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09/03/06 Tres Messiahs (Rev. Russell Rathbun)
Scripture Reading - Mark 9:2-13
The Transfiguration
What is happening here in this story? What is it all about?
The plain meaning I guess is that God revels the true nature of who
Jesus is to a select group of his disciples, Peter, James and
John.
God does this by showing Jesus’ clothes becoming dazzling white—the
text says, “Such as no one on earth could bleach them.” An
unearthly white, I guess.
God has Moses and Elijah appear with Jesus. This part—I don’t
really get. I mean I get why Moses and Elijah would appear with
Jesus—and hopefully I will get to that later—what I don’t get is the
way they are presented.
The text says, “and there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus.”
It seems a little bit casual to me. I mean, don’t know how
transfigurations are supposed to work. I am not really that
familiar with that many other transfigurations. I like the
dazzling unearthly white—you know the clothes transforming, starting to
glow.
And then I can totally see Elijah and Moses appearing—the concept is
good—but you know maybe they kind of fade in out of thin air on either
side of Jesus. Or wait, better there is a lightening flash and
there is Elijah and Moses just standing there looking like stern and
powerful and other worldly.
And then I say just move on to the next part—you
know pacing is key. God right the part where the cloud
overshadows them and A voice from the cloud, presumably God, very nice,
says, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!”
Bam! That is it—perfect transfiguration scene. That is all
you need. But this one we have here, as it’s written has
interruptions in it—interruptions to the all-important flow. It
is kind of bumbl-y, fumbl-y, not well polished. Kind of
untransfigury if you ask me. To casual.
“And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus.”
That is not a strong entrance. All of a sudden they are just
there talking with Jesus! What could Elijah and Moses and Jesus
have to talk about that is so important that it can’t wait till after
the transfiguration?
I mean, really, what are they talking about? Are they catching up?
Like, “Jesus, we haven’t seen you since the incarnation, how’s it going
down here—and Jesus is like, “well pretty good—I’m not gonna say there
aren’t some problems. Hey were there as many demons around when
you where here? Every time I turn around…but enough about
me…how’s it going up there—how’s my dad?
Oh really good, he said it was gonna try and stop by.”
Or are they doing official business? Is there
something that Elijah and Moses know, that Jesus needs to know? The
Rabbi’s talk about Moses and Elijah as The to great saviors of Israel.
Moses was the first savior. He Saved Israel from Pharaoh
delivered the nation out of Egypt and brought the law. And Elijah
is supposed to be the last Savior—it is written that he will come at
the end of time to save the people and put everything it it’s right
order.
So is it kind of a savior-to-savior talk?
It could just be to impress Peter, James and John—So
you know it is not just that Moses and Elijah appear with Jesus—Jesus
actually knows them. Jesus is saying to Moses, “Are they
looking? Are they looking? Ok pretend your talking to me like
were old pals and I just said something really funny.” And Elijah and
Moses go, “ha, ha, ha, ha,” and slap Jesus on the back give him a
playful punch in the shoulder.
And then what happens next is kind of
unbelievable. Here you have Moses and Elijah, the two great
figures in history together, representing the Law and the Prophets
Appearing out of no were and they are Talking to Jesus---And Peter
interrupts them!
I mean where do you get that kind of nerve?
The text then adds, by way of explanation—He did not
know what to say, for they were terrified. Well, yeah that is
understandable—it could be a very frightening situation—but if your
scared and you don’t know what do say—keep your mouth shut. Know
one was really expecting Peter to have really anything to add to a
conversation between Elijah, Moses and Jesus.
But, Peter’s like, uh excuse me, uh Jesus.
Peter is like the George Cast Anza of first century
Palestine, “Rabbi,” he says, “It is really good for us to be here,
lemme tell you what I think we should do, why don’t we make three
dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah—then you
can sit down relax—be a little bit more comfortable while your talking.
Jesus should be, like, Peter what are taking
about? Can’t you see I’m trying to have a conversation—um, Peter,
this is Moses, Moses Peter, Elijah, Elijah, Peter—Ok now could you give
us a few minutes?
But Jesus doesn’t say that,
He doesn’t say anything. God does. Just then the cloud
overshadows them and the voice says, “This is my Son, the Beloved;
listen to him” Now I don’t know if this is in direct response to
Peter’s babbling interruption.
You know when God tells you to shut up and listen—you really should.
And that’s it. That’s then end of the transfiguration—the cloud
clears away Just Jesus is left—Elijah and Moses are gone—and they head
down the mountain.
Was there supposed to be more and Peter messed it
up? When he interrupted and started going on, did god just
say—for get it—he just cuts to the chase—this is my son, the Beloved;
listen to him?
What is really messed up is What Peter and the
Disciples do in the rest of the story—This was supposed to answer all
there questions about who Jesus was—You’d think this moment on the
mountain top would be all anybody would ever need to have the most
unshakeable, unquestionable loyalty and faith. I mean God told
Peter, James and John directly in the presence of Elijah and Moses that
Jesus was the beloved Son of God.
But this did not solidify their faith—Peter, James and John don’t seem to listen to what Jesus tells them.
When Jesus explains that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye
of a needle than for a rich man to ender the kingdom of heaven—Peter
becomes so disheartened he says, “well, then how can anyone be save?”
Jesus tells him all things are possible for God (who Peter just met),
Peter’s response is not only doubtful but almost accusatory, he says, “Look, we have left everything to follow you.”
A little later Jesus is telling them how he must
suffer and die—How he will be mocked and killed and then rise
again. James and John’s response is, Jesus we want you to do for
us what ever we ask you to do.”
Talk about not listening!
On the way down the mountain Jesus tells them not to tell anyone what they have seen until after he is raised from the dead.
We don’t know if they did tell anyone after he was raised from the
dead—because in Marks Gospel by the time Jesus is raised from the dead
they are all gone—left, run away.
What kind of faith is that?
It is possible that I am misreading this story. That it might not
be about God reveling to them Jesus true nature to solidify there
faith. And it is possible that I am misunderstanding what faith
is. Maybe it is not about Surety and life long conviction as the
result of over whelming revelation or understanding.
Maybe Jesus just wanted them to go up the mountain with them because he
liked being with them. Maybe faith is more like precedence then
assent.
Maybe, Communion ritualizes God’s presence among us through Jesus and not our to unfailingly belief.
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