A PRAYER TO START
There is a confidence that comes only through desperation, a certainty that saturates only when all energies (emotional, physical, spiritual) are exhausted. Too often we tire of desperation and exhaustion rather than continue to wail through them; and yet, it is the intensity of these emotions, the immensity of our need, that will awaken us to magnitude of our hope. Begin your time today praying this prayer adapted from a section of the psalm 3xs…
With every ounce of energy given, with every muscle and fiber stretched to their max, I cry out to you, answer me, Father! I will walk in the way of Jesus. I call out to you to save me, so that I might be able to follow him in his way. I cannot rest. I rise before I need to, even before the sun awakes in the pangs of desperate need. I know my only hope is in your Word that makes all things new; including me. My eyes are awake when they should be asleep, awake so that I might meditate on your promise. You are forever kind and loving, so hear my voice. Father, according to your justice that takes on what opposes you through sacrifice, give me life. The things of this world draw close that they might separate me from you, the difficulties of the day, the darkness of my own heart, the evil one. All are far from your path. But you are near, Father! And the way of Jesus is truth and life. Long have I known the stories of your grace, that they are as old as time and as fresh as the sun’s rising! Amen.
DIVING INTO THE DETAILS
“Eschatology” is a big word (!), and one we don’t use in our everyday vernacular. Yet, this word which relates to focusing on the “last things”, or the conclusion of stories and fulfillment of promises is an important one regarding the final half of Matthew’s gospel. Often we associate the term with end-of-time concepts and predictions, but in the biblical narrative there are layers of consummation that often confuse our linear time-line mode of thinking (picture instead a Venn diagram or overlapping circles and you'll get a little better idea of the eschatological flow of God's story).
Such confusion is not limited to you and I a couple of millennia removed from the streets of Galilee, in fact, the disciples had their own perplexity around the conclusion of Jesus’ story and its relation to God’s promises as well.
Read Matthew 17:1-23.
The “transfiguration”, as this passage has come to be referenced, is rich with profound moments while being both straight-forward and complex. Straight-forward in the sense that Jesus’ divinity is revealed in plain sight to three of the disciples. Yes, they had witnessed Jesus do amazing things for others and even their own families, and through these mighty acts and his awe inspiring teachings they had come to recognize him as “the Christ, the Son of the living God” (16:16). Yet here, they witness Jesus appearing as more than human, more than one just using the gifts of God. The description of Jesus’ face like the sun and clothes like white light, are portrayals used for heavenly beings. The humanity and divinity of Jesus have come together in unbridled view; and the disciples present are overcome with wonderment; especially when that humanly divine identity is confirmed by a voice amidst a bright cloud saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”
Jesus is indeed the Son of the living God who is speaking to them, the Christ who has come to reveal to the world the plan and purposes of this God’s salvation! There can be no doubting now…though we all know there will be! Still, there is more to the story. Jesus isn’t the only one on the mountain top after all. Appearing with him are Moses and Elijah. But why? What are they doing talking to Jesus?
Do you remember these two famous Jewish characters? Moses the great leader of God’s people out of slavery to physical and divine oppressors. Elijah the mighty prophet clearing out the internal and external opposition to God so his people could return to him. Both men, having done great things for the Lord and his people even with their evident flaws, now standing here when Jesus is transfigured as the revealer of not simply temporal salvation, but of final salvation. Could it be that their presence is more than an interesting aside? Both men where a part of God’s rescue plans in the past and both men spoke eschatologically about the final plan coming some day after them. Perhaps the fulfillment of these promises in Jesus was the subject of their conversation that early afternoon on the cloud encrusted mountain.
Now Moses records a conversation with he and God that someone will come after him, like him a rescuer, but will do something more. This exchange just before the people of God are to enter the promised land is found in Deuteronomy 18:15-19,
God, your God, is going to raise up a prophet for you. God will raise him up from among your kinsmen, a prophet like me. Listen obediently to him. This is what you asked God, your God, for at Horeb on the day you were all gathered at the mountain and said, "We can't hear any more from God, our God; we can't stand seeing any more fire. We'll die!" And God said to me, "They're right; they've spoken the truth. I'll raise up for them a prophet like you from their kinsmen. I'll tell him what to say and he will pass on to them everything I command him. And anyone who won't listen to my words spoken by him, I will personally hold responsible.
After Elijah is taken up to dwell with God there was always an assumption that he would return to once again clear a path for God’s people to return to him, since they tended to get tangled up in the things of this world on a rather rhythmic schedule. Another prophet, Malachi, sometime later is the voice for God foretelling of the return of his mighty prophet to prepare people for the coming king in Malachi 4:4-5,
"Remember and keep the revelation I gave through my servant Moses, the revelation I commanded at Horeb for all Israel, all the rules and procedures for right living. "But also look ahead: I'm sending Elijah the prophet to clear the way for the Big Day of God - the decisive Judgment Day!
This “Judgment Day”, often referenced in the Old Testament, was the end of evil, the overcoming of what opposes God’s good creation, and the restoring of what is broken to wholeness and peace. This is the day both feared and joyfully awaited by most people in the cities Jesus taught and demonstrated the kingdom's coming. An Elijah like proclaimer of repentance would prepare the path for a freeing from slavery rescuer like Moses to again to give them (and us) the way of living with God and one another then the end of what is dying would come and the new forever living would begin.
Jesus’ “revealing” on the high mountain instantly brought forth the memories of the old stories to the disciples. And, unlike the unwilling Israelites at mount Horeb, Peter and his companions were glad to be in the presence of such divinity, though they needed some personal, kind encouragement to stand without fear! Yet, they were a bit confused for they had grown up hearing the scribes outline the plan of God with Elijah coming first. Where those predictions wrong? Jesus says “no”, John the Baptist after all came preparing the way (see chapter 3 and 11:14). But these untrustworthy guides had missed what they were looking for. Not just missed it, but dismissed it; which meant that they would be the ones opposing the plan going forward, and that Jesus too would suffer at the hands of their blindness.
Having their Christ “delivered into the hands of men” that they should “kill him” and he should “be raised on the third day” caused the disciples deep psychological suffering (17:22-23). No matter how connected Jesus’ impending efforts were to the story of salvation told to them growing up, no matter how many times Jesus had told them this is the only way, no matter how much good and miraculous good they witnessed him do, no matter how much they recognized the authority by which he spoke; they could not phantom that rescue would require resurrection; that sacrificial death would lead to a life of peace.
Where Jesus was going, now walking towards the cross (16:21), would be the means by which the judgment would come (see John 12:27-33), and the world would be saved. A death and a resurrection that the disciples would get to partake in (16:24-27), and would confirm the authority already bestowed upon them (10:1) to participate in the amazing good of his kingdom come, if they would only live by faith (17:14-21).
DEVELOPING DISCERNMENT
In chapter 17, Jesus is revealed in plain sight as our ultimate rescuer who human but even more. He is the plan and purpose of God to overcome evil, restore what is broken, and bring peace upon earth. His presence at the tables of sinners and they sanctuaries of the saints has been the promise of old and the plan all along; even if the means of his bringing peace looked like something to oppose by the religious leaders and something to grieve by the disciples. And, if we are to participate in the kingdom, its important that we get with the plan.
Don’t skip this part. Information is of little use in quickening a transformed life if we are undiscerning people. Take the time to thoughtfully answer these questions, and maybe use them as conversation starters in Gospel Community, at work or in your home. Doing so will pay dividends in the long run!
What about the “transfiguration” amazes you? Confuses you?
How does it compel you to respond to Jesus?
In what ways did John the Baptist act like Elijah in clearing the path for Jesus’ message and ministry? Why was he rejected? (Think back to chapter 3)
What needs to be “cleared” in your own heart, as well as those you love, to be prepared for the message and ministry of Jesus?
The people were clearly frustrated by the disciples when Jesus came down from the mountain (17:14-21). Why were they frustrated and why was Jesus frustrated?
What have you been given or what experiences have you had that should have instilled a deeper faith than you have now? (question from N.T. Wright, 78)
A PRAYER TO CLOSE
Scholar, author, and pastor, N.T. Wright suggests that Jesus’ response to the unsuccessful disciples is an invitation not to have greater faith but to have faith in a greater God: “The size of your faith isn’t important; what’s important is the God in whom you believe. The smallest prayer to the one true God will produce great things…” (79).
If you believed Jesus’ words about faith without doubt, what would you pray for? Pray that today.