Sunday 19 February 2012

19th February 2012 Mark 9:2-9

The lectionary provides the same readings, apart from a few verses, for both yesterday and today.  It's the transfiguration.  I looked at the first half yesterday, today we reflect on the second half.

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.


The impact on the disciples would have been huge when they heard
"This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him".  But the words also spoke to Jesus, they told him of his ministry and his leadership of all people.  They were an instruction to make people listen to him.

But then Jesus told the disciples not to speak of it.  Why was that? Surely it should be shouted from the hilltops. This speaks of the fact that the miraculous and the words were not just for Jesus and the disciples, they were a message for the future, to be retold forever.

Father, you told Jesus to speak and be heard, and the disciples to listen; we are also disciples and therefore today we hear to listen to your word as well.  As we read your word we ask for your message to be clear to us individually.  Amen

No comments: