The Transfiguration

Luke 9:28-36

28 Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus] took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. 30 Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. 31 They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33 Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said. 34 While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. 35 Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” 36 When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.

Notice the clear link between this passage and the one that we looked at on Friday (vs. 28 “eight days after”). Also notice the place of prayer both here and in the previous passage. At both of these key moments, Jesus’ praying is the prelude to what happens.

The Transfiguration is one of the parts of Jesus’ life that seems the most remote from our experience. It serves as a reminder to us that Jesus was fully human and fully divine, the two were completely linked in Jesus. Jesus knew the full range of human experiences and emotions – hunger, thirst, loneliness, grief, laughter, joy, being well-fed, and so on. He also was God among us in human form. There was no separation between those two parts of Jesus, as this passage clearly indicates.

The divine mission that Jesus was on was supported by all the hosts of heaven who knew what was going to take place. Jesus alone would bear the burden of the cross, but all of heaven was watching with hope and fear.

Peter’s comments make clear that he has not yet understood what Jesus had meant by saying that he was going to the cross. Peter wanted to stay in the spiritual high on the mountain top. He did not understand that the cross was just as much part of the journey Jesus was on as was the mountain top of the transfiguration. The spiritual journey we are on is both about the mountain top highs of the transfiguration and about the suffering of the cross. Following Jesus involves both.

The promise is that God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – is with us in both.

 PRAYER:

Lord God, we rejoice that Jesus is fully human and fully divine, fully integrated in his life. We rejoice that he knew that all of heaven was cheering him on as he went to the cross. We thank you that you – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – are with us in both the highs and lows – the joy and the suffering – of following you. Remind us again of your commitment of care and love for us, even as we walk the hard road of bearing our cross. In Jesus’ name. Amen.