Glory in the Highest and the Lowest: Luke 9:28-43 - Transfiguration Sunday

 ²⁸Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. ²⁹And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. ³⁰Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. ³¹They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. ³²Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. ³³Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said. ³⁴While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. ³⁵Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” ³⁶When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.

  ³⁷On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. ³⁸Just then a man from the crowd shouted, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. ³⁹Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It convulses him until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. ⁴⁰I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.” ⁴¹Jesus answered, “You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” ⁴²While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. ^43aAnd all were astounded at the greatness of God. (NRSV)

Horseshoe Bend by Giuseppe Milo on flickr. CC BY 2.0

There’s a new extreme sport called “roofing”—and it has nothing to do with construction or shingles.

People (who obviously have no fear of heights) will climb to the top of the spires of the world’s highest skyscrapers, without climbing harnesses, safety gear, or permission.. They risk their lives for the thrill—but it’s the pictures that they’re after. In the world of social media, there’s a rule: “if you don’t have a picture, it didn’t happen. Those pictures are the ticket to fame and glory. 

But how do you preserve the “Kodak moment” if cameras haven’t been invented yet?

This was the situation in today’s Gospel for Peter, James, and John, the disciples of Jesus. He’s led them up onto a mountain. While Jesus prays, his clothes become dazzling white. Moses and Elijah appear and begin talking with him. Even after all the miracles and healings they had witnessed, this is the greatest revelation of Jesus’s divine glory. In this moment, there is not even a shred of doubt. Jesus is God’s Son. He is the messiah; everything he said about himself is true.

The three disciples are so mesmerized by what they see that they don’t even know what to say. 

Peter offers to build three tabernacles in honor of Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. This would’ve been the way to make this glorious moment last forever. They could bring their friends and family here, point to the shelters, and say “I was there!”

But just them, a mighty voice from heaven interrupts them and says, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” Then it’s all over. Moses and Elijah disappear. Jesus goes back down the mountain, and the three disciples end up not telling anyone about what they’d seen and heard.

When they return to the world below, they encounter an innocent child possessed by a demon. In the face of such horrific suffering, their faith falls apart. They are unable to heal him. They forget that they’d seen the glory of Jesus. They forget that Jesus had given them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out. Soon, their faith will fail spectacularly when Jesus is arrested and put on trial.

Here on the mount of Transfiguration, we witness the unraveling of the disciples’ high expectations. They thought they’d be following Jesus into glory, but they are actually following him to the cross. Here on the Mount of Transfiguration, we witness the unraveling of everything we want our messiah to be and to do for us.

Be honest—would you rather have a messiah who conquers death and evil with brute force, or one who conquers by taking it all upon himself? Do you prefer a messiah who eliminates all pain and suffering in your life, or one who dwells with you in all pain and suffering? Would you prefer it if Jesus saved you God’s way, or your way?  

Perhaps more people would believe in Jesus if he did everything we believe he should do. Ultimately, the cross of Jesus stands in opposition to everything you and I want a messiah for.

Why must we deny ourselves and take up our cross when life isn’t fair? Why did even Jesus have to die on the cross in the first place? Was not his death the biggest waste in history? 

But do you know what’s missing from a cross-less Christianity? Love—and not just any love,  it self-giving love, without conditions. Love expressed through compassion, forgiveness, and mercy. 

Even on the Mount of Transfiguration, the disciples didn’t really know Jesus or understand Jesus, despite all they’d seen him do, and all the times he saved them from deadly storms and certain death. I truly believe the boy Jesus freed from the demon and his father knew Jesus more fully than even his disciples. 

The disciples hit rock bottom when Judas betrays Jesus, Peter denies Jesus, and the rest of the disciples desert Jesus as he is arrested and crucified. It is there, in the aftermath of their failure and the complete devastation of their faith, that Jesus appears to them. He affirms his love for them. He gives resurrection to their faith. He gives them the great commission to make disciples of all nations. And they do, by the power of the Holy Spirit.

You cannot rise in Christ until you die with Christ. Jesus leads you to the cross, to where no one wants to go, because the only way for you to die to sin is to die to self. Jesus follows you to the deepest and darkest places you never want to go, for only there can you know the heights and depths of his love. Jesus reveals his glory not in the absence of pain and suffering, but in the midst of it. Jesus saves you from it by dwelling in it with you. Regardless of whether you’ve sinned by your own most grievous fault, you’re being tossed about by evildoers, or you are lost in the valley of the shadow of death, Jesus shows up there to reveal his glory and deliver you. 

God’s graciousness to you is what empowers you to serve others in the depths of their suffering and shame. You understand God’s forgiveness by forgiving and asking forgiveness. Your experience of God’s compassion will only grow stronger as you show others that same compassion. Your stories of God’s faithfulness to you will inspire others in their faith, and their stories will inspire your faith. Your faith in Jesus will only grow stronger as you go out of your comfort zone, take risks to do good, and transcend your fears and self-limiting beliefs. 

Be prepared for Jesus to take you places you never thought you’d go, to do things you’ve never done. There you will see God’s glory shine. But know that it is in the depths and dark places of life where God’s grace is made perfect. Out of darkness God’s light shines; out of loss and death there is resurrection. In Christ, even your worst days will still be days full of grace because you walk with Jesus; but more importantly, because Jesus walks with you. In these dark and dreary days, trust that in Christ you are a new creation.