Behind the Veil

Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. And the sons of the prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you?” And he said, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.” Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to Jericho. The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the Lord will take away your master from over you?” And he answered, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.” Then Elijah said to him, “Please stay here, for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” But he said, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them went on. Fifty men of the sons of the prophets also went and stood at some distance from them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. Then Elijah took his cloak and rolled it up and struck the water, and the water was parted to the one side and to the other, till the two of them could go over on dry ground. When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me.” And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.” And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.

Our reading today is from the gospel of Mark. Out of all of the gospels, Mark’s is the shortest because he is very particular. If he records something, it is important to him.

Mark

Mark 9:2–9 ESV

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only. And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

(ESV)

This is the last Sunday of the Epiphany. This liturgical season opens with Jesus being revealed to the Magi (gentiles) as the Messiah. It is fitting, then, that it closes with another similar revelation to His disciples. The transfiguration of Jesus is recorded in the Synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) and mentioned in 2 Peter. It occurs right after the first of three predictions Jesus makes regarding his death and resurrection (; ; ).

I. What exactly happened? (vv. 2-3)

We know something important is taking place because Mark records that six days have passed since they were at Caesarea Philippi where Peter confesses Jesus as the Messiah and Jesus foretells of his death and resurrection. The only other time Mark records time in such a way is in the passion narrative. Furthermore, Jesus has only taken Peter, James, and John with him. Why these three? Because they would be the ones to closely witness his arrest and execution. If they had not see the transformation, the later events might have destroyed them.

What was the transfiguration?

According to the BDAG Greek Lexicon, μεταμορφόω [oh]= “to change in a manner visible to others; to be changed in outward appearance or expression as manifesting a change in nature or essence.” This verb is only used 4 times in the NT and always refers to a radical transformation.

William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 639.

So Jesus changed somehow? What about him was transformed?

Jesus’ nature did not change. He was still the Son of God. What happened was an outward visible transformation of his appearance in accordance with his nature.

II. Moses and Elijah appear (vv. 4).

What did the disciples see?

Moses is representing the Law. The Law was good, but man had separated it from its foundation of faith, failed to stress dependence on the Spirit of God, and turned the commandments into an impossible job. Elijah is representing the Prophets who sought to turn the hearts of God’s people towards repentance. Jesus, as the Messiah, bridges the two. He fulfills the Law and its judgement. Moses also represents those who have died while Elijah represents those who are alive.

Have you ever been in the situation where you longed for something or someone? Like dreaming all your life of the perfect relationship or dream house? As the Messiah, Jesus is the fulfillment of all their dreams and hopes.

Cloud = In the OT, a very particular cloud is equated with the presence of God. When God led his people out of Egypt, God spoke to Moses on Mt. Sinai out of a cloud, a cloud would fill the Temple (; ; ). It occurred so much, that later rabbinic scholars would give it a term: the shekinah glory. It means “that which dwells.” It was the presence of God, the glory of God, in the midst of his people. However, it was muted. God could not fully envelope his people in his presence. Because it would kill them.

What were Moses and Elijah doing? Luke tells us that they were discussing the coming passion of our Lord Jesus. Remember, Jesus has just begun predicting to his disciples that he would die and be raised from the dead.

God tells the disciples, “Listen to him.” “Listen to what he is saying.”

Elijah’s promise - If you see me go up, you will have the double portion.

Peter recalls this event as a glimpse of the future glory Jesus will possess when he returns (). “power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ … eyewitnesses of his majesty. John remembers this event too in (“… we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth”) as the Son of God temporarily breaking through the veil of his humanity to show his disciples his preexistent glory.

to change in a manner visible to others

[in us]? cleansing? empowerment? calling?

William Arndt et al., A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000), 639.

2 Peter 1:16–18 ESV

For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.

The transfiguration is a story of divine immanence ... how God, in Christ, is present in this world … present with us.

What happens when we see and listen to Jesus? We will be transfigured.

III. The Reality Behind the Veil (vv. 5-9)

Many sermons have been given on “mountaintop experiences” using this passage. This is as if Peter is being rebuked for wanting to prolong the experience. However, look at what Peter wants to do in verse 5: build three tents, one for Moses, one for Elijah, and one for Jesus.

For a Jew, Moses and Elijah are two of the greatest figures of the Old Testament. It’s almost as if, in some way, Peter is putting Jesus on the same level as Moses and Elijah. Peter’s declaration loses sight of who Jesus is. This is interesting because Peter has just confessed Jesus as the Christ ().

Transfiguration

Jesus is more than a lawgiver. He is more than a prophet. The transfiguration is a story of divine immanence ... how God, in Christ, is present in this world … present with us. Paul speaks of this in . He says that veil of the law with Moses was surpassed with a greater glory … a permanent glory.

Do we stay? Can we stay in this safe place? The fulfillment of all of the Old Testament is taking place in front of Peter’s face … and he wants to rest in that holy, sweet, precious moment. “Let’s build three dwellings.”

But Jesus says, “No, we have to move on.”

In those places, those moments in our lives where we have success, peace, victory, security ... we glimpse some holy fulfillment of all God’s promises, all of our hopes, and all the mystery of creation. It is natural to want to put up a flag and stay there forever. But since we can’t—what truth can we take from the mountaintop that will sustain us for the journey ahead?

2 Corinthians 3:12–18 ESV

Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:12-

(ESV)

Some of us need to behold Jesus’ Divine Glory .... so we can move forward. We must not forget to look beyond the veil. We cannot get distracted by things that seem religious or good. We must peer longingly beyond the veil and allow the glory, the majesty, and the power of Christ to transform us.

The reality of the risen Lord, revealed in the Transfiguration, is to be received and remembered but, above all, it is to be lived. As followers of Christ we should examine those tightly cramped corners of the heart to see what needs to be transfigured with the life of Christ. That is the message of the Transfiguration.

Many people, like the three apostles who witnessed the Transfiguration of Jesus, are tempted to seek an escape from the problems of life and to worship Jesus by a kind of mystical withdrawal. But, that was not what Jesus intended. The apostles had to descend the mountain, and worship Jesus in real life with all its problems and challenges. The glory of the transfiguration inspired the three apostles, not to withdraw from active involvement in the world, but to face the awesome challenges of life with renewed insight and vigor.