Transfiguration

Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and his robe became white and glistening. And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him. Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah" -- not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!" When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone. But they kept quiet, and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen.

- Luke 9:28-36

In yesterday's reading, we were given a passage for Ascension Day. It was Matthew's Gospel account of Jesus' parting appearance to His disciples. Fittingly, it was on a mountaintop in Galilee, framed as a "mountaintop experience" such as we see in today's reading. Jesus' authority is complete in heaven and earth, after the completion of His saving mission. He gave them the Great Commission, telling them to go out and make disciples and baptize in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

In today's reading, we turn to where we left off in the lectionary before the preparation for Ascension Day (yesterday). Peter has just made the confession of faith that Jesus is Christ, for all the disciples, and Jesus immediately taught what is to happen to Him, His coming Passion. He then told them, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." So Jesus has given His disciples a picture of what it is to live a life of discipleship. It is to bear our own cross daily, as He will as an example to all of us. We exchange one life for the life of the kingdom, of bringing that kingdom into this world.

Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. Luke's Gospel continually returns us to the essential importance of a life of prayer. As disciples, He takes them with Him. This is the form of discipleship for Christ, a life together in which they learn from Him for prayer. The relationship to the Father in prayer is part of the essential "food" of Jesus. It renews and engages Him at every turn in His ministry in the world. And we, like Peter, John and James, learn from this example.

As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and his robe became white and glistening. And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Luke's Gospel lets us, too, behold the Transfiguration of Jesus. Of course, this has come immediately after the confession that Jesus is the Christ. It is also important that this happens while He is at prayer. The Transfiguration is inseparable from relationship to the Father. Moses and Elijah represent the Law and the Prophets: Jesus' mission is fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies, and more -- He is here to teach us of a transfigured humanity, and invites us into relationship, to go forward, further, and closer to God the Father in our own lives of prayer. Jesus' "decease" here is translated from the word exodos in the Greek. He has just let the disciples know of the end that is coming to His life in the world: but it is really an exodos - a return to the kingdom from incarnate life in this world. My study bible says, "This term makes it clear that through His death Jesus will perform an exodus from Jerusalem, in which He will deliver mankind from the slavery of the evil one." Like Moses, He will take all of humanity with Him in offering the life of the kingdom, even as we live in this world. (See the previous three readings for more on this theme of prayer and the life of the kingdom: here, here and here.)

But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him. Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah" -- not knowing what he said. To build a tabernacle is not such a strange desire at all. We have so many allusions to the Exodus, to Moses on the mountaintop, to the Israelites heading for the promised land and out of bondage. To dwell in a tent (the meaning of the word in the Greek) or tabernacle also may have been suggested by the feast of Tabernacles or Booths, in which the life of Israel in the desert was commemorated. It is the feast of the coming kingdom. But it gives us also an idea of a sojourn: Jesus' life (like ours, indeed) is not permanent in the world but He is here as incarnate Lord for a little while: a tent or tabernacle is moveable. We are on our way somewhere else, on a mission in this world.

While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!" Again, there is here another clear allusion to the experience of Moses in the wilderness, bringing the Law, in communication with God. They are on their way somewhere; the kingdom is being brought into the world and given them to bear as disciples. Jesus' glory is clear: and this is a mountaintop experience as well as theophany -- a revelation of Father, Son and Spirit. They enter the cloud, a reference to the kingdom as is this picture of glory on the mountaintop. But there is more; it will infuse their earthly lives as they embark on the mission of the kingdom in this world, to bring others to this kingdom as well. My study bible points out that this moment of Transfiguration will serve them as they see all that will come in the Passion and death of Jesus, and they will understand the truly voluntary nature of what is to come in Jesus' life.

When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone. But they kept quiet, and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen. These words give the whole experience almost a dream-like quality. But the vivid experience will be shown to be real and no dream. Jesus' revelation of glory will be fulfilled in the power and authority at the Great Commission which we commemorate on yesterday's feast of Ascension Day. But for now, they are still disciples, living with the incarnate Jesus, and for the moment they will tell no one of what they have seen.

My study bible points out that this Transfiguration is really meant for all of us, for each of us. It notes that "His Transfiguration is the most evident expression of our hope for glorification in God's eternal kingdom." But as we have read in the recent readings on prayer, the kingdom is here and dwells ("tents") among us, as He is with us always. In prayer, Jesus' presence is with us, we have a Companion to call upon, and the Great Commission is really a mission to help to bring the kingdom into this world, even as we pray "Thy kingdom come." Truly, we seek His will, and we seek the same transfiguration even as we live our lives in the world and seek to be bearers of that kingdom in His name -- as He said, indeed, in the name of the Father, Son and Spirit. So we ask ourselves, what does it really mean to understand that we are sojourners? What is it to be on a mission? We ask in prayer to be shown, and to undergo that process of transfiguration that tells us where we need to go, what we need to change, how we must go forward in that mission. As disciples, we too, may dwell with Him through the grace we are given via His power and authority. How do you dwell in the world and take up that cross daily? What are you here for? We behold His Transfiguration, and we remember too that the Cross was a glorification of God. They are inseparable. How do you live each in your life? How are you, too, on a spiritual journey?