February 11, 2024 – Transfiguration Sunday

“Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus. As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.” Mark 9:2-9

Every once in a while there is some celestial sight that happens somewhere across this planet – and it has the same effect on those who witness it – it is mesmerizing – and frightening – and then it disappears just that quickly. I believe everyone in Russia has a “GoPro” camera mounted on their cars – because that is where we often see these celestial events. And usually when we see them, we turn to someone (if there is somewhere there) and say something like “Hey did you see that?” We can imagine Peter, James and John blinking their eyes, staring at one another and saying just that: “Hey did you see that?” Could they believe what they had witnessed with Jesus?

After six days of, I don’t know, reflection, Jesus tells certain members of his crew to climb Mount Herman. I have no idea what they did on those six days, perhaps planning for a mountain climb. Jesus has recently just all but claimed to be the Messiah, but then he tells them he will be killed by the very people who have been teaching about the coming of the Messiah. Now, what are they to think? If Jesus is the Messiah, then how does this all fit together? It had to be confusing – and scary. It begs the question: when things get scary, do we give up, or keep going? Do we continue on when everything seems to be falling apart, or do we walk away? Imagine that walk up the mountain – what were the disciples thinking?

We all face those pivotal moments, those life altering decisions when we find ourselves facing doubt, fear, indecision – questioning why we have gone down the path we have chosen. These liminal moments are not easy, are they? They can be terrifying. Think about your own life – think about a similar situation in your life where you faced a decision – did you turn back, or keep going? Did you persevere – or give up? That, my friends, is why Jesus didn’t stay on the mountain – why he didn’t abandon his journey – why he didn’t quit. He completes his journey, a journey we can’t even begin – dying for the sins of all people. Rather than escaping with Moses and Elijah, he comes among us to complete his journey.

The disciples, as uncertain as they were, were probably glad to get off that mountain – though that meant the journey needed to continue. They still had a lot to figure out, and they will – eventually. But in the midst of their fear and bewilderment, Jesus remains clear about his journey, and clear with his intentions with his disciples – including you and me. Those hard decisions – those crossroad moments are scary – yet we can be assured that Jesus does not abandon us when we need him most – when our journeys get most difficult. As we pray, as we discern, as we struggle on our journeys – G-d speaks to all of us from the mountain saying “Listen to Jesus”.

Pastor Dave