1. The Transfiguration

Today, the second Sunday of Lent, we read Mark chapter 9, well known passage as the scene of Jesus’ transfiguration.

The given scripture tells us ;- 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.(Mark 9:2-4)

But it is rather hard for us, modern humans, to believe that the description above reports literally what has really happened. Therefore biblical schoolers give different interpretations to it according to their scholastic views. Some say, ” The image is a vision of Jesus which reflects His glory after the Resurrection and the church justifies it as a faithful confession. Others think it was a real fact which was witnessed by Peter, then told to Mark, one of disciples.

As for us, members of the Baptist church, we accept it as an authentic event because Peter confirms it in one of his letters ;- for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. 18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers,(1 Peter :16-18)

At least one must admit the disciples had a certain mystical experience .

Now let us see the entire story by following events one after another. During preaching in Galilee Jesus heard the voice of God, which oriented Him to Jerusalem. The city was presumably very dangerous place because Pharisees and Law teachers there hated Jesus and might be seeking to kill him. Therefore Jesus went at first to the villages around Caesarea Philippi to prepare His mind for accepting trials ahead. He tried to make disciples too ready for that. Hence He predicted the passion, the Cross and the Resurrection ;- He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. (Mark 8:31)

But Peter didn’t understand His intention ;- He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.(Mark 8:32)

Jesus rebuked back Peter;- “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."(Mark 8:33) and gave directives to disciples ;- “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.(Mark 8:34)

But they didn’t grasp at that time what Jesus meant.

After six days Jesus led them up a high mountain. Jesus went up mountains, as Moses and Elijah had done, to get out of daily life and heard God’s voice. Even though recognizing His own identity as the Son of God sent on the earth, Jesus might not yet be completely sure that the death on the Cross was His destiny. given by God. So He might need to pray and ask God to confirm it there.

To that Jesus, Mark reports, Father God sent Moses and Elijah. Moses was the prohpet who lead Israelites out of Egypt and saved them from slavish status. Nonetheless the journey to the promised land was filled with trials. The people commenced to complain about shortage of water and food. They went so far as to prefer getting back to Egypt. Under such circumstances Moses Moses went up to God, and the LORD’s voice gave him there indications and encouragement ( cf. Exodus 15:22-19:25). When Elijah tried to dissuade Israelites from worshiping the idol which was brought in by a Phoenician queen, he fell in danger of being killed. At that time he went up a mountain to see God and to have God’s words. The Lord’s voice empowered him to continue fighting. (cf. 1 Kings 18-19) God’s might have sent those prophets as predecessors to encourage Jesus .

Mark develops the scene ;- Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!"(Mark 9:7)

I want to refer to the similar voice heard at the time of Jesus’ baptizement ;- And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."(Mark 1:11) Father God, who exhorted Jesus at the beginning of ministries, tried to empower him toward the way of the Passion till Jerusalem.

Mark continues;- Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. As they were coming down the mountain,(Mark 9:8-9)

Once God confirmed the will, there was no reason to stay there. Thus Jesus decided to go to Jerusalem, the venue of the Cross.

2. Disciples’ misunderstanding

Jesus’ disciples didn’t recognized the real meaning of the event. They were always thinking Jesus was the Messiah of earthy glory, not that of the Passion. As we saw before, when Jesus predicted the Passion Peter rebuked Him. Disciples followed Jesus because by believing He would become the king in Jerusalem, of which the result should allow them to have privileges as his supporters. Jesus gat an insight into that Peter’s mind and find there a shadow of Satin.

This time Peter took a similar reaction again ;- 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."(Mark 9:5)

He might intend to suggest they should stay there instead of going to Jerusalem, very dangerous place for Jesus.

Klaas Schilder*, a Netherlandish theologian and professor, called the passage ¡ÈSatan on the Mountain of Transfiguration¡É. Remaining in inertia by ignoring people’s sufferings is also an act of Satin. They should not have been satisfied with temporarily peaceful conditions. To those disciples God ordered “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

Peter wanted a tangible achievement by saying “Let us put up three shelters: Humans thinking has a tendency to seek earthy and concrete results. Like Peter, when we say “Let us found the church” it means very often material construction of church building. Indeed a hard construction ensures us a place of assemblies which might stabilize church members. Nonetheless a building itself is not the asme as founding church. The real objective of the church for christians is to get together and listen to God’s voice. So God orders us too “Listen to him!” And to listen to God is to obey God. For that very purpose we com to church.

3. Relationship in words of God

Today’s invocation verses are Philippians 4 : 6-7 ;-Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

At the last stewards meeting we chosen the slogan of this year ,” Relationship in God’s words”, which must represent well our aim of the year, ” To listen to God’s words.”

The epistle of Philippians was written by Paul from a prison in Roman . To console the prisoner , believers in Philippi had offered Paul gifts. He wrote this letter to show his gratefulness to them. However he didn’t hesitate to give them advises concerning certain conflicts occurred in the church. The verses 4:2-3, which precede today’s invocation verses reveal that ;- I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow,help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

It seems there were disagreements between two women, Euodia and Syntiche. Paul asks two concerning persons to reconcile with each other and church members to mediate between them. His message tells us that we must admit existence of disagreements even inside the church. And, in case of occurrence a case, we should talk about it openly and, to resolve the problem, try to guess together God’s will .

Why do such undesirable matters happen in the church ? Because we give priority to our human feelings instead of to God’s will. But Christ died in order that we arrive to reconcile with God. His death allowed us to restore a relation with God as it should be. Therefore we must be able to reconcile with other humans. If not, we are always out of the righteous relationship with God. Paul says the problem of human relationship can be solved not individually but through collective efforts of the entire church, because it is the matter of faith.

In fact, our daily life is not always filled with joy. We experience sometimes disappointments and dismays . Nevertheless we as christians must arrive to find happiness all time. Paul insist on it by saying “Do not be anxious about anything. The peace of God will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Those who had met Christ knew that we are made righteous even without righteousness in ourself. That is thanks to Christ’s death on the Cross. Thus we will abandon our earthy proud. Such an attitude should delete disputes and quarrels. To listen to God’s words signifies to give the priority to God’s will regardless of our human feelings.

Life is short and we see the goal. So much so Paul compel us ;- Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Colossians 3:13)

Our ruptures with others signify that with God’s. If you are in harmony with God you should be the same with neighbors. We can’t change neighbors’ nature but we can change ourselves. Once we open our mind to them they should be the same us us. That must be the very moment to recognize that ” God’s peace prevailing over human wisdom.” We get together every Sunday as if we go up mountain, free from daily activities. Then we meet God, listen to divine words and, more empowered than before, get back to secular world. “Relationship in God’s words” is given for us as the wonderful slogan of this year !!

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references
* Klaas Schilder http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klaas_Schilder
¡ÈSatan on the Mountain of Transfiguration¡É http://www.the-highway.com/articleJuly03.html