A Glimpse of Glory

 

The Markan account of the Transfiguration of Christ, (Mark 9:2-9) has much in common with Matthew and Luke's account.  There are a few changes, such as the omission of the shining of Jesus' face, and the addition of the note that the disciples were "exceedingly afraid", but otherwise it is almost verbatim.  What is clear is that this is a glimpse of glory, and so the task of the preacher will be similar - to give the listeners "a glimpse of glory", not an easy task.

(The following questions are not meant to be exhaustive, but only serve to highlight how the Word is functioning, a central concern of Law and Gospel preachers.  This is a central concern since the way the Word functions in a text dictates, in large part, how the sermon must function. For more on this method and on Law and Gospel preaching in general, see my brief guide, Afflicting the Comfortable, Comforting the Afflicted, available from wipfandstock.com or amazon.)

1.  How does the Word function in the text?  As a glimpse of glory, it is clear that this text is functioning primarily in a Gospel mode. That is to say, this is a story about what God is doing in Christ - "This is my Son!" - not a revelation of judgment.

2.  How is the Word not functioning in the text?  The glimpses of Law in this text are minor, if even noteworthy.  We have Peter's inappropriate remark, and the voice from the cloud instructing the disciples to listen, but there is little to suggest God's judgment here, and even less a call to repentance.

3.  With whom are you identifying in the text?  The ones to whom the Word from the cloud is directed are the disciples and so we identify with them.  The Word to us is clear:  Listen to Jesus!

4.  What, if any, call to obedience is there in this text?  The Word to the disciples is a call to obedience.  It follows the call at the end of chapter 8 to "deny yourself and take up your cross and follow me."  Now the voice from the cloud is saying, "Do this."

5.  What Law/Gospel couplet is suggested by this text? Since there is little Law present we shall have to be a bit creative in coming up with couplets.  Some suggestions:  deaf to God's Word/hearing God's Word; terrified in God's presence/comforted by the presence of Jesus.

6.  Exegetical work:  M. Eugene Boring, in his commentary, has some insightful words. He notes that "the transcendent whiteness of Jesus' garments characterizes him as belonging to the divine world (cf. Dan. 7:9; 1 En. 14:20; 2 En. 22.8-9; 3 En. 12.1; T.Job 46.7-9) and in Rev 6:11; 7:14 are also assoicated with martyrdom."  Boring also notes that Jesus speaking with Moses and Elijah "shows he not only belongs in some sense to the heavenly world himself, but that he is to be understood in relation to salvation history - as its climax and fulfiller." (The NT Library series, Mark, A Commentary, p. 261).  In another commentary by Donahue and Harrington, the focus is on the cloud, again emphasizing the theophanic nature of this event:  "In an area such as the Holy Land where much of life depends on the regular cycle of rains from October to April, the cloud was a symbol of life and hope. Since God was assumed to be the author of life and the ground of hope it is not surprising that the cloud became also a symbol of the divine presence." (Sacra Pagina series, The Gospel of Mark, p. 270).  Lamar Williamson gives us one cautionary note in interpreting this passage as anything other than an encounter with the divine:  "The language of this passage is more allusive than referential, its mode more intuitive than logical.  It communicates in visual and auditory terms a fleeting perception of the eternal splendor, an elusive awareness of the divine presence.  Any interpretation which strips the text of the numinous and reduces the holy fear of the disciples (9:6) to intellectual confusion is deaf to a major channel of communication and to much of the text's evocative force."  (Interpretation series, Mark, p. 159).

7.  How does the Crossings Community model work with this text?  There are a number of analyses of this text archived under its reference at crossings.org/text-study.  The theme in the diagnoses is often around our failure to listen and to see.  In the prognosis, Jesus cuts through this with a clear statement of his glory.  See the entire selection on the crossings web site.

Blessings on your proclamation!