Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother,
and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them;
his face shone like the sun
and his clothes became white as light.
Moses had received the law on Mount Sinai and descended with his face shining, radiant with the light of God's glory. The Transfiguration revealed that it was the light of Jesus, the word of God, that made the face of Moses shine. He himself was the source of the light that shone from him like the sun. As God had met Moses on Sinai so too had he once met Elijah on a mountain in the form of a quiet voice. How could they be present with Jesus unless he himself transcended time and was present to all times and in all places? Jesus thus allowed his eternity to break into the normal world, to show forth through the normal veil that concealed it, for the benefit of Peter, James, and John.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,
“Lord, it is good that we are here.
If you wish, I will make three tents here,
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
At first Peter didn't know what to make of that which was revealed to him, didn't know how to process glory of that magnitude. He did his best to contextualize it in the traditions of his messianic hope. Perhaps in suggesting to build tents he was trying to prolong the experience, and may have thought it justified if the revelation meant that the messianic age had at last arrived. But he was overwhelmed and barely knew what he was saying. But this was not the culmination of the mission of Jesus. Peter was experiencing the already/not yet duality that would become a hallmark of Christian spiritual experience.
While he was still speaking, behold,
a bright cloud cast a shadow over them,
then from the cloud came a voice that said,
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased;
listen to him.”
The Father's voice made it clear that there was a purpose to the Transfiguration. It was not the end of the journey. They would still need to descend the mountain together with Jesus and eventually witness something as dark and traumatic as the Transfiguration was bright and glorious, the passion of their Lord. The motive of the Transfiguration was thus that they would "listen to him", not to the 'them' of Jesus, Moses, and Elijah, but to Jesus as the one who in himself summed up and fulfilled both the law and the prophets. As disciples, Peter, James, and John had been listening already. But now they were called to do so with even more complete trust in him than ever before, and to keep listening, even when it seemed as though all was lost. It is true, of course, that they did not always listen well, even after the Transfiguration. But the experience planted a seed which would later help to give them strength to repent, return, and listen again. They were able to reflect back on the Transfiguration and realize that the cross could not possibly be the end of the story for such a one. It would give them, at least, the courage to hope.
and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began,
but now made manifest
through the appearance of our savior Christ Jesus,
who destroyed death and brought life and immortality
to light through the gospel.
This appearance, this epiphany, had a preview during the Transfiguration. But it was made known to the world through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Even more than the Transfiguration forever changed Peter, James, and John, his resurrection is meant to transform all Christians.
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit (see Second Corinthians 3:18).
What strength do we receive from the Transfiguration? Let us listen to Saint Paul: "Bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God".
Vineyard Worship - Shine Jesus Shine
