18th February 2012 Mark 9:2-13

The lectionary provides the same readings, apart from a few verses, for both today and tomorrow.  It's the transfiguration.  I'll discuss the first half today and the second half tomorrow.

The Transfiguration
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. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.  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.” (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)  Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”  Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.  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. 

They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.  And they asked him, “Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”  Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.”

Jesus was transfigured and was then accompanied by Moses, representing the law; and Elijah, the prophet.  Jesus spoke to these great leaders of the Jewish people; he was being shown as equal to them.  And then God told them to listen to Jesus; he was elevated above both the law and the prophets.

This is the crux of our faith; that Jesus is the replacement to the law and the prophets.  He was the new covenant with God, and he still is.

Jesus you are the son of God, the saviour of us all, thank you.  Lead us where you need, call us where you want, we will follow.  Amen