Being Transfigured by Christ

Intro

Today is the last Sunday of Epiphany, the season of Christ being revealed to the world. When one encounters God, what happens? If it is a true encounter with Him, we are changed.

Our readings today center around being transfigured, or transformed, by the majesty, power, and glory of God.

The Greek word μεταμορφόω [oh]= “to change in a manner visible to others; to be changed in outward appearance or expression as manifesting a change in nature or essence.” This verb refers to a radical transformation.

Elijah is transformed from a simple apprentice to a prophet of God in his own right. The heavens and the earth visibly change and respond to the very presence of God. In the gospel of Mark, while the nature of Jesus did not change (he was always God from before eternity), his outward appearance was transformed in accordance with his divine nature.

When someone encounters God, when one truly engages the truth of the gospel, there will be, there must be, change.

False Gospel

In 2 Corinthians, Paul is writing to the Church in Corinth after a band of false teachers have begun leading people astray with a false gospel. In 2 Corinthians 11:5; 12:11 Paul refers to these false teachers as “superapostles,” kind of a tongue-in-cheek. While we do not have the specific teachings of these superapostles, scholars believe that these false teachers taught a gospel of glory, one without suffering, compassion, humility. They sought authority, power, and money.

Paul provides several descriptions of himself which seem to be in contrast to these superapostles. Paul describes how he has to support himself, he is unskilled as a speaker, weak in body, etc. Paul is humble and meek. He is not self-serving or boastful of himself, but is a servant to the true gospel of Christ and boasts only Jesus Christ.

A false gospel points to the individual … to us. The true gospel points to the glory and majesty of God. Remember our readings … God transforms us. And this transformation leads us (and others) back to Him.