03/16/2025
Sunday Worship Manuscript due to a dialogue taking place as part of the message.
1st Reading: Philippians 3:12-4:1 – a bullet point introduction to the words of Paul this morning includes these thoughts, including his “I’m not there yet.”
• Take every opportunity to serve God & become the best person you can be.
• We need to set our minds on Christ not solely the pursuits of this world.
• We need to keep our eyes on Christ, and remember that this world is not our home.
2nd Reading: Luke 9:28-36 – This narrative follows Jesus’ earlier words as he spoke to his own death. As our reading begins, we find ourselves headed up the mountain with our Savior who is followed by Peter, James, and John.
We might like to think that had we walked with our Savior, we would have had more discernment about what was taking place during those three years he walked among us. We might like to think that we would perhaps have been more aware, or more “theologically in tune” to the fact that God was walking with men and women, communing, and sharing meals; sharing of himself as he had done in the Garden of Eden. But then reality would win out, and we all know that would not have been the case. We would have been grasping at straws trying to understand this mountaintop encounter just like the disciples.
So, today, we will eavesdrop on James and John as they talk about their experience on that particular day, and struggle with their own understanding of the situation. Maybe they are gathered with a group of fishermen friends down by the lake. Or perhaps checking in on Peter’s mother-in-law after her illness. What group of friends or family comes to your mind, who are they with, as they share their encounter? Maybe Mary, Martha, and Lazarus? Allow yourselves to enter that place/space in your own mind as we listen to a conversation among friends.
James I thought this was it, the beginning of the end. Yesterday I thought the kingdom was at hand.
John I have to agree. When the Master led us off yesterday, just the three of us, up the mountain, I couldn’t help wondering what was going on. Honestly, I wondered if Peter had said something again. Or even if one of us had put his big foot in his own mouth. You’d think we’d learn, the Master does not like those questions about rank, privilege and status. He likes it even less when we condemn some opposing group or individual. I have never understood that “love your enemies’ stuff.”
James I even wondered if there was some project on his mind that required some advice, or conversation w/ just a few of us; and he chose us three. That he trusted us with whatever he was thinking.
John Well my mind was racing as we climbed the mountain that day. I think wea all wondered what was going on. By the time we reached the top, it was already getting close to evening. The sun was casting longer shadows with all those unusual rays of light you sometimes get right before sunset.
Jame Then I remember as he turned around, the sunlight appeared to gather at this back and flame right out. It didn’t go past him anymore, but it seemed to shine through Him. It looked like his clothing was on fire. The light was so clean and pure it almost hurt to look at it.
John And did you notice, the light changed too? It wasn’t the colors of the sunset anymore; gold or red; but shining, glistening white all through and through. It made me think of the prophet’s words, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”
James At first, I thought it was a trick of nature. Some illusion cast by the sunset and the shadows. Something brought about by the thin air of the mountain.
John Then we began to hear voices, two voices, that seemed to be speaking with knowledge and wisdom. Both of them were talking with the Master, but we couldn’t catch much, and it was hard to understand.
James Then we saw them. Their outlines sparkled. We assumed they were angels. Then of all people. it was Peter who recognized them.
John I think something Jesus said must have given him the clue. How else would he have known that one was Moses and the other one Elijah? And even adding that they’ve come back to help the Master usher in the age of glory. Peter is always so full of himself.
James I couldn’t believe what I was seeing and hearing. I was surprised of course, but terrified as well. But I kept thinking there must have been some good reason for our being there to witness all of this.
John And Peter, always grasping at straws, stammered out something about memorials, or tents and how we should build shelters to house the three of them through the night. I’ve never quite figured out what he had in mind. But if you know Peter, you know he is usually the one eager for action. Peter is always ready to do something, even if we don’t know what needs doing.
James And no sooner had Peter said that, when that dark mist rolled up out of the valley and blanketed the entire mountain.
John Then we heard that voice. At first, I thought it was thunder, but then there were words. “This is my Son, who bears my love. Pay strict attention to what he is saying.”
James I was trying to make sense of it all, then the mist lifted just as fast as it had come; and we were alone again. The voice, the visitors had gone. And before we realized it, our teacher was already headed down the mountain. He was on his way back to the crowds who wanted to hear more of his teachings.
John He turned as we struggled to follow and keep us w/his footsteps, and he swore us to not tell anyone about what had happened. Until, as he so strangely put it – until after he had risen from the dead.
James There had been so much talk of death and suffering these past few weeks, we didn’t dare ask what he meant by that. All the talk of taking up the cross, of all things – we didn’t want to hear any more of that kind of scary talk.
John Then one of us came up with a question about Elijah. A good one too! About what the scholars have to say about his role in the coming of the kingdom. But even then, trying to change the subject, the Master led us right back to thoughts of pain and punishment and persecution. I really don’t understand why he keeps doing that.
James After all we had just witnessed, our hopes for glory had been raised so high. But the Master’s thoughts returned to betrayal and rejection, even death on a cross. After all we had seen and heard, it was almost like being hit with cold water.
John Do you think he testing us again? Is this some way of sounding out how much we trust him? Maybe our commitment to him?
James Well I know I’ll never fail him. We just heard him proclaimed as “Beloved Son of the Most High?”
John Whatever lies ahead, for we two brothers, and Peter too, I’m certain, we will stand by him to the end.
The conversation between James and John, although very good creative writing, could also easily have taken place. Even that little dig at Peter for wanting to build a tent or a shelter brings the whole “we’re with God on a mountaintop and we don’t have a clue” to some level of understanding. The dialogue offered us two men struggling to understand all they saw taking place around them.
It was a surreal experience of voices from ages past, as well as one that spans all eternity. Somehow, they see Christ’s body change before their eyes. Their physical senses were being challenged beyond their ability to understand. This reality applies to our world today. Countries and situations that remain at the forefront: Ukraine, Russia, Israel, Pakistan. National division, hate, the powerful v. the powerless. We are daily challenged beyond our ability to understand.
The disciples were seeing and they were hearing, but they were not yet at a place of understanding the spiritual nature of their experience. And maybe that is a key to a lot of our Christian Walk, our faith journey, and living in the reality of the 21st century. As well as the physical, and what the eye can see, there is the spiritual aspect of what God may be doing that we do not understand.
The Transfiguration story obviously raises more questions for us than it answers. We are in that same boat w/Peter, James, and John. But as we share this experience w/the disciples, reading these words, we need to grasp the thought that we are not called to understand everything, but to “listen to him!”— and eventually to be the witnesses to what we have seen and heard. Witnesses to what we have experienced in sharing our mountain top experiences. This is how we build God’s church.
I always share with you when Bible scholars disagree on a passage of scripture. Throughout history, Bible scholars have discussed this passage in-depth. But believe it or not, with the references I used, the one thing they are all in agreement on, is that this passage not only affirms Jesus Messianic identity, but points to His purpose, his journey to the cross, and the resurrection to come. So, as God said, “Listen to him.”
