Third Sunday after the Epiphany

January 27, 2002

The Rev. Dr. David M. Wendel

Saint Luke’s, Colo. Spgs.

Exodus 24:12-18;  2 Peter 1:16-21;  St. Matthew 17:1-9

     And so, the season of Epiphany ends, as it began, with a wonderful, magnificent Light.  The season began with the light of the star, leading the Magi to the place of Jesus’ birth, where He was revealed to be the Light of the world, the Savior of the nations. The season ends, with Jesus, Himself, shining forth as that Light, as He was transfigured, in the presence of Peter, James and John, His face, shining like the sun, and His clothes becoming dazzling white.  As the season of Epiphany began, it was clear, liturgically, what was the point of the Festival of the Epiphany:  it initiated a season in which the lessons, each Sunday, would reveal something new about this Savior of Light, born at Bethlehem.  In a sense, the Light of the Star has been shining throughout this season, each week, manifesting something new and different about who Jesus is, and why He came.  But, what about this manifestation of Light, here at the end of the season of Epiphany?  How does this festival of the Transfiguration function, liturgically, in the church year, as we stand at the threshold of Lent?  The fact is, the festival functions in the church year, much the same as the day, functioned in the life of Jesus, and His disciples 2000 years ago.  Just as the Light of the Star, has shone throughout the season of Epiphany, the Light of Jesus, at the Transfiguration, is intended to shine throughout the season of Lent, just as the light of  Jesus, transfigured;  Jesus, shining like the sun, was meant to carry, Him, and His disciples, through their journey to Jerusalem, and finally, through the darkness and despair of His arrest, humiliation, suffering and death, on the cross.

     The meaning of this, glimpse of Jesus’ glory, is clear in the gospels, and serves a powerful purpose.  To this time in their life together, the disciples knew, relatively little about Jesus.  Except for that one time, at His baptism in the river Jordan, when  the Spirit descended as a dove, and the Father spoke from heaven, acknowledging and affirming Jesus, the rest of the time Jesus’ divinity, was cloaked in His humanity.  Yes, there were miracles and healings, exorcisms and acts of cleansing and restoration—but contrary to our time, in biblical times, these were not necessarily seen as supernatural.  Yes, they suggested that God’s power and authority were at work in Jesus, but there were others who were reputed to have done some of these same things.  That’s why there were constant questions about who Jesus was, and by what power and authority he was doing these things.  To the disciples, still, Jesus was a paradox, and a conundrum, all wrapped into one, mysterious, albeit spiritual, Godly man.  We know that the disciples themselves wrestled with who Jesus was, and what He was doing.  They never quite got it—and so, they were never quite so prepared, as they might have been, for what was coming.  And so, knowing what was coming, for Him, ultimately;  knowing that He and His disciples were heading to Jerusalem, where He would be crucified, as a sacrifice for the sins of the world—knowing this, and wanting them to be prepared, and strengthened--Jesus took His inner circle of disciples—Peter, James and John—the three closest to Him, and Jesus led them up a high mountain, where they would be by themselves.  And while they were there, Jesus was transfigured before them.  His divine Light and Glory, was revealed to them, together with an appearance by Moses and Elijah, confirming Him as the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets, and then, they were overshadowed by a bright cloud, and a voice from the cloud of God’s presence, spoke, saying, “This is my Son, the Beloved;  with Him I am well pleased;  listen to Him!”  And when the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground, overcome with fear.  And Jesus told them not to be afraid—to get up.  And as they looked, they saw Jesus, himself, alone.  No further light show, no fog and cloud, no visionary characters, no voice from heaven.  Just Jesus, himself, alone.  And Jesus makes plain, what this is all about, when He says, “Tell no one about the vision, until after the Son of Man, has been raised from the dead.”

     That, is what this transfiguration is all about, for Jesus, and for His first disciples.  It’s about giving them a glimpse of His glory to carry them through, what was to come.  It’s about God, the Father, affirming Jesus, so that He would be strengthened for what He was about to do.  It’s about Jesus, and the disciples, knowing that Jesus was here, now, to do all that had been foreshadowed, in Moses, and foretold, in Elijah and the prophets.  It was revealed to them, to Peter, James and John, on the mount of Transfiguration, just before Jesus set His face toward Jerusalem and the cross.  It would be revealed to the world, after Jesus had died on the cross, and been raised from death.  And the Transfiguration was to get Jesus, and His disciples, through.  It was to get them from the Transfiguration, to Easter Sunday.  And that’s what it’s intended to do, for us, as well.

     The celebration of Jesus’ transfiguration;  His light and His glory, are to give us the strength and courage, to leave the mountain-top of worship today, to enter the season of Lent, on Wednesday.  The celebration of the festival of the Transfiguration today, is intended to shine forward, into, what is sometimes seen as the darkness and drudgery of Lent.  To shine forward, so that Jesus’ light will lead us;  so that Jesus’ light will enlighten us;  so that Jesus’ light will go with us, as we face up to our own mortality on Ash Wednesday, as we struggle with our own sin, disobedience and brokenness during Lent, and as we walk, with Jesus, to the upper room on Maundy Thursday, and to the cross on Good Friday.  Indeed, the light of the Transfiguration will still be shining on us, when finally, we run with Mary Magdalene and Peter, in the early morning darkness, to the tomb on Easter…where the light of Jesus’ glory, revealed at the Transfiguration, will join with the light of His resurrection, to reveal once and for all—the fullness of who Jesus is, and why He came!  Not only to die, but to live!  Not only to walk with us in the darkness, but to bring us Light!  Not only to, himself, conquer sin, death and the devil—but to win the victory, for us, as well!  Not only to be crucified, but to be raised to new life, here, and hereafter.

     This week, we enter into a more somber, more reflective, more penitent season, that may at times, as we look at ourselves honestly, seem dark and dreary.  But as we enter the season of Lent, through the doorway that is Ash Wednesday, the Light of the Transfiguration, shines ahead of us.  The light of Jesus’ glory, goes with us.  The Light of Jesus, strengthens us, and emboldens us, and assures us—that at the end of this journey…is Easter Sunday.  Amen.