The title of the sermon this week - Thin Places - refers to times and places when the membrane that separates us from God is so thin that we can feel the presence. The point where humans meet God with Jesus acting as the contact point. The scripture referred us to the Transfiguration, when Jesus is revealed as the son of God to Peter, James and John. (Mark 9:2-9), and also Elijah being "taken" from Elisha (2 Kings 2:1-12).
I wondered, what exactly does transfiguration mean? According to a couple of online dictionaries it is a marked change in form or appearance; an exalting, glorifying or spiritual change. That change began with Jesus' baptism by his cousin John, with the voice of God coming from heaven, saying, "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:11)
I don't think any of the gospels say anything about where the disciples
were at that moment, so I guess the revelation in Mark 9:7, “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” is necessary. But is it really news to them?
This mountaintop experience must have cemented things for Peter, James and John. But, as I think about it, I am left with more and more questions. Like why were only three of the disciples asked to go along? Why those three? Why were they also the only ones to go with him when he raised the daughter of Jairus? Why did the revelation have to happen on a mountaintop? Was it really necessary after having been with Jesus all that time and seeing him work miracles? And why did Jesus forbid them from talking about it until after his death?
Maybe all of my why's and attempts to "understand" the experience of the apostles is a way to avoid the real question - what does it mean to me? It's all good and well to do research, participate in scholarly debate, look for hidden signs, but the rubber hits the road when I figure out what the message is for me. I have spent several days working on that. My understanding today is that not everybody gets to have a "mountaintop" experience. You don't have to have that kind of experience in order to be in relationship with God. The love is still there when they come down the mountain, when they go to Gethsemane, when Jesus is betrayed. And the love is there even when I have more questions than answers.
The story of the "transfiguration" is a deeply difficult passage to explain. It honestly contains more questions than proclomations (aside from revealing the special identity of Christ). But the real question, as you pointed out, is what does this mean to me. This is an expecially difficult question if you are not someone who has had a said "mountain top" experience. That is why I think it is so important to focus on the act of Jesus choosing to come down the mountain. Jesus chooses to leave his state of glory and enter into the fraility, misery and pain of humanity. Mountains are great, but most people will more likely meet Jesus at the bottom of the mountian rather than the top. Pastor Suzanne
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