Summary: The transfiguration of Christ is an enigma for many of us. But this incident in the life of Christ contains rich meaning about the identity of Jesus, the nature of discipleship and the hope of the resurrection. Look at the transformed, glorified Christ, listen to him and learn what it means!
A woman who looked down at the breathtaking, panoramic view of Yosemite Valley from a high elevation, was overwhelmed. "I could die and go to heaven right now, and it wouldn't bother me a bit!" she exclaimed.
What draws people to climb a mountain?
There are as many answers to that question as there are climbers. See if any of these connect with you:
It's unlikely that any of these motives, except the last one -- to commune with God -- prompted Jesus to take three of his disciples to head up the mountain on the day mentioned in our text. Luke, who also reports the Transfiguration, does say that Jesus went up to pray.2 When they reached the pinnacle, Jesus' appearance was transformed and his face shone like the sun or a bolt of lightning, his clothes bright as light, whiter than any bleach could bleach them.
According to theologian Karl Barth,3 what happened on the Mount of Transfiguration was not an ordinary miracle. It is unique in that it wasn't done by Jesus but happened to Jesus. This miracle didn't involve healing the sick, feeding the hungry or raising the dead. So what did it accomplish? What did it mean to Jesus?
No long before this mountain hike, Jesus had told his disciples that he expected to suffer and die and then rise from the dead.4 But they found such talk bewildering. They probably thought Jesus would lead a movement to overthrow their Roman oppressors. They wanted to know what role they might have in his new administration. They advised him not to think about worst case scenarios, but to plan for victory. Just when Jesus needed friends who would listen to his concerns, his closest followers just wanted him to stop all this talk about sacrifice.
So God, as though sensing how lonely his Son must be feeling, sent Moses and Elijah to encourage him as he approached the greatest test of his life. Luke tells us that they spoke about Jesus' exodus,5 which means his road out or departure, a reference both to his upcoming trip to Jerusalem and his departure from this life.
To accomplish God's purpose of the transformation of the human heart, Jesus had to walk the path of self-sacrifice. The way to resurrection was through a cross.
After discussing the suffering to come, it wouldn't be surprising if on some level Jesus had wished that Moses and Elijah could stay with him to give him courage.
Homiletics professor Alyce McKenzie wrote that when she was about to give birth to her first child, she clung to a nurse's hand in a panic: "Give me back my hand now, honey," the nurse said, kindly but firmly. "My shift is over now. I've gotta go home. If one of us has to leave, it better be me. Because you're the only one who can have this baby."6
Before Moses and Elijah left Jesus, you can imagine them saying something similar to Jesus: "Our shift is over. You're the only one who can do this job."
Luke's use of the word "exodus" and the presence of Moses connects to God's epic deliverance of the Hebrew slaves from Egypt through Moses with the deliverance from sin God would accomplish for all humanity through Jesus' death and resurrection.
Seeing Moses and Elijah alive, centuries after they lived on Earth, would have reminded Jesus that death doesn't have the last word. Divine love is more powerful than death, as the Bible says, "Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it."7
Seeing Jesus in his transformed appearance, together with Moses and Elijah, assured Peter, James and John that there is indeed life after death. Memories of that day would give them courage to face the trials to come.
But they didn't immediately comprehend the vision they saw.
Earlier, Peter had correctly identified Jesus as God's messiah, but Peter couldn't fathom the path of suffering the messiah would travel on the way to glory. Jesus had begun to teach his disciples that he would be rejected and killed, and that those who wanted to follow him must take up their own crosses. Such language must have shocked and confused them. Why would anyone want to follow a leader who promised suffering?8
After many long days of helping countless hurting people, and a difficult climb up a high mountain, Peter and his companions must have been exhausted. According to Luke, the disciples were overcome by sleep, so when Jesus appeared in brilliant glory, they weren't fully awake.9 Can't you picture them rubbing their eyes, wondering whether they were still dreaming?
But uncertainty never stopped Peter from speaking. In the excitement of the moment, he offered to set up three tents, one for Moses, one for Elijah and one for Jesus. Peter was likely drawing on the Feast of Tabernacles' annual tradition of when Jews constructed temporary shelters to live in for a week to commemorate God's presence with them in the wilderness.
Perhaps Peter imagined enshrining the three leaders in perpetual glory. All that talk about suffering and dying must have felt like a momentary blip in a plan to usher in the messianic era. This experience of dazzling delight was much more appealing. Why not skip the pain and jump straight to the gain?
Who among us wouldn't prefer to freeze such a moment, the way the woman wanted to revel in the ecstasy of her vision of Yosemite Valley? Who would choose to return to the problems of everyday life and troublesome people if there was another option?
Peter wanted to be able to take Jesus with him everywhere he went. Who doesn't like the idea of a portable god?
But we can't control, contain or capture the glory of God; we can't preserve or bottle up experiences with the divine or save one for a rainy day when we need a dose of God.
Tabernacles or tents are by definition temporary structures, not meant to be our final destination.
Here on the Mount of Transfiguration, the conversation Moses and Elijah have with Jesus about his exodus gives more clues as to Jesus' identity. After his resurrection, "beginning with Moses and all the prophets," Jesus taught his disciples "the things about himself in all the scriptures."10
Now God himself bore witness to Jesus' identity as his beloved Son, just as he had testified at the beginning of Jesus' public ministry, when John baptized him at the Jordan.
The writer of Hebrews says God never called any of the angels his sons, whereas God the Father calls Jesus his son, and also calls him God! "You are my Son; today I have begotten you," God says, and of the Son he says, 'Your throne, O God, is forever and ever."11
Hearing God speak about Jesus this way terrified the disciples at first, but Jesus did not belittle or mock them for their very human reaction. Instead, he came near and touched them, encouraging them to get up and not be afraid. When they looked up, they saw Jesus only.
"This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!" God said (emphasis added). While we can learn much from Moses, Elijah and others, no one can take Christ's place.
Scripture tells us that there is "a time to keep silent and a time to speak"12 and that we should "be quick to listen, slow to speak."13
Sometimes we are silent when we should speak. Other times, like Peter, we speak when we should be silent. How can we hear what Jesus wants to say to us if we can't be still for five minutes? It is good for us to set aside time every day when we turn off your devices and quiet our hearts before the Lord, giving God space to speak to us.
If the thought of coming face to face with the Son of God fills you with a bit of trepidation, remember how Jesus responded to the disciples. Just as he showed them compassion, he will not berate you for your understandable timidity. Instead, he will draw near to you and touch you, inviting you to rise and not be afraid.
What if we opened ourselves up to the possibility that seeing Jesus and intently listening to him might transform us?
What if, rather than erecting a shrine for Jesus, we were meant to be tabernacles in which he resides to show the world the glory of God?
Paul taught that at the last trumpet, those who follow Jesus "will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye."14
But he also wrote that "all of us ... seeing the glory of the Lord ... are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another."15
When we invite Jesus to live within us, God begins our transfiguration right away. Little by little, as we keep looking at Jesus and listening to him, we are being transformed into his image. "Christ in you, the hope of glory!"16 May it be so.