Mark 9:2-8

Posted by DJL on Jul 6, 2012 in Daily Bread | 0 comments

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.

It’s called “the transfiguration” for a reason: Jesus’ appearance changes completely and radically, if only for a few moments, in the sight of his disciples. He appears the way one expects divine figures to appear – dazzlingly white, so bright, in fact, that one can hardly gaze upon him. Not only that, but he is immediately surrounded by the great figures of Israel’s past – Moses and Elijah – each of whom left the earth in mysterious ways and who were therefore thought to be possible messengers to announce God’s coming kingdom.

No wonder the disciples are dazzled. No wonder Peter did not know what to say. All he can think is that the end of the world must be on the way, and since some traditions through that God would usher in the kingdom during Israel’s Festival of Booths, he imagined that this was just what was happening right in front of him and so offers to construct boots for each of the three. And he’s right, if not about the exact timing – they will soon return down the mountain – at least about the event, as God is indeed coming.

And suddenly we realize that it’s not just Jesus that is being transfigured, but time itself, as this event foreshadows and announces God’s imminent return in power to redeem God’s people, just as Jesus had earlier said.

Except….

Except it’s not in a way anyone – not Jesus’ disciples or his opponents (then or now) would expect. Hence the voice from heaven saying, “listen to him.” Jesus predicted his cross earlier and his disciples wouldn’t listen. He will again – two more times, actually – and they will continue to misunderstand. Finally he will go to Jerusalem and die on a cross, and in this way – and only in this way – open a new possibility for experiencing the grace and mercy of God.

This isn’t the way kingdoms are normally won. This isn’t the way the world is usually changed. We’re used to armies, force, and power as the operative means by which to change the world. Yet Jesus operates through vulnerability, weakness, and truth.

And so the last thing that needs to be transfigured is our own imagination, as we come to believe and recognize that God shows up just where we least expect God to be – in the cross, in our moments of despair, in our brokenness and vulnerability…always to redeem, love, and save. Whethe we expect it or not.

Yes, there’s a reason it’s called the transfiguration.

Prayer: Dear God, open our eyes to see not what we want, but what we need. Open our yes, that is, to see you in the broken places of the world, always at work to heal and restore. In Jesus’ name, Amen.