Beside Jesus glowing for a moment, what does the transfiguration transfigure?
Gospel Reading: Matthew 17:1-9
For Sunday, Mar. 6 , 2011: Year A - Transfiguration
“And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus.”
That is not a strong entrance for something, seemingly so grand. All of a sudden, they're just up there, talking with Jesus. What could Elijah and Moses and Jesus have to talk about that is so important that it can’t wait till after the transfiguration?
What are they talking about?
Are they catching up?
Like, “Jesus, we haven’t seen you since the incarnation, how’s it going down here?" And Jesus is like, “well pretty good — I’m not gonna say there aren’t some problems…but over all not bad.” Or are they doing official business? Is there something that Elijah and Moses know, that Jesus really needs to know so they have to run down to earth and tell him right quick?
The Rabbis talk about Moses and Elijah as The Great Saviors of Israel. Moses was the first savior. He saved Israel from Pharaoh delivered the nation out of Egypt and brought the law. And Elijah is supposed to be the last savior — it is written that he will come at the end of time to save the people and put everything it it’s right order.
So is it kind of a savior-to-savior talk?
It could just be to impress Peter, James and John — it's not just that Moses and Elijah appear with Jesus — Jesus actually knows them. Jesus is saying to Moses, “Are they looking? Are they looking? OK, pretend you're talking to me like we're old pals and I just said something really funny.” And Elijah and Moses go, “ha, ha, ha, ha,” and slap Jesus on the back give him a playful punch in the shoulder.
Or maybe they're complimenting him: "Jesus, those clothes are whiter then anyone on earth could bleach them -- what is your laundry secret?"
And then what happens next is kind of unbelievable. Here you have Moses and Elijah, the two great figures in history together, representing the Law and the Prophets, appearing out of nowhere and they are talking to Jesus and then Peter interrupts them! I mean where do you get that kind of nerve?
“Uh excuse me, uh Jesus.”
The text then adds, by way of explanation, Peter did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Well, yeah, that is understandable — it could be a very frightening situation — but if you’re scared and you don’t know what to say, keep your mouth shut. No one was really expecting Peter to have really anything to add to a conversation between Elijah, Moses and Jesus.
But, Peter’s like, "Uh excuse me, uh Jesus..." -- Peter is like the George Costanza of first century Palestine -- “Rabbi,” he says, “It is really good for us to be here, lemme tell you what I think we should do: Why don’t we make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah? — then you can sit down relax — be a little bit more comfortable while you’re talking."
Jesus just looks at him; doesn’t say a thing.
Shut up and Listen
God does. Just then the cloud overshadows them and the voice says, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him.” I don’t know if this is in direct response to Peter’s babbling interruption. But you know when God tells you to shut up and listen — you really should.
And that’s it. That’s the end of the transfiguration — the cloud clears away. Just Jesus is left — Elijah and Moses are gone — and they head down the mountain.
The Hardest Question
The appearance of the Moses and Elijah seems so out of place, as does this moment of transfiguring, there is really nothing like it in the rest of the text. It is not referred to, and seems to have no effect on the narrative. Beside Jesus glowing for a moment, what does the transfiguration transfigure?
Russell Rathbun is a preacher at House of Mercy in St. Paul, Minnesota, the author of Midrash on the Juanitos (Cathedral Hill Press, 2010) and the curator of The Hardest Question.
