Transfiguration
2 Kings 2:1-12; Psalm 50:1-6; 2 Corinthians 4:3-6; Mark 9:2-9
Six days after a very tense exchange – where he is called an adversary to Jesus’ ministry for not taking well the revelation that the Messiah would die (Mark 8:31-33) – Peter finds himself at the top of a mountain in the presence of the two Israelites in scripture to ever be in God’s presence, Moses and Elijah (Exodus 34;1 Kings 19). If that is not enough, his rabbi, whom he just acknowledged as the Messiah (8:29), has transfigured and is glowing like God. A lot is going on in ways that are very different from what they used to be, and Peter is having a hard time figuring out what to say or do. What would all that mean for him and his fellow disciples?
From 2 Kings 2, we hear the story of the “passing of the mantle” from Elijah to Elisha. The pupil is clearly stressed out by the perspective of his teacher leaving. Three times, Elijah tells him to stay behind, and three times, Elisha refuses (vs. 2,4 and 6). When the time finally comes, Elijah asks Elisha what he could do for him. Elisha is bold, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.” Passing and receiving the mantle will be a hard thing. However, the same Lord will be in charge, and the Lord always raises prophets. Elisha did not disappoint. The kids will be all right.
To the church in Corinth, Paul speaks of the veil or the fog of “the god of this world” that would cloud the minds of those receiving the revelation of the gospel. Paul is not talking to unbelievers outside the newly formed faith community. He is talking to the members of the church who think too much of themselves and are having a hard time accepting that Jesus is now Lord.
The psalmist declares:
The mighty one, God the Lord, has spoken;
calling the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.
Out of Zion, perfect in its beauty,
God shines forth in glory.
The heavens declare the rightness of God’s cause,
for it is God who is judge.
(Palm 50:1-2, 6, Evangelical Lutheran Worship).
Bridging Faith 