MT 17: 1-9 

Matthew in the Margins…The Transfiguration of Our Lord…Revised 2020

Paradoxically, is the key to preaching Our Lord’s Transfiguration bringing it down to earth for today’s hearers? What does it mean for us today that Jesus is transfigured ‘up there’, ‘back then’? 

 Jesus’ glowing goes one better than Moses when he comes down from the mountain after receiving the Commandments. Nor does Jesus have to strain to hear a ‘still small voice’ as Elijah does. Moses & Elijah both go through running away from God  phases. Jesus, on the other hand, comes up the mountain to face what God requires of Him. Anything Moses & Elijah can do, Jesus can do better. Because of Who He is! 

On the Holy Mount, Moses represents the Law, & Elijah the Prophets. Here, now, they 'pass the baton' to One who will carry it further than they ever could; far beyond both Law, & Prophets. True religion's always a matter of moving on. Spend too much time looking back, or looking up, may we find ourselves colliding with our present?

Does Jesus’ taking with Him Peter, James & John suggest He sees them as ‘leader-ship material? Who would we take with us on such an expedition, & why? Let’s not rubbish today's Peters who want to prolong great religious experiences. Isn’t it more important to come to terms with ourselves as God's ‘tent’? That today we house God's glory?

To go back to that mountain top, the apostles are scared stiff. The ‘fear of God’ isn't ‘in’ these days, but if we lose that sense of awe we all need, can we survive as a truly complete human being? 

The Transfiguration confirms Jesus' self-understanding of Who He is, & points the apostles in the same direction. While we're ‘up there’ with Jesus & co. it's timely to remind ourselves that genuine religious experiences point to God at ground level too. Religious highs that are no more than that, can't prepare us for the journey either up or down the mount; nor for whatever we must face at the bottom. For Jesus, the Apostles, & for us, the Transfiguration is a rallying call to, & an equipping for, the on-going, earthed, hard slog of true Messiahship & Servanthood. 

Brian 

Afterthought: Long years ago I climb a small mountain in central Victoria. I look out upon a forest of trees & a river - a splendid sight - & I could have stayed up there for ever. Reality, though, meant I had to come down. Reality also means I have kept that experience within me ever since. In a sense, Transfiguring me still!