The Light - Week 6: Transfiguration

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Season of Epiphany - Series: The Light

The Light of the World has come; what do we do now?

This series will help us learn more about what it means to walk in the Light and be lights in the world. 

Today is Transfiguration Sunday - on the verge of Lent

We will read an incredible story that is a pillar of Mark’s Gospel and a sign and symbol for our own context as we learn more about who Jesus is.

The story we will be reading takes place on a mountaintop with Jesus and three of his disciples.  Something so incredible happens that Peter decides that he doesn't ever want to come down from the mountain.  

Mountaintop Moments--when we experience something incredible, life-changing, startling, full of wonder... 

Ever had one of those? 

A couple of mountaintop moments that I've experienced.  

Have you ever had a feeling after experiencing one of those mountaintop moments that you don't want to return to your old life?  Most of us feel that way.  

Maybe you had an incredible trip.  Or a retreat that changed your life.  Maybe you did something adventurous, or you finally got to a place where you achieved a goal you had been striving for.  

Wouldn't it be great to just stay in that space?

Because most of us know that the feeling fades, don't we?  We also know that plenty of people in our lives don't get it because they didn't share what we felt.  

We changed, but they didn't. 

But what if... the feeling didn't fade?  What if we could have a mountaintop experience that we carried back into our lives to share with the world? 

What if we went back into the world with this feeling, and also carried with us the sure and certain knowledge that it didn't matter if other people hadn't changed, we were going to share with them anyway?  

We might be getting close to the truth that God intended for Jesus' disciples on the mountaintop moment of our story.  

THE LIGHT ISN'T MEAN FOR A FEW, IT'S MEANT FOR EVERYONE. 

Mark 9:2-9

One of the three pillars of Mark's Gospel

BAPTISM (1:9–11)TRANSFIGURATION (9:2–9)CRUCIFIXION (15:33–39)
Heavens rentGarments turn whiteSanctuary veil rent
Dove descendsCloud descendsDarkness spreads
Voice from heavenVoice from cloudJesus’ great voice
“You are my Son, beloved”“This is my Son, beloved”“Truly this man was Son of God”
John the Baptist as ElijahMoses appears with Elijah“Is he calling Elijah?”

2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

The symbolism of the mountain - Anthropologists often tell us that mountains are places of meeting between heaven and earth.

Not a coincidence that Jesus appears with Moses and Elijah - Law & Prophets, both were "taken" by God. 

5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)

Peter doesn't know what to say, so he says the thing we'd all say. 

7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

Let's go back to our chart.  Why does this matter? Mark is making connections here that reveal about Jesus that he is the embodiment of the Christ. 

8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

Peter's desire is to stay rooted in belief, but perhaps in a kind of fear of losing the feeling, missing the truth of the moment.  

1.  We begin to realize that the church is not a destination

2. We determine to share the light in our daily life, not just on Sunday

3. We assume our God-given role as bearers of good news to the world. 

THE LIGHT ISN'T MEAN FOR A FEW, IT'S MEANT FOR EVERYONE. 


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