Fifth and Last Sunday after The Epiphany | Transfiguration Sunday

On the hillside of a dome-shaped ledge in lower Galilee facing the Valley of Jezreel some 11 miles southwest of the modern day city of Tiberias, Jesus is “transfigured.”  Literally it is a “metamorphosis.”  There, on Mount Tabor, which is the traditional site of His transformation, three disciples – Peter, John, and James – witness this seminal moment.  It is an awesome occasion as Moses, the guardian of the Law, and Elijah, the guardian of the Covenant, join Jesus in one of the grandest moments in His ministry.

Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-9, and Luke 9:28-36 narrate The Transfiguration.  Jesus makes the decision to go “up on the mountain to pray.  And while He was praying, the appearance of his face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming” (Luke 9:28b-29).  New Testament scholar Alan Culpepper notes that Luke stresses the power of prayer to mediate the presence of God.

The Gospels affirm that Jesus would often go to a “lonely” or “deserted” place to pray.  Sometimes He would go alone and at other times He took the inner circle of Peter, John, and James with Him.  In this particular scene the three fishermen of Zebedee’s Fishing Company are with Him; but they are overpowered by sleep.  The text suggests that Jesus, in His aloneness, prays and His prayer results in a change – a “metamorphosis.”

Whenever we pray we are changed.  The appearance of our faces may not be different and our clothing may remain the same, but change does take place.  If we aren’t changed, then perhaps we’ve not prayed.   Jesus’ practice enables us to connect in a lifetime of prayer that will make a difference, even if we don’t see it in this lifetime.  I’ve seen it happen in my years as a pastor – in my years as a Christian.  You have too.  Our praying, if in earnest, has dividends that may only be recognized in eternity.

At times, though, I’ve been more interested in living on the mountain in spiritual ecstasy as a result of being in prayer.  Too often I want only to experience the mount of transfiguration.  That is Peter’s desire.  He is so overwhelmed by the moment that he wants to change careers.  He wants to leave the fishing business and enter the construction trade, forming his own company, and build at least three houses, in the spirit of the Festival of Ingathering (Booths or Tabernacles):  one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah – the Big Three.  Is his desire to honor these three sages?  I’m sure it is, but I think he also wants to build a shrine to which he and others can return and experience that great moment again.

I’m like Peter in that I want to freeze the moment and memorialize the place.  In and of itself, there’s nothing wrong with that.  There are significant spiritual events that have happened in specific places that are dear to my heart and inspire my journey.  But faithfulness and obedience to only Jesus require me to be driven by a purpose, which is following Jesus to the cross and not freezing those spiritual moments and commemorating those spiritual places as if that’s all there is to the Christian life.  I have to eventually descend the mountain to the land below where the Faith is lived by denying self, taking up a cross, and following Jesus and Him alone.

God the Father speaks, instructing the three disciples to listen to His Son, Jesus, “…My Chosen… And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone” (vv. 35b-36a).  Jesus is found alone.  Moses and Elijah aren’t going to the cross with Him.   Peter, James, and John aren’t either.  He goes it alone.  And because He does, we don’t have to go it alone.  He goes with us.

When all is said and done, all we need is Jesus to make the journey.  Jesus is enough.

Phillips, Craig, and Dean sing “Jesus, Only Jesus.”  It is three minutes fifty-eight seconds.

Garden Lakes Baptist Church in Rome, GA declares the mighty deeds of God’s salvation in Christ at 8:45 a.m. in the Chapel and 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary this Transfiguration Sunday morning.  Bible Study is at 9:45 a.m. and there is a class for every age.  Holy Communion will be observed in both worship gatherings.  During the 11:00 a.m. gathering Audrey Ann Abbott will be confessing her faith in the waters of Baptism.  She’ll also receive her First Communion and assist me at The Lord’s Table.