A Long, Long Time Ago, On Another Mountain
In our text this week, we find Jesus has taken three of his closest disciples (followers) up on an unnamed mountain. There, Jesus’ body begins to shine with a dazzling light, seemingly emanating from within his own body. Then, Peter, James and John, who by the way are understandably terrified, see Elijah and Moses talking with Jesus.
For us to interpret this event and apply it to our own lives, we need to look at the scene through the eyes of Peter, James and John. These men would have been steeped in the Jewish Scriptures (our Old Testament) from childhood. There on the mountain with Jesus, these three would have seen a most significant episode in the history of Israel – a long, long time ago, on another mountain.
Now, this is goanna take some time, so get your Bible out and journey back to the early days after Moses has led the people of Israel out of Egypt. When God redeemed the people from slavery. In Exodus 24:1, Moses takes three close leaders of Israel with him to a mountain to meet with God. Aaron will be the High Priest and Nadab and Abihu are his sons, future High Priests. Later, In Exodus 24:7-8, Moses makes a sacrifice to God, sprinkling blood on the people as a sign of the covenant, the agreement, God makes with the people of Israel – they are his people.
Relation to the work of Jesus?
While Moses is with God on the mountain, many of the people of Israel fearing Moses and God have abandon them. They build idols to protect them. God is furious and ready to abandon them. Yet, in Exodus 34:3-32, Moses begs God to forgive them. Amazingly, Moses offers his own life in exchange for the lives of the people and their sins!
How does this event in Israel’s history prepare Peter, James and John to better understand what Jesus is doing here on the mountain? What do you think Jesus is wanting these disciples to see in his “transfiguration?”
In Exodus 33:17-23, Moses asks God to see God’s glory. Now, “glory” is a difficult word to define. It is God’s wonder, his set apartness (holiness), his power, his love. It is his very being! Moses is allowed to see some aspect of God but not his “face.” To see God fully, represent by the idea of his “face,” would be unbearable and kill Moses. Peter Enns writes, “This is not to imply that God appears to Moses in bodily form, only that Moses sees something…. God’s appearance is a mystery, a mystery that even Moses himself is able to see only partially.” Later we read in Exodus 34:29-30, “When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him.” Now, Peter, James and John are in God’s presence. There is no doubt now that Jesus is fully God. Yet, looking on his radiant face, seeing God in Jesus, Peter, James and John do not die.
So, knowing Moses would die if he sees God’s “face” yet these disciples now see God in the human face of Jesus and they live. How does this help us understand more about the work of Jesus?
As Jesus and the three disciples descend the mountain, we are told in Mark 9:9, “Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.”
Why do you think Jesus tells his disciple to say nothing about this experience until after the resurrection?
The disciples have just seen Elijah. They know God had promised in Malachi 4:5-6, “’See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.’” The understanding in the day of Jesus was that Elijah would return just before the arrival of the Messiah to rescue Israel from her enemies. They question Jesus about this promise. Jesus tells them Elijah has already come and has gone the way of suffering for the Kingdom of God. They have witnessed the radiant, glory of God in Jesus and then Jesus points them once again to the road of suffering.
What do you think the disciples were hoping would happen now that they had seen the “return” of Elijah? Who is “Elijah” according to Jesus? (The text does not say specifically but we have met him already)?
What is Jesus wanting them and you and me to see about the glory of god and the suffering of Jesus and his followers?
God brings Jesus to the mountain top at the moment that Jesus has turned his focus on “the way” to Jerusalem and the cross.
Thinking in Trinitarian terms (One God who we know in Three Persons – God-the-Father, God-the-Son, God-the Spirit.) Why does God-the-Father offer this experience to God-the-Son at this moment in his time on earth? Why does Jesus bring his closest followers to see this experience for themselves?
Wow! A lot to think about.
See you Sunday.
AMEN,
