Sermon Tone Analysis

Behind the Veil

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

(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.

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.

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.

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-

(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.