Greetings Friends,
Welcome back to Prepared Hearts the online lectionary-based Bible study of the Wacousta Community United Methodist Church. This Sunday is Transfiguration Sunday and our lectionary texts include: Exodus 24:12-18, Psalm 99, 2 Peter 1:16-21, and Matthew 17:1-9.
I’ll be preaching from Matthew. The text is below, followed by starter thoughts.
Matthew 17:1-9 (NRSV)
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!’ When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, ‘Get up and do not be afraid.’ And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.
As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, ‘Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.’
STARTER THOUGHTS
1. The word “Transfiguration” literally means “metamorphosed.” We take the name from this Sunday from the transfiguration of Jesus on the mountaintop. Yet, we have to ask ourselves the question: how are we transfigured/metamorphosed by our experience of Christ?
2. Have you had similar “mountaintop” experiences with Christ? Times when you’ve encountered the presence of the Divine and felt awestruck? Where/how did they occur? What was your response? Were you ready to travel back down the hill or did you, like Peter, want to take some time to build dwelling places and linger awhile?
3. The disciples see Jesus glowing with the transcendence associated with heavenly beings, foretelling his resurrection. The words spoken by God reiterate his status as the Son of God. In this story, the post-Easter exalted Christ appears within the pre-Easter context. Peter, James and John witness all of this but are told to sit on this information until after Christ’s resurrection. Put yourself in Peter’s (or James’ or John’) shoes. First, how do you think you would have responded to the sight of sparkling Jesus? Second, do you think you’d have been able to keep your experience to yourself once you’d come down from the mountaintop? Third, would this have changed how you viewed Jesus’ subsequent arrest and crucifixion?
4. Of course, the appearance of Moses and Elijah in this story is not coincidental. A lot has been written about why these two prominent Jewish figures appear alongside Jesus (and of course there is a lot of speculation about what the three were discussing). One thing that is essential to note is that Moses and Elijah were two of the three leaders (Enoch being the third) whom Jews considered to be alive in the presence of God. Seeing the glowing Jesus alongside Moses and Elijah should have tipped off the disciples to the Resurrection, but who can blame them for being confused? The voice from heaven confirms Jesus’ status as the Son of God (not just eternally alive like Moses and Elijah). All of this occurs before Jesus’ brutal suffering and death. Unlike Moses and Elijah, who were spared even normal deaths, Jesus would be brutally beaten and scandalously crucified. What do you make of this?
As always, I look forward to hearing your thoughts and reflections. Feel free to email me or post a comment here.
Peace,
Pastor Amee
No comments:
Post a Comment