Sunday 22 February 2009

Background

Who is Jesus? All of Mark's Gospel asks us this question. Thisstory comes at a key turning point. Jesus has just predicted hisown suffering for the first time (Mark 8:31). Mark'sfocus is now turning towards the story of Jesus' death.

Who is he? The one who suffered and died.

This story - known as 'The Transfiguration' - gives another part ofthe answer. Jesus is also the obedient Son of God. His dazzlingclothes (verse 3) are a sign which show his purity and hisbelonging with God.

So Jesus is the one in whom death and glory come together. This isnot 'death and glory' as normally seen: a combination ofpatriotism, fame and the institutionalised violence of war.Instead, the death is that of a public execution - shameful andwith no answering violence from Jesus; and the glory is that of theperfect goodness of God.

The disciples were terrified by this vision of glory. Peter hadrecently shown that he could not get his head around the idea ofGod's chosen one suffering and dying (Mark 8:31-33). Hewanted God to remain in control, and so to stay in controlhimself.

In this passage Peter is lost for words (verse 6). What he said,Mark implies, was inappropriate because this experience was utterlybeyond the ordinary. But it's more than that. Peter's wordsbetrayed his instincts: to bring under his control what was beyondunderstanding; to turn a moment of sublime insight into somethinghe could handle, and maybe even institutionalise. He wanted to bein control.

But instead of Peter being in control there came an instruction:"Listen to him" (verse 8). The thing Peter, James and John couldtake away after this spiritual high are the words of Jesus. Theywere told to listen to Jesus. Jesus' words are reliable. They arewords which are to be listened to, even when Jesus speaks ofsuffering and death.

To Ponder

How can a public execution and the glory of Godbelong together?

What kind of experience of Jesus might leave youspeechless?

Why should we listen to Jesus?