February 14, 2021
St. John’s United Church of Christ, Union, Illinois
2 Kings 2:5-12; Mark 9:2-9[1]
I’m pretty sure you know who Moses is, the Hebrew boy raised
by Pharaoh’s daughter. He was visited by God in a burning bush, sent to call
upon Pharaoh to set the Israelites free from slavery and let them go. Moses led
them across the Red Sea, through the desert to Canaan, and gave the Law from
God to the people of Israel.
Elijah is a bit more obscure. Following the reigns of Kings
David and Solomon, the nation of Israel split in two with Israel to the north
and Judah to the south. The kings who ruled the kingdom of Israel did not
follow YHWH, who I will refer to as the Lord,
the God of their ancestors. These rulers allowed the worship of Baal and
Asherah, gods of the neighboring Phoenicia. Ahab, son of Omri, who
enthusiastically worshiped Baal, became known as the most wicked of the kings
of Israel.
Elijah came from Gilead, east of Jordan, and “belonged to
the class of small tenant farmers who owned no land of their own.”[2]
Though of lowly origin, he played such a significant role in returning worship
of the Lord alone to Israel that
he is renowned as one of the greatest prophets. “Elijah set the standard
against which all future prophets and messianic figures would be measured.”[3]
In one story from 1 Kings 18, Elijah challenges four hundred
and fifty prophets of Baal to call down fire from their god to burn a
sacrificed bull. When there was no answer, Elijah had twelve jars of water
poured on the altar with the sacrifice. Then Elijah called upon the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and
Israel, to answer so that the people would know that the Lord is God. “Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt
offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and even licked up the water that
was in the trench.”[4]
In the passage we heard this morning, Elijah passes on his
leadership to Elisha, who would become a renowned prophet as well. As Elijah
was taken up into heaven by the chariot of fire, Elisha caught his cloak as it
fell, symbolizing the ministry of Elijah passing on to his beloved disciple,
Elisha.
Moses also passed on his leadership at the end of his life. “Then
Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel: ‘Be strong
and bold, for you are the one who will go with this people into the land that
the Lord has sworn to their ancestors to give them; and you will put them in
possession of it.’”[5] On
Mount Nebo, in the land of Moab, the Lord
showed Moses the land that would become Israel. Then he died and was buried in
Moab. Joshua would go on to lead the conquering of Canaan, warn the people
against worshiping idols and foreign gods, and challenge them to serve only the
Lord.
Jesus led Peter, James, and John up a high mountain, where
he was transfigured before them. In that moment there appeared to them Elijah
and Moses, talking with Jesus. Two of the most prominent figures in the history
of their people, Moses represented the Law, and Elijah the Prophets. This scene
is meant to symbolize the passing on of leadership. The Law and the Prophets gave
way to the Christ, the fulfillment of both, and it was witnessed by Peter, who
would become the leader of the Church.
The transfiguration, marking a transition of leadership, is
a moment to pause, to look and listen. Like a ceremony we might celebrate, marking
a transition such as baptism, graduation, marriage, ordination of clergy, or a retirement,
in this moment the community assembles and takes time to notice the moment.
Peter, who will take on the mantle of leadership himself in time, witnesses the
transition of leadership and asks for time to stop, look, and listen. “It is
good for us to be here,” he says to Jesus.[6]
We can get back to work later, but let’s stay awhile in this moment.
God responds from the cloud, speaking to these disciples in
the same way that God spoke to Moses, and Elijah, and Jesus. “This is my Son,
the Beloved; listen to him!”[7]
This time is an opportunity to soak up the glory of God, to experience, however
briefly, a reminder of why we’re in ministry, what it is that we are doing
here. This moment of glory reminds us of our purpose, the point of the faith we
proclaim, where the work of ministry leads.
Worship of God does that. Now, even the best of our worship
encounters cannot reach the heights that Peter and his friends experienced. But
any worship is an opportunity to reflect on God’s glory. A UCC pastor named
Cheryl Lindsay writes, “in worship, we are reminded that we are reaching for a
destination that is glorious–not simply better or adequate, but glorious. Our
goal is not just to feed the hungry but to participate in a world when all are
fed. Our call is not to merely accept the immigrant in our midst, but to shape
a world in which no one is labeled stranger.”[8]
Worship helps us get ready. Having just a taste of what is
to come can fortify us for the journey ahead. Joshua had a long and difficult
task ahead to settle the people of Israel in a new land. Elisha would need to
steer other kings away from foreign gods and back to the Lord. Peter, James, and John would have
to face the horrors of the crucifixion and the challenge of establishing the
Church. And every day, we followers of Jesus Christ must contend with a world
sickened by evil and polluted by greed.
When the glory of God is revealed, take a moment to soak it
in. Let hope blossom. God’s promises will be fulfilled. Light and peace will
break forth. Take a moment to envision it, reach for it, rest in it. Then, you
will be ready to go on, to go back down the mountain to the crowds who await.
And you will have a share, a double share, of the spirit of Christ to help you
shine.
[1]
The scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard
Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of
the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the
[2] Klaus
Koch, The Prophets: The Assyrian Period, tr. Margaret Kohl (Philadelphia:
Fortress Press, 1982), 32.
[3] Dietrich
Gruen, Contributing Editor, Who’s Who in the Bible (Lincolnwood:
Publications International, Ltd., 1995), 80.
[4] 1
Kings 18:38.
[5]
Deuteronomy 31:7.
[6]
Mark 9:5.
[7]
Mark 9:7.
[8] The
Rev. Dr. Cheryl A. Lindsay, “Sermon Seeds: Coming Through the Clouds”
reflection for Transfiguration Sunday, February 14, 2021, online at https://www.ucc.org/sermon-seeds/.
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