Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction

Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea.  And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name.  And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet and begged Him earnestly, saying, "My little daughter lies at the point of death.  Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live."  So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him.

Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians.  She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.  When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment.  For she said, "If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well."  Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.  And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched My clothes?"  But His disciples said to Him, "You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?'"  And He looked around to see her who had done this thing.  But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth.  And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well.  Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction."

While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue's house who said, "Your daughter is dead.  Why trouble the Teacher any further?"  As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not be afraid; only believe."  And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.  Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly.  When He came in, He said to them, "Why make this commotion and weep?  The child is not dead, but sleeping."  And they ridiculed Him.  But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying.  Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, "Talitha, cumi," which is translated, "Little girl, I say to you, arise."  Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age.  And they were overcome with great amazement.  But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat.

- Mark 5:21-43

Yesterday we read that Jesus and the disciples came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes.  And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains.  And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him.  And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him.  And he cried out with a loud voice and said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?  I implore You by God that You do not torment me."  For He said to him, "Come out of the man, unclean spirit!"  Then He asked him, "What is your name?"  And he answered, saying, "My name is Legion; for we are many."  Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.  Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains.  So all the demons begged Him, saying, "Send us to the swine, that we may enter them."  And at once Jesus gave them permission.  Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.   So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country.  And they went out to see what it was that had happened.  Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind.  And they were afraid.  And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine.  Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.  And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him.  However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you."  And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.

 Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea.  And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name.  And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet and begged Him earnestly, saying, "My little daughter lies at the point of death.  Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live."  So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him.   Once again Jesus is back on what is for His ministry the "home" side of the Sea of Galilee, back in Capernaum.  He has just traveled with the disciples to a place among the tombs, to heal one tormented by a legion of demons (see yesterday's reading, above), and now He is back at the headquarters of His Galilean ministry.   Mark emphasizes once again that the crowds thronged Him, and even one of the rulers of the synagogue comes to Him, desperate for help for his little daughter, who is dying.

Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians.  She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.  When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment.  For she said, "If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well."  Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.  And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched My clothes?"  But His disciples said to Him, "You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?'"  And He looked around to see her who had done this thing.  But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth.  And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well.  Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction."   It's important to know that this woman's flow of blood makes her ritually unclean.  For her to touch Christ under these circumstances was a bold act indeed for which she could pay a high price; it's no wonder she was fearing and trembling.  Contact with blood was quite strictly prohibited (Leviticus 15:25).  But Christ draws her out to praise her faith.   Certainly her affliction and suffering are such that compassion is called for.  Importantly, we note that she has made a full confession to Christ, she told Him the whole truth.   My study bible notes that there is by tradition also a spiritual interpretation of this encounter.  In that light, this woman symbolizes human nature in general.  My study bible says that humanity is in constant suffering and subject to death, which is symbolized by the flow of blood.  Those physicians who could not cure her, in this understanding, symbolize the various religions of the world, including the Old Testament Law, each of which were unable to grant life to humanity.  My study bible adds that it is only through Christ that we are freed from suffering and bondage to sin.

While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue's house who said, "Your daughter is dead.  Why trouble the Teacher any further?"  As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not be afraid; only believe."  And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.  Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly.  When He came in, He said to them, "Why make this commotion and weep?  The child is not dead, but sleeping."  And they ridiculed Him.  But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying.  Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, "Talitha, cumi," which is translated, "Little girl, I say to you, arise."  Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age.  And they were overcome with great amazement.  But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat.  We note the emphasized importance of faith in both healings.  Here, Jesus goes so far as to cast the mourners who wept and wailed loudly and those who ridiculed Him outside.  He deliberately takes action both to cast out the faithless, and to shore up faith as He takes His inner circle of Peter and James and John Zebedee -- those disciples with the strongest faith -- into the place where the child was lying.   My study bible comments that authority over life and death is in the hand of God alone (Deuteronomy 32:39; 1 Samuel 2:6).

It's interesting that the age of the little girl, and the time that the older woman has suffered from a blood flow, are both twelve years.  Twelve is an important number:  there were twelve tribes of Israel, and twelve disciples.   In the Revelation, the new Jerusalem has twelve gates, twelve angels at the gates, and twelve foundations of the city wall (Revelation 21:12-14).  It is a number of fullness, meaning perfection or completeness.  This woman's twelve-year flow of blood, therefore, has been with her so that she finally comes to Christ as the only means of healing her affliction, in the fullness of her experience.  The twelve year old little girl, on the other hand, is just beginning a mature life; her "life after death" being an initiation perhaps into the life that Christ can bring to us as we truly begin to live in Him.  Any way that we choose to look at this number, it is given to us in the details, and there is nothing placed in the Gospels that is irrelevant, nothing here that does not teach us something essential.  How poignant is it that a long-suffering mature woman is given the time and attention for her faith and healing, as is young twelve-year-old daughter, in the very promise of life, at the request of a ruler of the synagogue?   Jesus calls one "Little girl," but the other He calls "Daughter," for He praises her faith for making her well.  Perhaps, like the little girl, we are those whose parents have brought us to Christ.  We may also be, like the mature woman, those who have suffered and whose suffering has brought us finally to Christ, who both heals and cleanses.  This story seems to suggest to us that, either way, the author of life is Christ Himself, and that no matter what the concern, it is to Him we go when everything else has failed.  He is the one who turns no one away, who has time for the woman who has exhausted all her funds on doctors and only grown worse, and for the girl who is presumed dead and for her desperate parents.  It is when we call upon Christ that we may put all things into perspective, for it is to Him we go when all things are starkly real and there is no more pretense.  It is then we understand He is the one whom we need.   In Revelation 21:5 we read that He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new."  In the Greek, this may more closely be translated,  "I am always making all things new."  And then we read that He said also, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."  True and faithful -- these are the natures of the gifts that we are given for our lives.  He teaches us faith, and He teaches us truth.  We may put our trust in Him.  By our faith we are truly His children, and in our truth we find that He is the One who awaits when all else fails.   Let us remember the dignity He gives to all, to the woman who has lost everything and to the little girl whose life is just beginning.

He was transfigured before them. His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them

 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 had 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

Yesterday we read that when Jesus had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  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.  For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?  Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?  For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels."  And He said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power."

 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 had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.   The Transfiguration is a central event in the ministry of Jesus for a number of reasons.  We first understand, in light of our discussions about faith in recent readings and commentaries, that Jesus takes His "inner circle" with Him up the high mountain:  Peter, James, and John.  This is an indication that an event requiring great faith is to happen.  In Jesus' transfiguration is seen by tradition a light such as no launderer on earth can reproduce its brightness.  In icons, the Transfiguration (which is called Metamorphosis in Greek) is often depicted with a blue tinge to depict its whiter than white quality of extraordinary light which has a spiritual origin.  Peter's seemingly incomprehensible response is one that comes from the Feast of the Coming Kingdom, the Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot, in which tabernacles (or tents) are built such as those in which the Israelites dwelt on their way to the promised land, and recalls the tent of meeting which was overshadowed by such a bright cloud.  In Luke's Gospel, the three figures of Jesus, Moses, and Elijah discuss His "exodus" -- meaning His death on the Cross. 

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."  Matthew 17:13 tells us that the disciples understood at this point that Jesus was speaking about John the Baptist as Elijah.

The Transfiguration is by tradition connected with the Crucifixion.   But first we must understand the elements that constitute a theophany, a revelation of God:  the light of God transfigures Jesus and everything about Him, even His clothing becomes an intense white so bright it's like nothing on earth.  This is a sign of the extraordinary presence of God, the energies of God that transfigure all things, and the light of the Holy Spirit.  There is the voice of the Father who declares, "This is My beloved Son.  Hear Him!" giving us a revelation of the Holy Trinity.  The bright cloud is similar to that which surrounded the tabernacle of Moses (Exodus 40:33-35).    Moses represents the law and all those have died, while Elijah represents the prophets, and (since he did not experience death) all those who live in Christ.  Both also manifest the communion of the saints.  My study bible says that Christ's death is intimately connected to the glory of Transfiguration, for Christ is glorified through His death (John 12:23).    In many churches, the Feast of the Holy Cross is celebrated forty days after Transfiguration.  The Cross is the ultimate instrument of transfiguration by Christ and His life and ministry, in which death itself is "trampled by death" -- making the dreaded cross of Roman crucifixion an instrument of eternal life for all.  The glory of Christ revealed at Transfiguration also tells us that this death will be voluntary.   Christ's glory could easily have prevented arrest and detention if He had not consented to this gift of love.  The discussion in Luke of Jesus "exodus" (in the original Greek text) also gives us the remembrance of the Old Testament Passover.  As my study bible puts it, the true exodus from enslavement into salvation.   As we consider the Transfiguration, we remember also that our faith teaches us that we participate in His life and ministry.  And so we ask ourselves how this singular event is reflected in our lives.  How does God transfigure you?  Have you changed as a result of your faith?  We may be surprised at the outcome of God's energies and love; sometimes the strength of the change isn't what we expected at all.  But then, we are in this for a new point of view, too.

The 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

Yesterday, we read that Jesus taught His disciples, "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on.  Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.  Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them.  Of how much more value are you than the birds?  And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?  Consider the lilies, how they grow:  they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?  And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind.  For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.  But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you."

 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.   To understand how the verses read in sequence, we need to go back to Monday's reading, in which Peter confessed that Jesus was Messiah or Christ.  This was immediately followed by Jesus' warnings about what was to come in Jerusalem:  His suffering at the hands of the leadership, and His death and Resurrection.  He taught them, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.  For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.  For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?  For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels.  But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God."    Commentators consider this last sentence to refer to the events of the Transfiguration, which is given to us in today's reading.

  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. We may often read about a "mountaintop" experience, and this is perhaps the most distinctive and powerful "mountaintop" experience during His ministry; certainly it would be so for the disciples who are with Him, Peter, John, and James.  These disciples repeated form His inner circle, for particularly great or difficult events.  The word translated as "decease" is literally exodus in the Greek, His departure from this world, His death.  My study bible says that "Christ's death is intimately connected to the glory of the Transfiguration, for Christ is glorified through His death (John 12:23). . . . The term exodus reveals that Christ's Passion is a fulfillment of the Old Testament Passover and is the true exodus from enslavement to salvation."  It is a teaching to the disciples, directly after Jesus reveals what is to happen in Jerusalem, that His death will not be in the hands of others, but comes as a "voluntary offering of love" (as my study bible puts it), "for no arresting soldier could withstand such glory if Christ had not consented (Matthew 26:53)."   Moses represents the law and all those who have died, while Elijah represents the prophets -- and, as one who did not experience death, all those who live in Christ.  My study bible says, "Their presence shows that the law and the prophets, the living and the dead, all bear witness to Jesus as the Messiah, the fulfillment of the whole Old Testament."  Moses and Elijah also manifest the communion of the saints:  both are immediately recognizable and talk with Christ.

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.   We get a picture here, through Peter, of the experience of the disciples.  Imagine this vision as one comes out of a deep sleep.  Peter's words do have a sort of logic to them; the feast of Tabernacles or Booths was the feast of the coming kingdom, commemorating the "exodus" of the Jews as they wandered in the wilderness on their way to the promised land, and lived in tents (called tabernacles or booths).  At the feast, these booths were symbols of God's dwelling among the just in the Kingdom.  

While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud.  The cloud is once again a reminder of the times during the Exodus of the ancient Jews, and its presence that went before the Israelites in the wilderness -- the visible sign of God being extraordinarily present.  This also shapes Peter's perception that the Kingdom has come.

 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son.  Hear Him!"   What makes this event so powerful for the Church is just this:  it is a manifestation of the Trinity.  Christ is transfigured, the Father speaks from heaven testifying to Jesus' divine sonship, and the Spirit is present in the form of the dazzling light surrounding Christ.  From the Greek, this is called an epiphany ("showing" or "appearance") or, more accurately, Theophany (manifestation of God).

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.  As abruptly as it happened, they are alone again.  This time, the divine secret will stay a secret until it is time for its unveiling.

Immediately after Peter's confession that Jesus is Christ, Jesus reveals what is to come:  His suffering, death, and rising again after three days.  We can hardly know what the disciples made of all of this information.  But certainly commentators throughout the centuries of the Church have viewed this incident of the Transfiguration as a kind of affirmation of the divinity of Christ to these disciples, particularly in light of what is to happen.  It tells that that this death will be voluntary, a sacrifice on Christ's part, an offering of love, as my study bible tells us.  That these three did keep this secret until it was time to tell of it also says something very powerful indeed.  So much of what Christ tries to keep secret is revealed anyway.  Here is such an extraordinary, beyond-remarkable event that these three disciples, who form Jesus' "inner circle" do manage to keep it hidden until it is time to reveal it.  This is the realm of the mystical, the time when time ceases (Moses and Elijah are together with Christ), when space doesn't matter (they all converse with one another), where we are in the realm of the Kingdom and the divine reality (everybody recognizes Moses and Elijah).  It is a defining "mountaintop" experience where our normal boundaries are suspended, and God is revealed.  Perhaps nothing elevates the whole of human nature so much as this episode we read about today.  It's one thing to focus on the divinity of Christ, the revelation of Jesus and His place midst the Trinity, His dialogue with Moses and Elijah.  But what of these disciples, who are taken along for this experience, to whom it is also revealed and shown?  What does that tell us about our own capabilities, and how God elevates us and our nature to "be with Him?"  To my mind, this is an extraordinary grace, a revelation not only to the disciples of just who Jesus is (and so, coloring and filling in all doubts about His death on the Cross as voluntary), but also a grace of God so fully extended to we human beings, that we, too, are a part of this secret and may share in it and view it.  We, too, are capable of receiving this great mystery and experiencing  it on this mountaintop.  It is a kind of extraordinary reaching by God to elevate us to Him.  Jesus has come from above and will return -- but He has come to take all of us with Him.  In all of the Eastern Church, in the whole arc of the great Councils of the early centuries of entire Church, there is perhaps no greater nor more basic theological statement than this one:  "God became man so that man could become a god."  In other words, Christ condescends to us as a human being so that He elevates us to be both "with Him" and "like Him."  (In a very real way, we "get there" by being "like Him" in this world.)  Let us consider then the fact that it is human beings who share in and to whom is revealed this experience, this great mystery, this phenomenon of the communion of saints on this mountaintop.  Peter, James, and John, none of whom was particularly learned but all capable of faith, are brought along for this glimpse of the greatness of God, the reality of the Kingdom come into the world.  And they, as great apostles, take us along with them in the communion of saints, in the reality of this Kingdom, in the good news of the Gospel.  Can we really appreciate what it does for us and for our lives? 

He was transfigured before them

Transfiguration icon (mosaic) - St. Catherine's Monastery, Mt. Sinai - 6th century

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 had 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 the previous reading, Jesus asked His disciples, "Who do men say that I am?" The answers came: "John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets." Then He asked them, " But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered and said to Him, "You are the Christ." Then He strictly warned them that they should tell no one about Him. Then Jesus began to teach what is to happen, how He will suffer and be rejected. He will be killed, and after three days will rise again. He spoke this word openly. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, "Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men." But Jesus called the people to Himself and told them they 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. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" He said that those who are ashamed of Him, He will be ashamed of when He comes into His kingdom with the Father and the Holy angels. He added, "Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power." See Who do men say that I am? Who do you say that I am?

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. The quotation at the end of the previous reading tells us what we need to know about this experience of the Transfiguration. It is a revelation, a glimpse, of "the kingdom of God present with power." The glory of God is in the shining brightness, something beyond white, "like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them." In many icons, light that shines beyond bright white is portrayed in blue, so that one understands this is an outstanding heavenly light, not something experienced normally in our world. Just His inner circle is present: Peter and the Zebedee brothers, John and James.

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. The fullness of the kingdom is revealed in the presence of Moses and Elijah: the Law and the Prophets. My study bible points out two very interesting things: First, that this revelation of glory happens immediately after He teaches the disciples (especially Peter) about His coming suffering. It is, therefore, a reassurance of the truth of His kingdom, that though He is to suffer, He is also the Lord of Glory. (Only His Resurrection after death will be a greater sign of His divinity.) Secondly, it notes that Peter's immediate recognition of Moses and Elijah is "a glimpse of the glory that is to be revealed (Romans 8:18), where introductions will not be needed."

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 had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves. This cloud appears for the benefit of the disciples. It is also linked with the history of Israel in the Scriptures, as the Pillar of Cloud led the Israelites in the wilderness. (Thus, the cloud also links Peter's suggestion of making tabernacles or tents for Elijah and Moses; the Feast of Tabernacles celebrating this time of Exodus, when Israel dwelled in tents.) The Father's voice speaks to them, giving the command "Hear Him!" in what is the present imperative form. As my study bible puts it, this means "listen always." In the Greek, the form is in second person plural: in this sense, the voice is speaking to us all. We are to continually listen and hear His commands. The voice of the Father tells us about the word of the Son. As suddenly as the revelation comes, it is gone again; it is a glimpse of what is that has been revealed to them.

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. Again, there is a need for secrecy, but only for so long, only until the even greater revelation is to come. But what this means, even that they don't understand. What does the rising from the dead mean?

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." There is a very important expression in this reading about what prophesy and revelation mean, and our capacity to understand them and interpret their unfolding. The prophesy existed among popular expectation, and was foretold by Malachi. Jesus' interpretation of the prophesy is that Elijah has already come -- for Him, the spirit of Elijah has already come through John the Baptist. The prophesy has already been fulfilled. Jesus cites other prophesy concerning the Son of Man.

There are powerful and important indications in this reading about what we know, what we expect, and how we expect things to come about. Prophesy is and was well-known not only to these disciples but to the whole of the Jewish people, particularly those who (for the most part) would reject Jesus, the Pharisees and scribes. But when a prophesy is made, none of us can say what it will look like as it is fulfilled in God's time and God's way. We can't say when it will happen or how. Many popular expectations and interpretations will arise concerning it. Our own expectations can't be relied on to tell us exactly what God will reveal when God does so. The disciples, here, taught directly by Jesus what will happen to Him, and what even greater sign (Resurrection) will be shown to them, cannot fathom what He can be talking about. They cannot understand in the slightest why He commands silence, nor what rising from the dead can mean. They don't know what the kingdom will look like when it comes nor how it will come -- and these are the closest to Christ, His very inner circle. So, I think we should take with a grain of salt all expectations and predictions and what we can make of prophesy. We have to leave a wide margin for the mystery and awesome power of God to be at work in our lives and in our world in ways we could never expect. Later on, we may have that familiar feeling of an "Aha!" kind of moment, as in, "So that's what that means!" -- a kind of experience we may have had many times after receiving a description of something we just couldn't envision ourselves. It's my belief that we have to remember that God's word is something that comes from beyond us, and we must leave a wide berth for however it may play out or manifest in our lives and in our world. In the time that God has in mind, we simply don't know what is best. And we don't know what God may have in mind for us either. So, take heart in the confusion of the disciples. If they didn't understand what is happening, it can't really be expected that we will always know what is best, or have a clear idea of what is coming. The only thing we can do is trust. We rely on faith in relationship to God, even if that may be the toughest thing we can imagine at a given moment of personal challenge. I'm certain that my readers may have had just this type of moment -- if not many of them -- themselves!