Scripture Passage
Mark 9:2-9
2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.
5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)
7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”
8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
Sermon Script
The event of today’s passage can seem BIZARRE and RANDOM. Jesus takes his closest disciples up a mountain. There, he transfigures before them. Mark describes his clothes becoming “dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them.” The disciples find Jesus speaking with Moses and Elijah – the two towering figures of the Old Testament. The disciples get scared, not knowing what to make of all this. Then they realize they are all alone with Jesus. After they come down from the mountain, Jesus tells them not to tell anyone what they saw until the resurrection takes place.
What are we to make of this particular story? We may find it difficult to understand it, just like the disciples did. It all seems too sudden and strange. I always find it difficult to preach this passage.
I believe that the key to understanding the significance of this event lies in the midpoint of the story. Let’s listen to verse 7 again.
Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”
Mark 9:7
The disciples hear God speaking to them about Jesus. Does this remind you of another story in the Gospel? Jesus hears almost identical words at his baptism.
Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
Mark 1:10, 11
Jesus hears the unexpected words while he witnesses the spectacular event of the Spirit descending on him like a dove. Yet it was important and necessary for Jesus to hear it. Why? Right afterwards, he was sent into the wilderness for 40 days. His faith was tested in the wilderness.
In that sense, what God said to the disciples about Jesus is not so random after all. God said it to them for a reason. The disciples weren’t doing all that well when they went up the mountain with Jesus.
Right before the transfiguration event, Jesus told the disciples that he was going to suffer and die, and rise again. Peter, especially, was upset by this. It didn’t make sense that the Messiah would have to go through it. It’s the opposite of what a Messiah would do! He rebuked Jesus for saying what he said. Jesus called Peter “Satan” because of it. Today’s event takes place six days after that incident.
Just as it was important and necessary for Jesus to hear from God who he was before his testing in the wilderness, the disciples needed to hear who Jesus is before they experienced the wilderness of their own faith after the event.
Today’s story is the major turning point in the Gospel. After this, Jesus stops performing miracles and acts of power. He quietly makes his journey to the cross. The disciples also go on to face all sorts of challenges. They often experience doubt, helplessness, and powerlessness.
The transfiguration event was God’s way of preparing the disciples for what was to come. It was God’s way of assuring them that no matter what happens, he would raise up Jesus in glory. God assured them that they could trust in Jesus after all. That’s why he said at the end, “Listen to him!”
In our own journey, we encounter unexpected, spiritual moments that are real, yet seem random and hard to understand. We experience God’s presence in a real and significant way. We often have these at retreats. We sometimes have these in our everyday life. We don’t know what caused it to happen. Yet, they leave a lasting impression on us.
God grants us these unexpected moments of grace for a reason. God does it to remind us that he is with us. God does it so that we can trust in him when difficult times come. God does it to help us continue walking our journey faithfully.
This doesn’t mean that we will never fall or stumble afterwards. We may find ourselves turning back to our old ways and habits. We may feel like our faith didn’t get any stronger.
The disciples didn’t change dramatically after coming back down from the mountain. Later, they deserted Jesus out of fear. Peter denied Jesus three times.
However, no matter how many times we fall or stumble, the moments of grace we experience will ultimately keep us anchored all throughout our life. They will teach us to depend on God’s power more and more.
Look at Peter. He eventually became the rock on which Jesus built his church. He lived tirelessly and passionately for God. No matter what he went through, he never forgot what he saw, heard and experienced about Jesus on the mountain that day. Years later, he quoted the exact words God spoke in his letter—
He [Jesus] received honour and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.
2 Peter 1:17, 18
This week, we begin our journey into Lent. Lent is a season of 40 days that culminates with the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection on Easter. But the journey toward the joy and celebration consists of a path marked by pain and suffering. That’s why in some Christian circles, they call Lent a season of “bright sadness.”
As we journey through Lent, let us be more attentive to the unexpected moments of grace that God blesses us with in our lives. On Fridays, we are going to look at how we can become more mindful of God’s presence in our daily life. Starting next Sunday, we are going to focus on the month’s theme of Spiritual Practices.
Let us remember that no matter how dark, mundane and discouraging things might get, God is still with us and will shine his light and glory in the end.
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