A Lenten Reflection

This blog is a repost of an earlier one I made during the 2014 Lenten Season on 16 March 2014.

A Christian brother posted a series of questions on Facebook about LENTEN REFLECTION. The questions are: What is Matthew 17: 1-9, otherwise known as The Transfiguration all about? Why is it significant to us Christians?

Introduction

Let's look at the characters in the gospel account. We have Jesus, Peter, James, John, Moses, Elijah, and God the Father. Let's look at the objects mentioned such as the high mountain and the tabernacle. Let's examine the reaction of the disciples - their fear when they heard God's voice.

Peter, Peter, what were you thinking?

First, Moses and Elijah are from the old covenant. They were great servants of God. Moses symbolizes the Law and Elijah represents the Prophets. Jesus is Grace and Truth. Jesus represents the New Covenant. Jesus is life. So, when Peter says, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” What is Peter essentially saying - that Jesus, Moses, and Elijah are on equal grounds?
So, God the Father immediately intervened and declared, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” Those last two words "Hear Him" were very clear. Moses and Elijah do not have equal standing with Jesus. Christians today does what Peter tried to do. We are making Jesus the same as Moses and Elijah. In real life, this means that we often love only when conditions are attached. We care only after promises have been met. We criticize our friends to shame and claim to love them. Jesus is not on the same level as Moses and Elijah. Jesus is greater. So when the Father says to hear Jesus, in practical terms today, it means to love without conditions just as Jesus did for us.
It’s also interesting to see Peter, James, and John’s excellent symbolisms in this story. Peter comes from the Greek Petros meaning “stone” a symbol for the Law. James is derived from Jacob, which among other things, means “to supplant”. John is from the Hebrew Yochanan, "Yahweh is gracious", which in one word means grace. So, to complete the representations of the three in this gospel story, we can say that the “Law is supplanted by Grace”.
The superiority of Jesus’ message is of unconditional love that restores instead of condemns.

Other typologies in the story

Let’s look at the objects. We all know that Moses went up to Mt. Sinai to receive the 10 Commandments written on stone. It’s interesting that Jesus also went to a mountain (many say it’s Mt. Tabor) perhaps to reenact what Moses did but with the distinction that He was there to represent grace. And while we are on the subject of mountain typology, we all know that Jesus preached on mountains not to mention He also died on a mountain albeit a small one, a hill.
Then, there’s the tabernacles eagerly mentioned by Peter. We all know that the tabernacle is the mobile dwelling place of God. Peter, by now in this story, already knows that Jesus is the son of God. And yet, he suggests even to make three tabernacles. Again, with his characteristic quick wits equating Moses and Elijah to Jesus. Aren’t we like Peter many times always quick to speak without thinking? We behave like the grace of God comes with conditions apart from faith or with an attitude of self-righteousness for blessings to flow.

In conclusion

Lastly, let’s examine the reaction of the disciples after the Father spoke. Several bible translations say they were “greatly afraid”, “terrified”, and “scared to death”. Peter, James, and John knew what happened on the first Pentecost on Mt. Sinai. The people at the foot of the mountain were terrified of death on hearing God’s voice and would only listen to Moses. Just like Moses, Jesus went to the three and told them not to feel afraid. Upon further examination, at Mt. Sinai, Moses also told the people not to fear but the people stood away from the mountain. However, Jesus told the disciples “Arise…”, to stand up then said, “...do not be afraid.”
Remember also that the first Pentecost resulted in 3000 deaths (Exodus 32) but the second Pentecost resulted in life, that is, life in Christ (Acts 2) when 3000 became Christians. These accounts, to me, indicate that Jesus is about life not death.

To sum up, Matthew 17:1-9 is an illustration of Jesus' superiority, His authority, His Lordship over us. When we believe and follow Jesus, there is life. And where there is life, there is restoration.