Transfiguration - what does it mean for us?
Exodus 34: 29-32 Luke 9: 28-43a
The story of the transfiguration, of Jesus going up the mountain and revealing his glory, is a strange story and I’d forgive you for wondering why we bother with it.
One reason for looking at it is that it is in 3 of the 4 gospels – so it’s hard to dismiss as just ‘odd’.
Another reason is that some people see it as a kind of ‘preview’ for the resurrection – Jesus giving Peter, James & John some fore-warning of what they were going to see after the suffering of Christ which he has warned them is about to come.
A third reason might be that this is giving us a glimpse of who Jesus really is, before the stories of suffering, trial and crucifixion which could make it hard to hold onto Jesus’ identity as the Son of God.
This week I came across a reason to read the story of the transfiguration that was new to me, and I thought I’d share it with you. The commentary I read suggested that Luke tells us the story of the transfiguration in the way that he does to help us understand what it means to worship and to follow Jesus Christ.
If we look at when in his gospel Luke tells this story it might help us understand why he tells the story.
This story comes at the end of Jesus' ministry in Galilee and just before Jesus sets out to travel to Jerusalem for the final events of his earthly life.
In the verses just before this, Jesus has asked “Who do you say that I am?” and Peter has replied “you are God’s Messiah”. Then Jesus has told them that the Son of Man must endure great suffering.. and be put to death.. and rise after three days. Then Jesus teaches about how to follow him – renouncing self, taking up the cross, and risking losing life. Jesus concludes with saying “there are some of those standing here who will not taste death before they have seen the kingdom of God”.
There must be questions swirling in the minds of the disciples – is Jesus really the Messiah? If so how can he possibly be put to death? How are we meant to follow him? What does this “kingdom of God” really look like?
In the midst of all this, Jesus takes Peter James and John up the mountain.
The first thing they do is pray. If they are going to make any sense of their lives in the light of what Jesus has been teaching them, they need to pause and draw near to God. They need to seek God’s presence God’s help and God’s strength.
While they are praying they see Jesus change.. Luke describes this as seeing Jesus’ glory. His skin shines as Moses’ face does when he has been talking to God.
Then they see Moses and Elijah: great heroes of their Jewish tradition and faith – talking with Jesus about what is going to happen in Jerusalem – confirming what Jesus has already said.
Peter wonder about building shelters for their biblical guests..
..But then a cloud, a sign of the presence of God, as it was for Moses envelops them and they hear a voice say "This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!".
Finally Jesus and the three disciples are alone – and they say nothing to anyone about what they have seen at that time.
Then, the next day, when they have returned from the mountain; they are faced with a boy in need of healing, suffering from convulsions. Jesus heals the boy – and all are astounded at the greatness of God.
Perhaps you can see a pattern in the story that looks rather like a pattern of worship:
There is prayer.
There is encounter with Jesus, and with the older faith tradition.
There is a sign of God’s presence and there is hearing Gods voice.
There is the command to listen to Jesus and recognise who he is.
And there is a return to the everyday world carrying God’s blessing and showing God’s greatness.
Luke tells us the story of the transfiguration at this point of his gospel to show that the closest disciples needed to see Jesus like this at this stage of their discipleship.
And I think Luke also wants us to know that we can encounter Jesus like this, too – to help us in our own discipleship: not because we are going to have this exact experience and see Jesus transfigured, but because in our worship we can encounter Jesus the Lord and know God’s presence and God’s word in our own way.
All of this points to worship as being way more important than a habit, or a duty, or something where we just go through the motions.
In worship we get a chance to pray and come close to God.
To read the scriptures and encounter Jesus and other parts of our faith tradition.
To make time to listen for God’s voice speaking to us.
To learn more about who Jesus is.
And to go out into the world as true disciples, sharing the greatness of God’s love.
You might wonder how we can experience all this – just little us – meeting like this.
But I’m sure you will be able to think of examples when you have encountered something in worship which has rekindled your discipleship of Jesus in some way.
I will tell some stories at this point - the most recent being hearing a Male Voice Choir sing 'When I survey the Wondrous Cross' to the tune 'morte Christe', at a funeral - it was amazing!
You can listen to it
May God touch us all with the glory of the living Christ in this worship and every time we turn to God.
To God's greater glory. Amen
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