Transfiguration Sunday
9:52:00 AM
Today is Transfiguration Sunday in the Christian Church. This is one of the most mysterious stories in the Gospels. This is the story recorded in Matthew (17) Mark (9) and Luke (9). Today's 2017 calendar reading comes from Matthew, so I'll stay there.
The story begins with Jesus inviting his closest disciples - Peter, James and John, up the high mountain...
On top of this mountain, some unlikely characters appear. On the mountaintop, Moses and Elijah appear. Moses representing the Law and Elijah representing the Prophets of Israel. It's so fascinating that Peter has the excited idea to build some tents for everyone! Peter, we learn, had taken an adventure in missing the point. More to come on that...
But, we must remember that the Law and Prophets in the Old Testament were meant to form a worshiping community. The Transfiguration becomes the grand moment that the great successor, Jesus, is handed the crown (metaphorically). The reigns are handed over to Jesus. From the Old Testament to the New Testament, redemption is forever changed. From old promise, to new promise.
So, how did Peter miss the point? Well, his request to build tents would equate Moses and Elijah with Jesus. But soon after the request, a thundering voice from heaven proclaims, "This is my beloved Son, listen to him!" This is exactly what is promised to God's people to Moses in Deuteronomy 18:15...
“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen."
Matthew is driving the point home - Jesus is the new Moses. Listen to him! The Law and the Prophets point to Jesus. A new day has come. A new light is here. Moses may have called for violent retribution or even the death penalty - but God says, "Listen to Jesus". And Jesus says, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice. Love your enemies." Elijah may reign down hell-fire from the sky - but God says, "Listen to Jesus". And Jesus says, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice. Love your enemies".
We can find scripture verses to build our agenda - we can quote Moses, Joshua or Elijah. But God says, "Listen to him!". Jesus says something different. We are to listen to him.
The Old Testament is the inspired story of the God's people leading up to the grand climax - Jesus. God's Son. Jesus is greater than Moses, Joshua, David, Solomon and Elijah. Jesus is greater than the Bible. We follow Jesus - not Moses, Joshua, David, Solomon or Elijah.
If we follow Jesus, we don't need to seek out how to be a better "man" or a better "woman". We seek to be fully human. We seek to follow Jesus and be like him.
Today, the Law and the Prophets point us to Jesus. We are to read the Old Testament with Jesus as our tour guide. I love the Old Testament. But why else would a non-Jew (like myself) read the Hebrew scriptures? I read the Old Testament in the light of Jesus. If I'm seduced into believing the laws of the Old Testament concerning the death penalty or the "eye for an eye" mentality - I must remember the Transfiguration.
He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.
Matthew 17:5-8
Moses and Elijah disappear. There is only one left standing - Jesus. Jesus, the true Word of God.
(The artwork is Transfiguration by Alexander Ivanov, 1824)
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