Matt 17:1-9 for Sunday, February 3, 2008

Translation:
(1)And after six days, Jesus took Peter and James and John, his brother, and he broght them up to a high mountain by themselves. (2)And he was transformed before them and his face shone as the sun and his garment was brilliant as the light. (3)Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, speaking with him. (4)Peter responded to Jesus saying, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you desire, I will make here three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah." (5)While he was still talking, suddenly a cloud full of light overshadowed them and suddenly a voice from the cloud said, "This is my son, the beloved, in whom I am pleased. Listen to him." (6)And when the disciples heard this, they fell upon their faces and they were very afraid. (7)Jesus came and touching them he said, "Get up and do not be afraid." (8)And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one except Jesus himself, alone. (9)And going down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them , saying "You may tell no one about the vision until the son of man has been raised from the dead."

This scripture, commonly called "The Transfiguration" is filled with references to Judaism. It all makes sense, if you consider that Matthew was probably writing to an audience of Jews who became Christians probably around 80 or 90 CE. This caused a schism in Judaism, where some Jews felt that Jesus was the Messiah and some did not. Since Matthew was writing to a group of Jews who did believe in Christ, it makes sense that he would want to portray Jesus as continuous with their Jewish roots.

Let's review some of the things Jewish readers would surely notice. Ascending the mountain is a reminder of Moses, who ascended Mt. Horeb to receive the Ten Commandments from God. Moreover, when Jesus and the disciples reach the top of the mountain, Jesus is transformed so that his face shines and even his clothes shine with bright light. Moses had a similar experience when as he came down from his mountain-top visit with God. And then Jesus appears to be conversing with Moses and Elijah, both major figures in Jewish history, responsible for carrying the promises of God forward. Both Moses and Elijah were considered to be transcendent figures, or persons who did not actually die but were taken directly to heaven by God.

After witnessing this, Peter suggests that they stay on the mountain with Moses and Elijah. He is excited and filled to the brim with the Holy Spirit. Who would want to leave? And, in his typically Jewish way, he suggests building tents, or tabernacles, as Jews do during the Festival of Booths. Some first century Jewish traditions associated the future reign of the kingdom of God with the Festival of Booths.

But just then a cloud of light comes over them! What an oxymoron! Imagine a cloud of light that is so bright that everything else seems dark. In my imagination, that is what I think they experienced. God also appeared in a cloud to Moses. The voice from the cloud speaks the same words as were heard at Jesus' baptism (Matt. 3). This whole experience was enough to bring the disciples to their knees, bowing down in fear. When they rise again, everything is back to normal. Just as it was before.

The story of the Transfiguration is very exciting to me. It is proof positive that Jesus was more than a healer or miracle worker. It proves that Jesus is part of a larger history and a bigger story. It reminds me that God's story goes back many hundreds of years and that God's work in Jesus is part of this larger work. It impresses me all the more that God would send his only son to be our savior, because I am reminded that God has an intimate knowledge of his people, a long history with these people. God knows well the shortcomings of human creatures. God knows first hand how things can go very wrong. And still, God was willing to send his only son to die on a cross so that our sins could be forgiven. Astounding!