Lessons March 2, 2014

Seems I made hand written notes that last time I wrote about
Transfiguration Sunday. Bummer.

Enough about mountaintop experiences. Done to death.

The creators of our pericope have switched from Moses coming down off
Mount Sinai a second time with a shining face in Exo_34:29-35 to
Exo_24:12-18 which marks his trip up the mountain to spend an extended
period of time with the Lord. One has to wonder if the passage that
follows describing the exact dimensions of the tabernacle's appointments
was a topic of discussion between Moses and his God or just a convenient
place for King David's scribes to record that information for posterity.
What we do know is that Moses was absent long enough for the Israelites
to return to their idolatrous ways and build a golden idol in the form
of a bull calf, make sacrifice to it, and engage in a drunken feast and
orgy. In retaliation God had Moses command the Levites to kill 3000
Israelites. In the verses that precede today's lesson Moses asks to see
God but is told no man may do so and live so God passes by and lifts his
hand to allow Moses to see his behind or back. In today's lesson Moses
goes back up the mountain to receive the Ten Commandments a second time
after consecrating the Godly Covenant by sprinkling the people with
sacrificial Blood.

Psalm 2 adjures the rulers of nations to honour their God and the people
to pay heed to both their rulers and their God.

2Pe 1:17 We were there when he was given honor and glory by God the
Father, when the voice came to him from the Supreme Glory, saying, "This
is my own dear Son, with whom I am pleased!"

Versions of the Transfiguration story exist in Mark and Luke but for
some reason that in Matthew is preferred.

Mat 17:5 While he was talking, a shining cloud came over them, and a
voice from the cloud said, "This is my own dear Son, with whom I am
pleased---listen to him!"

What is the significance of this event and why is it so important to
Matthew? Matthew is at pains throughout his Gospel to show how Jesus and
his Ministry are a fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. Just as
Moses went up the mountain to meet with God and returned with shining
face and copies of the Law so Jesus face shines and he is seen talking
with a representative of the Law, Moses; and the prophets, Elijah.
Elijah we will remember was translated directly living to Heaven and
Moses was buried by the hand of God.

God claims Jesus on only a few occasions. When he appears to Mary's
cousin Elizabeth and again when his angel appeared to Mary and Joseph
before his birth. The claim is renewed on the night of his birth when
the angel appeared to the shepherds. Jesus hears it when the dove
appears above him at his baptism by John. And here Peter, James and
John. Finally the thief declares it during the crucifixion on Calvary.

Mat 17:9 As they came down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, "Don't
tell anyone about this vision you have seen until the Son of Man has
been raised from death."

It would seem the Disciples obeyed but the Godly dictum applies equally
to Jesus entire ministry. In the immediate aftermath of this event the
Disciples' main concern as recorded in Mark was,

Mar 9:10 They obeyed his order, but among themselves they started
discussing the matter, "What does this 'rising from death' mean?"

The true significance of the Transfiguration does not become apparent
until after the Resurrection and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit at
Pentecost.

As with all good Jews the disciples lived in expectation of a Messiah
and at the triumphant march into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday haled his
arrival. Judas was so put out by Jesus failure to act that he betrayed
him in part as a means of forcing his hand. It took the Resurrection and
Pentecost for the full realization of Jesus' Messiahship to dawn on his
Apostles.

Our church fathers have seen fit to move this observance from the middle
of the former Trinity Season in August to the end of Epiphany. It seems
obvious that they see this event as the ultimate epiphany. The sages
from the East came bearing gifts to honour he who was born King of the
Jews. Today God himself claims him as his own.