Dearest e-votees-
We are to the other bookend of Epiphany--Transfiguration Sunday. The voice that speaks on the mountaintop to James, John, Peter, Moses, Elijah and Jesus echoes the words spoken at Jesus' baptism. Epiphany begins and ends with the spoken revelation of God's beloved Son Jesus.
Peace,
Karl
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2 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” 8 Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
Mark 2:2-9, NRSV
This account exemplifies a private revelation about God to the inner, inner circle. The four fishing partners less Andrew are brought up onto the mountain. They see Jesus take on an other worldly glow. They see Jesus talking to the exemplar of the Law (Moses) and the exemplar of the Prophets (Elijah). They find themselves awestruck as well as terrified. They are enveloped in a cloud and hear the voice from Jesus' baptism again. That was apparently the pinnacle moment as everything returns to normal just after that statement.
Jesus orders the three to tell no one about what they had seen until Jesus had risen from the dead. Apparently someone eventually told Mark. Presumably the story started circulating from these three after Jesus had risen from the dead.
This story is one part other-worldly bizarre, one part symbolic fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets and one part matching literary bookend to the baptism (which we conveniently use in the lectionary as our bookends to the season of Epiphany).
What purpose does this serve? Is it to bolster the nascent faith of the fishermen three? Is it to bolster Jesus' resolve as he enters more fully into his ministry? (Luke's account has Jesus discussing with the other luminaries his upcoming departure in Jerusalem aka the cross) Is it for our sake to help us deepen our faith and make connections between Jesus and the Old Testament? It is hard to know for sure.
One thing is sure, however. The voice that iterates and reiterates "This is my beloved son" would speak to us too. We have been adopted through baptism into renewed relationship and rebirth in Jesus. In faith we hear "This is my beloved daughter" or "This is my beloved son" as God continues to speak. Through the Son of Man rising from the dead we are transferred into the family of God. We need not be terrified of God's presence. We are joined into that presence through Jesus. Thanks be to God.
God, continue to reveal yourself in our lives. Bolster our faith, speak of your love to us and use us to proclaim Jesus crucified and risen that others might come to faith too. Amen.
We are to the other bookend of Epiphany--Transfiguration Sunday. The voice that speaks on the mountaintop to James, John, Peter, Moses, Elijah and Jesus echoes the words spoken at Jesus' baptism. Epiphany begins and ends with the spoken revelation of God's beloved Son Jesus.
Peace,
Karl
------------
2 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” 8 Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
This account exemplifies a private revelation about God to the inner, inner circle. The four fishing partners less Andrew are brought up onto the mountain. They see Jesus take on an other worldly glow. They see Jesus talking to the exemplar of the Law (Moses) and the exemplar of the Prophets (Elijah). They find themselves awestruck as well as terrified. They are enveloped in a cloud and hear the voice from Jesus' baptism again. That was apparently the pinnacle moment as everything returns to normal just after that statement.
Jesus orders the three to tell no one about what they had seen until Jesus had risen from the dead. Apparently someone eventually told Mark. Presumably the story started circulating from these three after Jesus had risen from the dead.
This story is one part other-worldly bizarre, one part symbolic fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets and one part matching literary bookend to the baptism (which we conveniently use in the lectionary as our bookends to the season of Epiphany).
What purpose does this serve? Is it to bolster the nascent faith of the fishermen three? Is it to bolster Jesus' resolve as he enters more fully into his ministry? (Luke's account has Jesus discussing with the other luminaries his upcoming departure in Jerusalem aka the cross) Is it for our sake to help us deepen our faith and make connections between Jesus and the Old Testament? It is hard to know for sure.
One thing is sure, however. The voice that iterates and reiterates "This is my beloved son" would speak to us too. We have been adopted through baptism into renewed relationship and rebirth in Jesus. In faith we hear "This is my beloved daughter" or "This is my beloved son" as God continues to speak. Through the Son of Man rising from the dead we are transferred into the family of God. We need not be terrified of God's presence. We are joined into that presence through Jesus. Thanks be to God.
God, continue to reveal yourself in our lives. Bolster our faith, speak of your love to us and use us to proclaim Jesus crucified and risen that others might come to faith too. Amen.
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