The Message Of The Transfiguration
Who are you listening to?
We are all listening to so many different voices of influence in our lives. There are so many competing voices speaking into our lives and shaping our thoughts and our will.
To the Jewish people, two of the greatest voices of influence were Moses—the law giver, and the Prophet Elijah. These leaders listened to the most important voice, they listened to God, and they spoke the very words of God to the people of God.
Matthew tells us about the account of the Transfiguration of Jesus, saying, “After six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.” (Matthew 17:1-3, ESV).
Jesus met with Moses and Elijah and they spoke together and listened to Jesus, and then everyone present heard from God the Father.
As Peter was still speaking to Jesus, “A bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.’” (Matthew 17:5, ESV).
God’s message at The Transfiguration is simply this, “Jesus is my beloved Son, I am pleased with him; listen to Jesus.”
Regardless of the many voices speaking into our lives, some not so good, and some very good voices, we are to listen to Jesus.
Through the roaring noise of this world and all the competing voices, may we listen to Jesus first and foremost. May we hear the voice of Jesus—God’s beloved Son, and listen to him.
A Collect For The Last Sunday of Epiphany: The Transfiguration: “O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer, 2019).
Transfiguration is a 1604-1605 oil on canvas painting of the Gospel episode the Transfiguration of Jesus by Peter Paul Rubens, now in the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Nancy.
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