In the name of Jesus.

Six days had gone by.  Peter made his great confession “Jesus you are not John the Baptist reincarnate, Elijah, or one of the prophets, “You are the Christ” (Mark 8), the anointed one, the one who comes from the Father to deliver Israel from slavery just as Moses delivered Israel from Egypt.

Six days had gone by.  Jesus began teaching His disciples, that the son of man, really the son of Mary, out of divine necessity was” to suffer many things at the hands of the elders, and the chief priests and the scribes, and to be slain but after the third day He would be raised from the dead.” (Mark 8:31)

Six days had gone by.  Jesus selected three of His disciples, “Peter, James , and John and went with them onto the highest mountain on their own” (Mark 9:2).

You know, great things happen on mountains.  Moses was up on Mount Horeb when God appeared in a burning bush.  There was another epiphany for Moses when God came down upon Mount Sinai in cloud and majesty—there He gave Moses the Law twice.  Elijah was up on the Mount Carmel when he shamed the prophets of Baal by calling down heavenly fire upon a sacrifice, and he was despondent—there God revealed Himself to Elijah on Mount Horeb not in an earthquake or the mighty rush of winds, but in a gentle whisper.

And now, here, the Son of God is transfigured before Peter, James and  John.  Here on the mountain six days after Jesus revealed the plan for salvation, they catch a glimpse of the glory of God.  Mark is without words to describe the event, noting that the effect of the metamorphosis is even better than no name or name brand bleach “and the clothing of His became dazzlingly white, such that one who bleaches clothing upon the earth is not able in this way to whiten it.”

This is not like the glowing face of Moses that was hidden by a veil, for Moses was merely reflecting the radiance of God’s glory.  Here Jesus radiates the glory that the only begotten Son of God had from the beginning for He is God of God, and light of light.  His radiance is not shrouded by a piece of cloth, but instead the human flesh that He took on in His mother’s womb.

Then, Peter, James and John see standing there with Him Elijah and Moses having a conversation with Jesus.  This is like a little glimpse of heaven, that which our loved ones are already partaking in, an unending conversation with their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and Moses, and Elijah, and Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, even mum and dad, or brother Heinz, or even little Vivian.  This is but a foretaste of the blessed heavenly communion to come.

Yet, the words that Moses, Elijah, and the Christ partake in would be distressing for anyone, for they are talking of the work that Christ must go to accomplish, that which He has already begun teaching about.

Six days had gone by, but they did not understand, and then being afraid out of his mind, Peter says “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here, so also let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah” (Mark 9:5).

Then from the cloud, the voice that spoke on Mounts Horeb, Sinia, and Carmel speaks.  He speaks just as He did at Jesus’ baptism.  God the Father speaks and says “This one is the Son of mine—my beloved—Listen to Him!”

And so they did, and so we do.  “Listen to Him.”  He speaks to us saying “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind, and love your neighbours as yourselves.  Remove the log from your own eye before you remove the speck from your neighbour’s.  Be you perfect as I am perfect.”

“Listen to Him.”  He speaks to us “I did not come to abolish the Law, I came to fulfill it.”  The words of the Law given from the mouth of our Father to Moses on Sinai and then reinforced by the mouth of our Lord are fulfilled.  “Listen to Him” for He says “I did not come to abolish the Law, I came to fulfill it—in my life and death, in my resurrection on the third day, now the Law is fulfilled, and my righteous blood shed on the cross cleanses you from all your guilt and shame because of your failure to fulfill the Law.”

“Listen to Him.”  He says “I will not fail you, for you are my beloved.  I will not forget you, I will bring you home.  Your day will come just as mine did.  You too shall carry a cross in this life, you too shall feel the cold grave, but then there is the warmth of the morning and the rising of the sun on Easter day.” 

“Listen to Him.” He says “Are not Moses and Elijah with Me already.  They are your people, you will see them soon.  Though you cannot see them now, they are all around you.  Soon you will sing with them and all the hosts of heaven “Holy, Holy, Holy.”  Today you will sit down with them at the festive table to partake in the foretaste of the feast to come.  This is food and drink to forgive your sins and give you strength for the journey ahead; a journey on which I accompany you and  carry you.  You are my beloved, I shall never leave you alone.”

“And then suddenly they looked up and no longer did they see anyone except Jesus alone with them.” (Mark 9:8).

Amen.