Sunday before Lent
Collect
Almighty Father, whose Son was revealed in majesty before he suffered death upon the cross: Give us grace to perceive his glory, that we may be strengthened to suffer with him and be changed into his likeness, from glory to glory; who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Matthew 17: 1-9
After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.
3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
Two transfigurations?
The gospel story of the Transfiguration in Matthew 17 provides many opportunities for exposition.
17:2 has parallels with Exodus 34:29, when Moses returns from talking with the Lord, his face radiant with the light he has seen with his own eyes – God’s real presence becoming visible.
In 17:3, we could discuss the link between Old and New Testaments – the fulfilment of the Law given to Moses, and the promise of a Redeemer as prophesised by Elijah, being filled by the Messiah.
In 17:4, Peter’s all too human response is a request for permanence, a desire to hold on to the Mountaintop experience for ever.
In 17:5&6, God commands an acceptance of Jesus’ authority with such power that the disciples are terrified.
17:7 records Jesus’ encouragement that they should not be afraid but inspired them and reassures them to be fearless in the events that are to happen – that His power will overcome the world.
In 17:8, short as the experience might be, it will be burnt into their memory and they too will carry the reflected light with them in their future ministries.
In later years Paul will describe his own personal experience of meeting Christ in 2 Corinthians 3:18 – And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory
In all of this, the Transfiguration – when Jesus the human is recognised as divine – is often described as the meeting place of the temporal and the eternal. But let me suggest that our interpretation of this massive, life shattering meeting might sometimes get it the wrong way round.
Perhaps the Mountaintop Transfiguration – the metamorphosis, the change – is actually in the believer’s eyes as, for the first time, they see the changeless Jesus as he is, was before the world was made, and will be when the New Jerusalem descends; His Earthly Transfiguration having happened at the moment of incarnation, when the divine became a human being.
Malachi 3:8 – He changeth not. Rather, it is in our belief that we, with unveiled faces, are changed forever. Perhaps, when we pray, we need to remember it is the Jesus on the Mountain to whom we address our prayers, the one whose face shines like the sun and transfigures our faces as we radiate in His light.
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus (Church Online) – Hillsong Worship
Previous Posts
Praying Together 11th June 2023
Faith is to know that however cold the winter, however dark the night, a new Spring morning will flood creation with light and warmth.
Praying Together 28th May 2023
Who does God send to tell the World?
You.
Praying Together 21st May 2023
People ask how to discern truth from the well-crafted lies of the enemy. Protected by His promise, the answer is simple. In prayer, just ask whether you can see Jesus in their words and deeds.
Praying Together 14th May 2023
We too are challenged to live as disciples. We have the benefit of scripture and history. We know that the story will end with Christ victorious.
Praying Together 7th May 2023
He is the Way. On our journey, there will be signposts that will ensure we keep to the path. Prayer. Scripture. Worship. Spiritual guides. He walks alongside – even if sometimes we don’t recognise Him.
Praying Together 30th April 2023
Jesus uses the metaphor of the sheep and the shepherd to describe the relationship between leaders and the people they lead.
Praying Together 23rd April 2023
He comes to us in so many ways in order that we may see Him.. In creation. In forgiveness. In salvation. In love. In new life. All these free gifts of grace – but it is up to us to choose to see them, with every one of our senses.
Praying Together 16th April 2023
However it may happen, when we see Him, we proclaim Him in the same words as Thomas – ‘My Lord and my God’ and award Him our trust. Forever.
Praying Together Easter Day 9 April 2023
The only way that we know that the victory over death is permanently won is if we accept that the tomb is empty.
Praying Together 2nd April 2023
And just as the donkey is a figure at the beginning of the Gospel story, so a donkey is present at its end.
Praying Together 26th March 2023
We have to ask ourselves if, like Thomas, we are prepared to follow Jesus at whatever cost
Praying Together 19th March 2023
Perhaps, then instead of just giving chocolate and flowers on Mothering Sunday, we might resolve to offer love in return throughout every day of the year