And He was transfigured before them

Theophanes the Greek, 1340 - 1410

Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah" -- because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid. And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!" Suddenly, when they looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.

Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept this word to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant. And they asked Him, saying, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" Then He answered and told them, "Indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all things. And how is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt? But I say to you that Elijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him."

- Mark 9:2-13

In yesterday's reading, we read of the great and momentous confession of Peter. Speaking for all of the apostles, he has recognized who Jesus is: when Jesus asked, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter replied, "You are the Christ." Jesus warned his disciples to say nothing about this, to keep His identity a secret. Immediately, He began to teach them what is going to happen - the suffering and rejection that He will endure. He also told them about His death and resurrection after three days. Peter took Jesus aside and rebuked Him for this talk of what is to come, but Jesus Himself spoke before all the apostles and told Peter, "Get behind me, Satan!" He then taught how all disciples must "take up their cross" and follow Him, for "whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it." Then He asked, "What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?"

Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. This powerful scene of transfiguration takes place soon after Peter's confession. All of this time, through Mark's Gospel, we have seen a gradual understanding come to the disciples - but it has been, at times, trying even to Jesus! A few readings earlier, Jesus has taken them to task for their "hardness of heart" - their failure to understand Him. But here, the glory Jesus spoke of in yesterday's reading is revealed to His three closest disciples, Peter, James and John. It is these three who were also present when Jairus' daughter was awakened from death. In Jesus' glory, at Transfiguration, we see revealed the "life in abundance" - the light of life itself - that is truly His. My study bible says, "The transfigured radiance of Christ is His uncreated glory, a saving revelation at the heart of the Christian experience. The Transfiguration assures the disciples that the Messiah, who is to suffer, is also the Lord of Glory. Only His third-day Resurrection is a greater sign of His divinity than is His Transfiguration." I can't help but feel that the noted "six days" period from His revelation to them as Christ to this Transfiguration moment is significant. Six, of course, is the number of the Star of David, symbol of Israel, or the people of God. Perhaps it is in that truth of His messianic identity, revealed here, that the number six is essential for us to understand. The "prince of this world" is replaced with the Prince of Peace, and the establishment of His kingdom in which we can share here in our own lives in the world.

And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah" -- because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid. My study bible writes, "Although Christ is addressed as Rabbi, He has not passed through a rabbinical school, and His ministry has clearly gone beyond the established function of a rabbi, which was to teach. This title shows the Master-disciple relationship between Christ and the Twelve. Peter recognizes Moses and Elijah, representing the Law and the Prophets, who appear with Jesus. This is a glimpse of the glory that is to be revealed, where introductions will not be needed." How wonderful it is to "know" someone! Perhaps we are all familiar with dreams, in which someone we "know" is there, but in a form we don't recognize. It is in this sense of true "knowing" of a person that we see this glimpse of relationships in the kingdom. And of course, through our prayers and worship, it is in this sense that we come to "know" Christ, to "know" God and God's love. To suggest to build tabernacles is reflective of the Feast of Tabernacles, or Succoth, in which is commemorated the time when Jews wandered in the wilderness, and "gathered" in such tents. This eight-day festival was also based on an ancient harvest festival - and what we witness is the harvest of Jesus' preaching and teaching to the disciples, His revelation of true identity to them. Again, the symbols and suggestions here are the powerful symbols of Israel itself: the Law and the Prophets, the tabernacles in the wilderness, Israel's most ancient festival, and Jesus' glory as Christ or Messiah, Son of David.

And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!" Suddenly, when they looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves. Again, here are the powerful symbols of Israel itself: the cloud on the mountain, as appeared with Moses as Israel wandered in the wilderness. The voice of God the Father speaks to the disciples from the cloud, offering them the true substance of Jesus' identity as Son, a leader for the people of God, "Hear Him!" My study bible says, "A cloud is sometimes the sign of a theophany, the presence of God the Father. This revelation is for the benefit of the disciples, that their faith should be firm. For they are called to believe not only in Christ but in what is to come, the eternal kingdom. The Greek verb for hear is in the present imperative form, meaning 'listen always.'"

Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept this word to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant. Although they accept this teaching, they have yet to truly grasp what it can mean, what impact it will have. The events of great significance in our lives may be something we pass through without grasping their full impact. Here, the disciples are taught what is to come, but they haven't yet lived through the events - and surely cannot yet taste the future for themselves and their careers as apostles in the years after Jesus' death and resurrection. My study bible says, "Christ's Resurrection is required for full disclosure of the messianic secret and for full understanding of messiahship." We may say, also, that it will be required for the fullness of the gospel, and its spread to all the world through these apostles.

And they asked Him, saying, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" Then He answered and told them, "Indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all things. And how is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt? But I say to you that Elijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him." The prophecy of the return of Elijah was one made to indicate events that would happen just prior to the appearance of the Messiah, in preparation for the Messiah. Jesus is saying that the return of Elijah, in spirit, has already happened, through John the Baptist. And a somber note returns, and He reminds them that "they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him."

We have powerful truths juxtaposed in our texts of the past two days. Jesus is revealed as Messiah, the Transfiguration teaches us of His glory, God the Father's voice teaches us that He is Son - and the brilliance of glory, whiter than white (often indicated in icons as blue) gives us the hint that He is the Light itself, the Lord of life. But at the same time, we must understand the suffering He will undergo in the world at the hands of men and material, "worldly" power. He also teaches that the same happened to John the Baptist, who was the return of Elijah in spirit, before Him. And of course, we begin to read the hints that the apostles and the disciples to come will also take on this cross and face martyrdom and persecution. For the early church, the message was quite clear: the "prince of this world" will enact his rage at being displaced by the kingdom Jesus is here to declare and to bring, the real gospel message. So I ask today - have you experienced for yourself a touch, a taste of the glories of this kingdom, the beauty of its worship and indwelling, the power of its life in yours? And, at the same time, the disappointment with the world and perhaps its harshness, its rejection? We must also remember that those who have come before us have gone through the same thing, and set us great examples. In today's reading, we see - we behold - the glory of the Lord, the glory of the kingdom, and the disciples "knowing." Let us not forget that "knowing" is for us too - as well as all that goes with it, and all that comes to those who serve. This goes on throughout our lives as well, and the lives of those to come in this kingdom. It will continue to play out its drama of the gospel unfolding in this world as we await the age to come. How does that take shape in your life?