Today marks the end of Epiphany, and we are now embarking on the journey of Lent which will be this coming Sunday.
As we reflect and cycle through the mystical calendar year of the church, Transfiguration Sunday to me marks something rather special. It sounds like a oxy moron stating only certain parts of the calendar year is special than others, but that’s not what I’m referring to.
In the theological world we can call it ‘Christophany’ or the manifestation of the Son of God.
In Gospel of Mark up to this point, the disciples have heard many messages of Christ, seen him do miraculous miracles such as healing the blind, the lame. Feeding 5000 people, rebuke storming waves in the sea of galilee after walking upon the water, casting out demons and so much more.
Every part of Jesus life up to this point demonstrated Jesus being a the Savior, someone who knew how mankind felt, a ever present help in danger and a true and close friend. But nothing can prepare Peter, James and John what they was about to experience.
In preparing for this sermon, I read many references and most all agree, the ‘Transfiguration’ of Christ is something new to the modern generation of Jews and Gentiles that has not been in a very long time.
The word ‘Transfiguration’ definition in Greek is similar to the word metamorphosis. Not in a pagan sense, but a manifestation in the Spirit that shows a miraculous confirmation and transformation.
So it starts off stating Jesus selected an elite few men (Peter, James and John) to join him on the mountain top.
Gospel of MARK “He was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them”
Gospel of MATTHEW “His face shone like the sun and his clothes became as white as the light”
So here we have a setting that the Jesus they knew up to this point, was changing right before their eyes. Jesus, their teacher, rabbi and friend, has transformed into something not of this world!
A glorious brilliance, a whiteness that no washing machine or dry cleaners could compare too. The immediate noticeability of the garments, it wasn’t something you can miss, or overlook. It was RIGHT THERE in front of them!
As if seeing this miraculous event already wasn’t enough, two men identified as Moses and Elijah became present out of nowhere. They began to talk to Jesus scripture tells us. Oh how much I wish we knew what they talked about!
Here Peter says something very important “Lord, it is good for us to be here! Peter went on to ask Jesus if he wishes for them to make an altar, tabernacle or booth in honor of Moses, Elijah and Jesus…
So right here, we see the Spirit of God working in the disciples presence giving them the names of whom is before them. The first great Prophet Elijah and the Lawgiver and Liberator Moses.
“And a bright cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” Only two other times in Jesus Life on earth did God the Father speak aloud like that!
At this point, the disciples fell to their faces and was afraid, but Jesus said to them “Be not afraid, Arise.” “when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.”
As soon as it happened, it vanished. We are perplexed just how important of an event is that could change people’s lives was to be kept a secret. That is until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.
The disciples walked upon the mountain with Jesus, but walked down the mountain with a new perspective as the Chosen Son of God that was made manifest to their witness. Christ transfiguration friends, gave true testimony that his role as the ‘Messiah’ is genuine and true!
So its one thing to read about a miraculous event, but its something totally different to witness and experience it yourself isn’t it. Not to say its less or more effective, but eye witness accounts give great merit towards the actual circumstances.
So why on the mountain top? Why is that important? Why a very significant event took place out of view of so many?
I remember as a child, I climbed mountains and trees a lot. One thing that impacted me to this day is when I reached top of a mountain, the spectacular view of the Mountain ranges of West Virginia was stunning. As a young Christian man I prayed upon the mountain and I just remember how close and humbled I felt to God. I got a clearer view or vision that stayed with me to this very day!
The experience for the disciples gave them a great memory to return to, as often as they wanted! It showed them what they once knew of Christ, manifested to something more brilliant and meaningful. In another sense, it was a high hour of vision which the disciples could trust.
The event says to us “Trust your high hours. Keep your times of clear vision as the stay of your mind, the point of reference for all the days to come.”
The weather of our mind varies from time to time don’t it? One day we are feeling good and plentiful, spiritual and even God centered, but other days we are so off kilter it isn’t funny.
Sunlight friends, burns through the thick and dense fog of our mind and life. We talk today with the Transfigured Jesus. We should see the un-deniable Christ in our lives, NOT what the world or even your person view point says it should be. What the ‘TRUTH’ is and shall be is the only way we should live. And yes that also includes our feelings should NOT be our only guide.
The way we view Christ, tends to put either a stumbling block before us, OR a liberated uplifting source. Something to help guide us in a fallen world.
Is Christ a tyrant that has rules to follow, or is he a liberator that saved us!
The Transfiguration shaped our world to date as it did Peter, James and John.
Another parallel the Transfiguration gives us what worship is.
A shinning hour at the church, high and lifted up, when Jesus and his revelation of authenticating evidence glows from within ourselves that no such fuller can anything on earth supply.
In closing friends, let me leave you with this. When Jesus came down from the mountain, Lets look at verse 15:
“Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him”
People saw Jesus as he was, who he is, what he is and was amazed! Theres no doubt his countenance changed, light radiated from him. His whole life and residence glorified God because God lived in him.
How about each of us today? As we worship God this morning, do we have a good view of who Christ is to each of us? Do we know him enough?
A new testament scholar Eduard Schweizer wrote this:
“This story has untied two expectations which were alive in Judaism: the coming of the prophet of the end-time who is like Moses and the appearing of Elijah at the dawning of the end-time. It has declared to every Jew that the fulfillment of the history of Israel and of every hope for the glorious end-time have already begun in the coming of Jesus.”
In other words, out with the old and in with the new! The transfiguration was the pre-curser to the pinnacle of the Gospel being fulfilled (Death and Resurrection) right before our eyes.
Friends, much like the Death and Resurrection of Christ, the Transfiguration is a great mystery we may not fully comprehend. But one of many things it shows us, when we experience Christ, we should hold onto that. Who Christ is in our lives directly reflects who we are. What he has done and continues to do in us and for us. Amen.