Transformed By The Light

The disciples don’t understand what is happening.

Mark often shows that the disciples do not always understand what is happening.

· Jesus and his closest and first disciples went up the mountain together.

· Jesus was transfigured in front of them, as a bright figure of light.

· Moses and Elijah met and spoke with him.

· Luke said they spoke about what Jesus needing to suffer and die.

Peter interrupted them and suggested they build three memorials, one for each, equal in nature.

· Peter does not understand what He is saying.

· The voice of God declared who Jesus was, “my Son, whom I love.” And the command to “Listen to him!”

· Then, all but Jesus and his disciples vanished.

· When they left, Jesus said not to talk about it until he, “the Son of Man” had risen from the dead.

Peter was simply excited about the possibilities.

· When Peter expresses appreciation for what is happening, he shows that he does not really understand what he is saying.

· Peter’s statement represents what all of the disciples were feeling: uncertain excitement.

Transition: Sometimes, our excitement or enthusiasm for something overwhelms our ability to discern what is good.

Sometime, we just don’t understand what is happening.

Notes:

I am a huge Science Fiction fan. It is a huge distraction.

· I have read and watched many things about extra-terrestrial beings, I have dreamed about them, and I have fanaticized about them, but I have very little hope that they actually exist.

· Some might even say that because I have purchased things associated with aliens, that I value the idea of them. And, I think I do find some value in the idea of aliens.

· That doesn’t mean, like Peter that I want to set up a memorial for them, but maybe the bookshelf of memorabilia is enough of memorial for me.

Maybe, you value something that you have like this as well.

We can’t let excitement get the better of ourselves.

· Don’t get ahead of God.

· When we get ahead of God, we may think we know what is good or best.

· We start to make decisions, feeling that we don’t need to bother consulting God.

We start to believe that our “wisdom” is a powerful source of authority.

It’s like a veil over our ability to see the pure divine light of God.

· It distorts our vision for what is good and right or just.

· It can lead us to a sense pride and idolatry.

From time to time, I have to ask myself the question, do I value the idea more than I should.

Does the value that I place in the idea (or person) overshadow the light that I find in God? Does the idea of aliens distract or distort from the reality of divine presence in my life?

I need to know where the greatest light of wisdom comes from so that I can find my way again.

Jesus was transformed in the divine light of God.

· It must have been necessary for the disciples to see Jesus in this way before his crucifixion and resurrection.

· This was no “leveling up” of the cosmic deity formerly known as Jesus. This is Jesus as he is, just not as humanity has known him.

We should ask why Moses and Elijah appeared and spoke with Jesus?

· It was said in earlier traditions that they both ascended to Heaven at some point.

· Also, in Daniel and Revelation, that Moses and Elijah would appear with the Messiah.

· Luke said that the three spoke about the need for Jesus to suffer and die on the cross and be resurrected again.

God did not punish Peter for misinterpreting what happened.

This is a Microphone Drop Moment!

· This is a definitive presentation and declaration of who Jesus is to the Father and Spirit!

· Jesus is “The Son” of the Father, “whom [God: Father and Spirit] love.”

· The Spirit made the divine presence known in the cloud.

· The Father made his voice heard.

· Similar to what happened at Jesus’ Baptism.

The Result is: there is no question of who had the confirmed authority of God.

· The veil over who Jesus is was removed.

· They were going to need to know who Jesus was if they would make it through what was to come.

· We also need to know who Jesus is if we are going to make it through.

We will because God transforms us in the divine light of Christ.

We are pleased to be found in God after the Resurrection and Pentecost, so we can and must speak of the transforming light of God.

By drawing near to God, as God invites us to be near, we can have our mountaintop experience, seeing the full light of Jesus Christ with unveiled faces.

We find the true light of Jesus’ love all around us as we believe in him.

Others will know that they can have this experience too, as we show them the source of the true light of God.

We share that light by speaking and acting fully out of love beyond suffering and even death, that leads to transformation, the image of God.

Let us gather together the loved ones of God by walking in and speak of the light of his love.