Transfiguration!

Sermon 19^th Feburary 2012 (Transfiguration)

2 Kings 2:1-12, 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 & Mark 9:2-9

+ In the name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen.

I’m pretty sure that if, after this morning’s service we decided to go on a parish hike up Ditchling Beacon, and upon reaching the top Fr Andrew suddenly started to glow brightly with some kind of unearthly light and standing by his side are two great patriarchs from the Old Testament, we would probably be a little surprised! In fact we would probably be wondering what had been slipped into our after church coffee!

Today’s gospel reading presents us with this amazing image of Jesus at the top of a mountain with just three of his disciples. It tells us of his Transfiguration, and like so many familiar stories from the Bible, it is a story that many of us may have known from childhood, and thought perhaps it was perhaps a little too fantastical. The Transfiguration is spoken of in all three of the synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke in pretty much the same way. In all three gospels it is sandwiched between accounts of Jesus predicting his own upcoming death and resurrection, something which, as the weeks go on the church will itself observe. It is a feast that is more fully observed in August, but in a way it is quite fitting that we consider it now, in the window between Epiphany and Lent, During Epiphany the Magi are guided by the light as they journey to pay homage to the infant Jesus, they being the very few at that time who recognised his true significance. And as we prepare to begin Lent in just a few days time we become more mindful of our own failings and our own need to be guided by the Light.

 And what happens on that mountain is by anybody’s standards one of the strangest, and certainly for the disciples, most unexpected events that we see recorded in the gospels. Jesus is completely transformed right before their eyes. The disciples get a glimpse of Jesus in his real glory. From being a man of flesh and blood his appearance suddenly changes in a way that completely terrifies his three companions! Matthew and Luke’s account of what happens is even more descriptive than what we read here in Mark’s gospel. Jesus’ whole appearance becomes enveloped in such a dazzling light that those with him can only stand and gaze in wonder. It is perhaps one of the strangest miracle accounts we read of in the New Testament. Most miracles show Jesus reaching out to others in some way and meeting their needs, very often by healing them. This time though, the focus is all on him! Peter, James and John stand there absolutely gobsmacked at what they see happening before them!

Standing there on that mountain they receive confirmation that Jesus is the Son of God. Mountains are places that are often used, especially in the Old Testament, where people meet with God. I think it is safe to say that it must have been one of the most terrifying moments of their lives. To actually be standing in the very presence of the Son of God as they suddenly now realise exactly who Jesus is. Peter’s very human reaction is to not want this experience to end, to somehow prolong it. He offers to build three dwellings, one each for Jesus, Elijah and Moses. He wants to somehow hold on and box up this glorious vision of Christ.

Maybe at times we can be rather like Peter, the same Peter who later in the gospels was to deny even knowing Jesus. Would we want to keep hold of Jesus in all his glory? Would we want to prolong the experience? Or would we understand that this revelation on the mountain-top was merely a foretaste of what was to come, but once they come down from that mountain there was much work still to be done.

It is tempting I suppose, to think of this as just one rather strange story about Jesus that serves only to show his “otherness”, in contrast to the many stories we have of him connecting with the everyday lives of people. This is a story that seems to set him apart from people, both physically in the sense that he went up the mountain with only a few followers, and also spiritually as what occurred there was so far beyond the understanding of mere human experience. When Jesus arrived at the mountain top his figure changed and the outside of him, which had been ordinary and like us, shone as if he was not like one of us. Yet in many ways he was more like us than we can ever imagine. In him was the fullness of what it was to be fully human as well as divine.

It is helpful to remind ourselves as we approach Lent that as Jesus stood there resplendent in glory he knew full well what lay ahead of him. As I have already mentioned, prior to his transfiguration he has already predicted his own death. There was going to be no easy ride for him from that mountain-top. The road ahead for him was not one that was paved with the trappings of a king. It was a road that was to lead him to a place of absolute desolation. Yet, for this one brief moment on that mountain-top we get a glimpse of what lies beyond the path that he had to walk. We, along with Peter, James and John see him in all his glory!

The reading from Second Corinthians also points us towards a vision of that future glory, of Jesus as the very image of God. And of illuminating our hearts with his light. A light that is to shine through the darkness. Our very being is to proclaim the one who shone with such radiance upon that mountain. To allow him to shine through us, as faulty and as broken as we very often are. We proclaim Christ not only with our words, but with our lives and with our service to our fellow men and women.

As we begin our Lenten journey in just a few days time, let us take time to reflect upon our Lord, who although he was in full resplendence upon the mountain, came down to walk through the darkness of the wilderness with us. May he illumine our own walk as well as that of others, and may we journey with one another in the hope that one day we too shall see him in all his glory.

+ In the name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

AMEN