"What Are We Left With?"
Text: Mark 9:2-9
Transfiguration of Our Lord
February 15, 2015
Sitting in my fast food study hall earlier this week, I struggled with this bizarre story of the
transfiguration, this mountaintop experience. Having just come from text study where they talked
about how to avoid this weird story, and then the Holy Spirit struck, a little boy said to his grandmother,
"Let's go to Target now and see all of the toys." That was obviously his mountaintop experience. I
wanted to say to him, "You'll buy a toy and what will you be left with, it won't last, so enjoy the time
with your grandma and listen to her, let her read you a story."
Peter wanted a toy, he wanted Jesus to meet his agenda, let's do some building! Dazzling white
garments, long-dead prophets show-up, and clueless disciples? So what do we do with this? What are
we left with? A few years ago there was a commercial with a group of friends sitting around a campfire,
mountain stream rushing by, fish in the skillet, what does one of them say, "Fellows, it doesn't get any
better than this." That's what Peter thought.
Do any of you understand this cloud thing? You store stuff in the cloud, it's a mystery to me. Not
to be outdone, biblical use of a cloud was a mysterious sign of God's presence. From the cloud God
spoke, "This is my Son, the Beloved, listen to him." So here we are at the end of the Epiphany season,
hearing the same words that we heard at Jesus' baptism at the beginning of this season. What are we
left with, God's Beloved Son. On Wheel of Fortune, the contestants break into a smile when they talk
about their spouse. Do you suppose God smiles? How could anyone introduce their beloved son
without breaking into a grin. And oh by the way, listen to him.
How many times have you talked to someone only to be met with a confused or blank look? I
won't make any comments about sermons. Or haven't we listened carefully to another person, who is
speaking plain English in simple sentences and yet have no clue as to what they are saying. Did Jesus
feel this way when teaching the disciples, and how they felt when they heard his words? Do you
suppose God feels this when he is trying to get through to us. Maybe all teaching should be done on
mountain tops where there are no distractions. Typically in the Bible, significant religious events occur
on a mountain. If we could remove ourselves from the "everyday distractions" would we do a better
job of listening?
The disciples are left with the command to listen and so are we. A commercial pilot took a friend
for a ride in a small plane. He gave the friend a chance to fly it, giving very specific instructions. What
would happen if the friend said, "No, I think I want to do it my way." The Prayer of the Day said,
"Transfigure us by your Beloved Son." That will only happen if we listen, and keep listening.
Frequently people will spend large amounts of money on makeovers, a new face, a new look, a
changed appearance, a different kitchen. We need transfiguration as much as Jesus needed to be
transfigured. It is a turning point for us. It's a transition to be the kind of people that we were created
to be as we talked about last week. Transformers were a popular toy, maybe they still are, but they
could be changed into all kinds of shapes, and so can we, but there is only one way that is dazzling
white. As the prayer said, "Transfigure us by your Beloved Son." That's the Lenten promise we are
headed for, God is here, that is what we are left with, God is knowable. "Suddenly they looked around
and saw no one, but only Jesus.
Here you are, many of you are tired, distracted, with too many commitments, but you are here
for an hour to catch a breather. You hear and hopefully listen to the word, share a meal, feel some
peace, or however you describe a worship experience. Unfortunately like the mountain top, it ends as
quickly as it starts. After all this worship stuff, what are you left with???? Just Jesus, only Jesus, but
Jesus is enough. Follow him to the mountain, to the cross, to death and dust, the cross of baptism and
the cross of Ash Wednesday. And on this journey you are promised God's presence, "They looked
around and saw no one but Jesus." Treasure this time, it ends suddenly, maybe before you get to the
car, but the crucified one goes with you, today, tomorrow, and every day. You can try to stay on the
mountain, eventually you must come down, and with Jesus.