The Transfiguration, 2 Kings 2:1-12c

Feb. 19, 2012; The Transfiguration; Texts: Ps 50:1-6; 2 Kings 2:1-12c; 2 Cor. 3:12-4:2; Mark 9:2-9, Title: The Act that Follows

Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.: All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts. (II 7) Do you recognize the line?  William Shakespeare penned it in As You Like It.  It sticks in our minds because it begs many questions. Does this drama have a plot? What is your part, and does it matter?  Oh it matters, and not just because we momentarily stand on this life’s stage. There are clues how much it matters in one player’s exit, stage up.

          Even if Elisha didn’t want the day to come, that exit was remarkable. But the sons of the prophets (those faithful to the true prophets) knew the end an act neared. In Bethel the sons of the prophets told Elisha, “Do you know that today the LORD will take away your master from over you?”  “Yes, I know. Keep quiet.” In Jericho the sons of the prophets repeated the scene, “Do you know that today the LORD will take away your master from over you?” “Yes I know, keep quiet.” Elisha knew, but didn’t want to hear it; like we don’t want to hear some things. As of our own exit, do we say “I know, keep quiet?”  The normal exit isn’t stage right or left, it is stage down, six feet down, except for Elijah, and before him, Enoch. We will follow Adam’s dusty lead... unless our Lord returns very soon. As for Elijah, we’d think Elisha would be happy for him. They still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it and he cried, ‘My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!’ And he saw him no more (v11-12a.)

          That dramatic exit cracked a curtain to the greater theatre, an eternal theatre. There Elijah rejoices, though he had a brief, well-timed return.  Before his next appearance, generations performed their parts, many wandering lost on stage, many pretending their little show was the whole show. Some, knowing the script and believing the playwright, acted accordingly. They awaited one curtain drop in expectation of another’s rise. They waited while Israel continued in idolatry, and then waited through the consequent scattering of God’s people by the Assyrians and Babylonians. They waited through God’s silence when the Greeks took control of the stage. They waited when Rome grasped the holy city as if that stage belonged to Caesar, ignoring the script delivered by Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and other prophets. Finally, one like Elijah came, as Malachi predicted: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes.” (Mal 4:5). Backstage, a player enters though the womb of an ancient, barren woman. This predestined babe is pre-named. He started playing his part before birth. Still in his mother, he perceived the great Day of the Lord was near, as near as the babe in Cousin Mary’s womb. He leaped for joy.  We hear nothing more about John until as a man he recites prophetic lines, preaching repentance and baptizing for the forgiveness of sin. When his cousin drew near, the last prophet shouted “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 1:29).  He announced a transfiguration for our blind and confused race, a transfiguration confirmed in Jesus’ baptism by the Father’s voice from above.

.         John acted his role dressed in camel’s hair and a leather girdle, unmistakably the costume of Elijah. People who flocked to the desert asked, “Are you Elijah?”  He said no, speaking as prophets do and exiting as most prophets did, through violence. What did his short act on this life’s stage mean?  What did it mean, Spirit-filled in his mother’s womb, calling us to make straight paths for the Lord?  His life meant much because the Author of life took center stage. The Son came for a reason, to set His drama right. What was beautifully conceived and written had been torn apart by uncaring, incompetent actors. What was meaningful and joyous was ruined by free-spirited improvisations, senseless and arrogant. Moses sought re-order. The prophets announced hope and one dressed like Elijah spoke for Elijah, “Straighten this out, the Author of life is nearly here, the one you’re waiting for. Then enter the Author dressed as man, compassionately playing his part. He did not imitate fellow players but humbled himself; playing our parts as they ought to be, as they might be. He spoke about his cousin, the one who declared Jesus to be the Lamb of God, the one who prepared his way. John’s cousin who came after yet before John, John’s king, spoke better than King Herod who ordered John’s head onto a plate. Jesus spoke “if you are prepared to accept it, that one is Elijah who is to come;” though not the literal Elijah who was in the wings awaiting a reprise on the old stage.  That Elijah appeared soon. We read about it in today’s gospel account.

          John’s act clued Elijah by announcing the eternal King who permanently wears our costume, who humbled Himself to become man to suffer and die. John’s act clued another mountain top experience, like so many important events. The covenant to Noah was given on Mt. Ararat; the offering of Isaac was on Mt. Moriah; the giving of the Law to Moses happened on Mt. Sinai; David’s holy city and temple was built upon Mt. Zion; and Elijah’s contest with the false prophets of Baal was atop a Mount too. But on this mount, when the cast arrived and the Author prayed His followers fell asleep. They failed to grasp prayer’s far grander theatre beyond our little stage. Like us, often weak and discouraged, Peter, James and John slept on that unnamed mount, until the reprise of Moses the lawgiver and Elijah the prophet. As for Moses who led God’s people out of slavery, and do you remember - in a divine revelation of stage eternal, his face glowed with the glory of God. But Moses veiled that glory to hide its earthly fading. He did not enter the Promised Land, because he sinned. Now, however, he shines without a veil. As for Elijah, the prophet who prayed, so came drought, then bread and oil multiplied, then life returned to a boy, and rain returned.  He prayed and fire fell on the true altar. He slew the priests of Baal and fled into the desert traveling 40 days on food given by angels. He came to the mount of the LORD and prayed to die. That’s why the LORD called Elisha, for neither Moses nor Elijah played well enough… in this life.

          Yet, both Moses and Elijah now shine in glory, because Jesus’ radiance that was and is, glows through his humanity, foreshadowing we too, weak as we are, will be filled with the glory of God. Jesus out-does Elijah’s departure on fiery chariots when from the cloud the Father says “This is my beloved son, listen to him.” Then another curtain rose “and suddenly, looking around they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.” (Mk 9:8) The brilliance of Moses and Elijah spoke of one who did not fail –and the Father’s voice confirmed our hope – so too the exit of Moses and Elijah raised the curtain for the climax to the play. Moses’ and Elijah’s momentary appearance and final departure says their work is finished. “As for prophecies,” said the Apostle Paul, “they will pass away” (Cor 13:8).  As for the Law, Paul says it “was our guardian until Christ came, that we might be justified by faith” (Gal 3:24).  On the mount of transfiguration the Law and prophets rest, since the Father said “This is my beloved Son. Hear Him.”

          Center stage is the Author of life, the Son who assumed a human nature, who cures a ruined play, redeeming faithless actors and restoring paradise from chaos. The transfiguration prepares us for the highest mountain scene, high and lifted up, “the place of a skull.” Amid cat calls, spit, jeers, whip, nails, and spear Jesus prays “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” He dies saying “it is finished.” He dies under God’s wrath, watched by smirking eyes; while perfect man shouldered our soul’s twisted evil, and our foolish, rebellious, hateful deeds. That mountain climax interprets the transfiguration. It justifies all scenes in the script, from Adam to Moses to Elijah to John’s head resting on a platter. In the transfiguration, Peter, James and John see what is to become of them - because their master was soon lifted up for all to see. On a bloody hill, God the Father received the Son when lifted up, so that you are lifted up by Jesus as a father lifts a dear child into his arms. You the baptized, you who believe in Jesus the Christ, will be transfigured like Him. His resurrection witnesses to it. He will never die again. He who triumphed will return in visible glory for His church. Until that Great Day, He descends in body and blood to sustain our life with Him, He who fills all things in heaven and earth… for what end? 

          If “all the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players,” what is your part? That is to ask, “What part did Jesus play for you?”  Our part is we were called out of darkness and called into His story. We were made Christ’s body, and therefore we shall be like Him.  Until that day our lives play out in ordinary ways: in prayer, in witness, in living by faith under the cross. It is a difficult part and like Moses and Elijah, we are too weak to play it right. So our part           is to receive in water with Word, and in body and blood the Word, Christ Himself. Our part is to live in Christ, where we receive an eternal kingdom in His eternal purpose. When He was lifted up, Jesus Christ revealed his purpose for you. The Apostle Paul announced, In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will. (Eph 1:11).  Further, “(He has made) known to us the mystery of his will according to his      purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth (Eph 1:9-10). Even now we are being transformed. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Cor 4:6).

          He has shone into your hearts upon this life’s stage, Jesus Christ who suffered, died and rose. He called you to faith, granting you life through His means of grace. You are promised what is hidden under the cross, and so hidden in suffering, hidden in the likeness of Christ’s cross. You are promised to share in His glory. Moses and Elijah know that glory now. We too pray Maranatha, “Come quickly, Lord!” We pray because this life has a plot and you have a part. It matters, you matter. Because you live in Christ Jesus our Lord, you matter, called to something higher and greater than what we see under the veil of our stage. When that last curtain is lifted we will be transfigured like Moses and Elijah. With unveiled face, we will behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. So today you live for the praise of His glory, you who know that this master, will never leave you nor forsake you. We live in Him, He our glory.

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Amen).