Elijah is going to pass away and the new Covenant is going to come, through the death and resurrection of Jesus.
This new covenant is a relationship with Jesus.
Story: In one of our parishes we were discussing the difficulty of getting people in the village to come to church and, one of the parishioners said to me:
“How can I answer people when they say: I live a good life, in fact I am as good as those who go to church. I don’t need to come to church.”
I think the answer must lie in the fact that Christianity does not solely equate with being good – but rather Christianity lies in our relationship with Jesus. We come to church to worship God.
2.3. The third significant event that happened at the Transfiguration was that God the Father told the disciples “Who Jesus is”
5 But even as Peter spoke, a bright cloud came over them and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son and I am fully pleased with Him. Listen to him."
6The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground. 7Jesus came over to them and touched them and said “Get up” he said “Don’t be afraid” And when they looked, they saw only Jesus with them.
It is interesting that when God the Father spoke, He simply said “This is my Son, and I am fully pleased with Him listen to him”
Who is Jesus? God the Father tells us that Jesus is His Son. Jesus is revealed here as God the Son.
3. And the relevance to us today?
God the Father’s final three words were: “Listen to Jesus” and when God the Father had finished speaking, Elijah and Moses were gone. Jesus remained. This speaks to me of the primacy of Jesus.
It is interesting that God the Father did not say Listen to Jesus and Moses and Elijah.
He just simply said “Listen to Jesus.”
Jesus made some outstanding claims.
For example, He said “I am the way, the Truth and the Life. No one come to the Father EXCEPT by me” (Jn 14:6)
There is no other way to God than through Jesus. We don’t have rules and regulations to keep to get to heaven. It is not a matter of being good. Rather it is a matter of coming through Christ.
Conclusion: The question that I would like to leave with you this morning is:
Who do you think Jesus is?
If you believe what God the Father said, then the challenge is as we prepared to listen to what Jesus has to say in our lives.
