Mark 9:2-9

After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.

Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters- one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)

Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

Let us pray,

May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of all of our hearts, be pleasing and acceptable to you, our rock and our redeemer…

Mountaintop experiences. Where we remove ourselves from our everyday routines so that we can see God clearly. Sometimes we do this by going away on retreats. Sometimes we do this by spending some time in nature. Mountaintop experiences are called mountaintop experiences because they frequently happen on a mountaintop. When we say mountaintop experiences, we mean an experience where we feel the presence of God clearly. The story of Jesus’ transfiguration is a mountaintop experience for the disciples. Where they remove themselves with Jesus so that they can see God clearly.

Now, not every mountaintop experience happens on a mountain. My last mountaintop experience happened in my home office on an otherwise ordinary Wednesday afternoon. Wednesdays are usually the day where I work from home and try to write a sermon. Some Wednesdays the sermons come easily. But most Wednesdays feel like sermon purgatory. You have an idea of what you want to say, but no idea how to say it.

I remember on this particular Wednesday I was in sermon purgatory. But we were having one of those rare winter Pittsburgh days where the sun was out. When the sun shines, my office is flooded with natural light. In my office I have this futon bed. My cat River seems to think that this is HER bed when I work from home. She sleeps on it, mocking me as I try to get work done. There was one moment where she fell asleep directly in the sunlight streaming in my office windows. She looked so cute that I just had to take a picture. You can see the picture I took on the PowerPoint.

As I was editing the photo, I was amazed how different she looked awash with natural light. As compared to the pictures I normally take of her. On grey, cold, wintery Pittsburgh afternoons. When her fur blends into the background of wherever she sits. In natural light I could see the three little freckles she has on her left cheek. And that the hair on her belly is lighter than the hair on her back. And that her little ears still sit straight up even when she’s sleeping. 

After I took her picture I started thinking about light. About how it changes our perception of reality. My thoughts drifted to our Scripture reading for today. The Transfiguration. Where Peter, James, and John see Jesus robed in white, and learn that Jesus is God’s son.

We always read the story of the Transfiguration on the Sunday before Lent begins. Before Jesus is tested. Before he is betrayed. Before he is crucified, dead, and ascended into heaven. Before all of that, we get a story of hope that redeems all of the suffering that is to come. A story of Jesus- the light at the end of the tunnel.

In the Transfiguration Story, Mark begins by reminding Jesus’ disciples that Jesus is the Son of God. And that they should listen to him! There are three times in Mark’s gospel where God reveals to the disciples that Jesus is the Son of God. Those three examples are:

At Jesus’ baptism (Mark 1:11).

At Jesus’ transfiguration (Mark 9:9).

And at Jesus’ death (Mark 15:39). 

In Mark’s gospel, God confirms Jesus’ identity for the disciples at very important moments in Jesus’ life and ministry. In baptism, the Holy Spirit falls upon Jesus and Jesus begins his ministry. At his transfiguration, the disciples realize that Jesus is not just a cool ethical teacher, but God. And at his death, we realize how much Jesus loves us. He loves us so much that his is willing to die on our behalf.

These three moments in Jesus’ life are light at the end of the tunnel moments. They are moments when the disciple’s experiences hope in God’s promises in a new and clear way. And they are also moments that altered the direction of Jesus’ life. Having experienced the fulfillment of God’s promises in his life and ministry, how can Jesus go back to being a carpenter in Nazareth?

At this point in the church calendar, I think we could all use a light at the end of the tunnel moment. Since Christmas we’ve learned who Jesus is. And what it will take for us to follow Jesus in our everyday lives. We’ve learned of the great joy but also the great sacrifice this type of life will require of us. Next week we will begin our journey to the cross with Jesus. As he is betrayed by a close friend, publicly humiliated, and left to die a common criminal’s death. Only to return to the Father. And to entrust us to steward the mystery of salvation to every new generation.

What I appreciate about Mark’s transfiguration story is how it gives us a moment to catch our breaths, restore our hope in God’s promises, and prepare ourselves for the work ahead. With Peter, James, and John we get to dwell for a moment in the presence of God. While at the same time reminding us that we are not yet called to live our lives on the mountaintop. The Transfiguration story eventually moves us back down the mountain into the normal routine of life. Because God doesn’t just tell us that Jesus is his son. He also tells us to Listen to Him.

Learning to listen to God is the journey of Lent. A journey that begins for Western Christians this week with Ash Wednesday. I hope many of you will join us on Zoom at seven o’clock on Wednesday for a special Ash Wednesday worship service. Where we will reflect and meditate on our mortality and the hope we have in Jesus. 

One of the things we will learn in Lent is that the way of Jesus is the way of the cross. Because Jesus doesn’t live on the mountaintop either. Jesus lives in the valleys of everyday life where he cannot escape rejection, suffering, death, and resurrection. Not only can he not escape them, but they are an integral part of his mission.

The miracle of Christianity is that we have a savior who not only died for us, but who underwent the same suffering, rejection, pain, and loss we all do. And it is by way of that suffering that Jesus redeemed humanity. Yes, there is light at the end of the tunnel. But we have to walk through the tunnel first. Strengthened by our faith that Jesus walks with us. Always.

So, friends, as we head into Lent, I want to confirm that the way of the cross is the path of discipleship for us too. And the way of the cross will include stops along the way on top of mountains and in deep valleys. Let us go from this place expecting God to reveal himself to us in the mountains and the valley. While we journey with God, let us look for the light at the end of the tunnel.

Thanks be to God!

In Jesus name,

Amen.