Take time to put yourself into the story. Whether in-person or live-stream, Sunday you’ll hear the story of the Transfiguration, Mark 9:2-9. Jesus takes Peter, James and John up to a mountain where, voila! He changes into brilliant glory, God audibly speaks, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him,” and now we’ve heard it and move on.
More and more I’m convinced and worry how we’re subtly pulled away from God, Jesus, and His Word. Media today surrounds us, communication is instantaneous, and attention spans are twitter short. It happens in worship too. The story of the Transfiguration will be read, sing a hymn, sermon… keep going, no pause, no silence. Especially in our holy doings, the old wily foe lurks.
So, where do you picture yourself in the story of the Transfiguration? We probably see ourselves on the mountain with Peter, James, and John, but, reality check, we were not there. We are not there. Imagining it like TV is not the real thing. Who of us has actually seen the glory and heard the voice? Not me. “You have not seen him… You do not now see him” (1 Peter 1:8). “Keep your place,” people sometimes warn us. I’m in the story, but not on the mountain. I’m down with everyone else just trying to live life.
When Jesus and the disciples came down, they came upon people arguing about religion. “You big talking disciples can’t even heal this sick boy!” Everyone there was involved in that story, no idea at all that something had just happened on the mountain. Shortly thereafter the disciples got into an argument about which of them was the greatest. Again, no idea there’s a value system centered in service and suffering. Is your life a mountain top experience? No wonder we ask, where’s God?
As the privileged disciples came down from the mountain, Jesus taught. After He healed the sick boy, He taught. On the road, He taught about dying and rising. And when they argued about promotions and status, He taught about childlike faith. “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” Our eyes have not seen the glory and our ears have not physically heard the voice, but down here we do have His teaching for our everyday lives. I love going, but a church service isn’t enough. Where are you in the story?
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