Thoughts for the Day

The Transfiguration

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!’ When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, ‘Get up and do not be afraid.’ And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, ‘Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Today is Transfiguration Sunday (or the Feast of the Transfiguration), and the account is recorded in all three Synoptic Gospels, but not strangely in John's Gospel. It also occurs in 2 Peter (2 Peter 1.16-21). As we have seen recently, Jesus and his disciples have been travelling far and wide in gentile territories, as well as in Galilee, so the experts are not in agreement as to which mountain the group climbed on this occasion. It could have been Mount Hermon (9,000 feet+) in the far north, from which the river Jordan rises, or perhaps it's more likely it occurred on Mount Tabor (2,000 feet) that rises from flat land in the south of Galilee.

More to the point is what happens there, and why Jesus goes up a mountain. We are reminded of the time that Moses went up Mount Sinai to talk to God and was given the Ten Commandments, but the event also fulfils Moses' words about the one who was to come, that is a prophet who would be greater than himself (Deuteronomy 18.15). We also see Jesus in his glory as he was, before his birth (incarnation) at Bethlehem, and we see him together with Moses who represents the Law, and with Elijah who represents the Prophets. This symbolises the new agreement (covenant) made for us his people with God, a covenant that would be fulfilled through the life and death of Jesus.

As God confirms the beginning of Jesus' ministry at his Baptism by John (Mark 1.9-11) so now we see He confirms the final phase of our Lord's mission before Jesus heads towards Jerusalem and his death. We, like the disciples, should take notice of the instruction to "listen to him".

Heavenly Father,
whose Son was transfigured -
and seen in all His glory by His disciples,
and who initiated a new covenant
with us His people,
may we meditate on this event today,
and on the declaration that He is Your Son,
and therefore the second person of the Trinity.
In a world that has become chaotic
through climate change, disease or war may we also
take seriously our task as Christians
to make a difference and heal its woes.
Amen.