February 22, 2009 - Mark 9:2-9 - Strength for the Journey

            Ever since we celebrated the baptism of Jesus back in January, the church has been in the season of Epiphany. This morning we celebrate the Transfiguration, the last Sunday of Epiphany and the Sunday before the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday just three days from now. 

            Ever since we celebrated the Baptism of Jesus, we have been reading about how Jesus ministered to those around him, how he showed them the love of God, not with harsh words and heavy rules, but with gentleness and kindness – putting his money where his mouth was, and putting his actions and his life there too.

            In Mark’s gospel, Jesus has begun to speak openly about his impending rejection by the elders, his death and his resurrection – but the disciples have not understood.  They have followed the one they believe is the Messiah, but they each have their own idea of what a Messiah does and how a Messiah accomplishes his mission and none of their ideas matches the reality of Jesus.

            Only six days ago in the life of Jesus and only a few verses ago in the gospel text (Mark 8:32-33) Peter reprimanded Jesus about this ‘death and suffering’ talk and Jesus responded by telling Peter to ‘Get behind him’ and declaring that Peter has his mind set on earthly things instead of heavenly ones.

            And so it is that as our scripture section opens, Jesus takes his inner circle of Peter, James and John and leads them up into a high mountain – and the unimaginable happens.

            Our English translations tell us that he was ‘transfigured’ before them, It is a word we have heard since we were children but we have heard this story so often that perhaps we have become to accustomed to that word that we might not really understand what it means.

            To be transfigured is more than to have a happy shining face and cleaner than usual clothes.  To be transfigured is to undergo a ‘metamorphosis’ – a complete change.  He was transformed from what he was into something quite different - transformed perhaps into heavenly ‘stuff’ – like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon to spread its wings and let them dry in the warm sun.  The dictionary refers to it as ‘an abrupt transformation’ – is it any wonder that the disciples were terrified to see their teacher and companion thus changed?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

                Alongside Jesus, two people appear – Moses and Elijah.  Moses with whom God spoke face to face, who represents the Law, the rules by which Judeans organized their lives, the rules by which they worshipped God and offered sacrifice.  Elijah is considered the greatest of the prophets.

                Both of these men were great men in the history of Israel.  It was believed that both of these men were taken to heaven without dying: Moses remained on the far side of the Jordan and Elijah was taken up to heaven in a fiery chariot.  Together they represent all the Law and all the prophets – all the things that look forward to the coming one – the Messiah – the Son of David – the Lord’s anointed.

                And they were talking with Jesus – The gospel records do not record what was said – but wouldn’t it be wonderful to have heard?

---------------------------------------------------------------------

                Peter, ever willing to speak up when others prefer to keep silent says, ‘Rabbi, it’s good for us to be here.  Let us make three tabernacles – tents – one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah’.  Mark is quick to point out that Paul did not know what he was saying – and then the truly miraculous happens.

                A cloud overshadows them all and a voice comes from the cloud – a voice that seems to surround them and fill the very air they breathed, ‘This is my Son; the beloved; listen to him.’

                My son, the beloved.  When did we hear these words before?  We heard them back in Mark 1:11 when after the baptism of Jesus, the heavens are torn apart and a voice from heaven, the voice of God, speaks directly to Jesus, ‘You are my son, the beloved; with you I am well pleased.’

                At his baptism Jesus was the only one to hear the heavenly voice.  Here on the mountain the three disciples hear it as well.

                After his baptism, Jesus would be driven into the wilderness to be tempted 40 days by the devil and angels would minister to him.

                After the transfiguration, Jesus will again turn his face to Jerusalem.  His wilderness will be one of spirit and purpose.  Although surrounded by crowds and disciples, he will be more alone than he was in the desert.  He will walk the long road to betrayal, arrest, torture and crucifixion.  And then, as he prays in the garden, angels will again minister to him.

                After his baptism, as he suffered in the wilderness, Jesus would remember that special private time with God by the river Jordan and it would strengthen him for the temptation and for the ministry that would follow.

                After his transfiguration, as he suffered on the cross, Jesus would remember this special private time with God on the mountain top.  He would remember this affirmation, this closeness, this presence and it would strengthen him for the pain and the suffering and the humiliating death that would follow.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                Perhaps this is why the inner circle of disciples was also allowed to hear the holy voice.  As they descend from the mountain, they too will face difficulties they cannot imagine.  As they accompany Jesus on his journey to glory, they will not understand everything that is happening to them, but that lack of understanding will not spare them from the pain of it.

                As they accompany Jesus on his journey to crucifixion, they will not speak of this event, but they will remember this special private time with God and after the resurrection, it will strengthen them for their own journey, their own ministry and their own deaths.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                In modern America, perhaps throughout the modern world, we have come to believe that pain is something to be avoided at all costs.  We look for quick fixes, instant weight loss and miracle cures.  Christians especially have been told that being a Christian makes you immune to suffering, free of disease, financially secure, and blessed with perfect relationships – but all this is really nothing more than yet another form of idolatry.  We have exchanged the worship of Caesar for the worship of money and good times – and there is nothing in the gospel accounts to tell us that this is what Christianity is all about.

                Like Peter, we don’t want to hear the bad news.  Like Peter, we don’t want the pain of the cross.  Like Peter, we want to stay on the mountain top and insulate ourselves from the greater reality of a world full of pain and suffering and of which we are a part.

                Far from being immune to suffering, Christians may suffer more – when we refuse to take the easy road in favor of going the right way, when we refuse to cut corners in favor of doing the right thing, when we refuse to care only about ourselves and when we open our hearts to care for others.  Jesus assures us that in the world we will have tribulation, but to fear not because he has overcome the world – and so shall we if we remember and rest in the memory of the glory of Jesus.

---------------------------------------------------------------

                Knowing Jesus will not keep us from the temptation of the desert.  Knowing Jesus will not keep us from the long way of the cross.  It won’t give us smooth sailing or easy times – but what is does do is fortify us for the wilderness and prepare us for the way.

                The disciples who stood with Jesus on the mountain and were part of his glory would later partake in his suffering.  We who sit here this morning and taste of heaven in the presence of brothers and sisters of faith will at some time in our lives partake of our own suffering – and like the disciples we will remember the mountain top and the memory of it will give us the strength to persevere.

-----------------------------------------------------------

            On Wednesday we will begin the observance of Lent – 40 days dedicated to prayer, to fasting.  Days to turn our attention inward to examine the state of our souls and to turn our attention outward to reflect on the great love and mercy and sacrifice that Jesus showed for us.

            It is my prayer that we will take this time to do just that – to remember the transfiguration when we caught a glimpse of Jesus in his glory, when we heard the voice of God and experienced the heavenly presence.

            This is what will give us strength for living as Jesus lived, strength for loving as Jesus loved and strength for the journey to Easter.

Amen.