Matthew 17 "The Transfiguration"

A student who had fallen asleep in one of Karl Barth's theology classes awoke to the professor looking directly at him, saying, "Answer the question please."

The drowsy student answered, "Jesus?"

"Exactly!" replied Barth.

Probably not a factual story, but definitely a true story. Barth's theology is so "Christo-centric"—that is, Christ is so central to his theology—that it seems every question that matters in theology can be answered by looking or listening to Jesus.

I agree with Barth. And the story of 'The Transfiguration' related in Matthew 17: 1-9 is one of the reasons I agree with him.

In the transfiguration story, Jesus shines like the sun as he converses with Moses and Elijah on a mountaintop in the presence of Peter, James, and John. Peter, in his usual manner, immediately starts talking to Jesus about how good this is and how he'd like to build three booths (one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah) if Jesus would like him to do that.

My favorite translation of what happens next is from Eugene Peterson's The Message: "While [Peter] was going on like this, babbling, a light-radiant cloud enveloped them, and sounding from deep in the cloud a voice: 'This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of my delight. Listen to him.'"

Peter is so busy, so brash (and so wrong!) in his babbling that God himself has to interrupt him, basically saying, "Peter! Shut up and listen! Listen to my Son." Loose translation.

The cloud and the voice are fearsome, and the disciples fall down and hide their faces. Jesus then touches them, tells them not to be afraid, and "when they opened their eyes and looked around all they saw was Jesus, only Jesus." Only Jesus. Then they go down from the mountain.

What is Peter wrong about? It seems he wants to make Jesus first among equals by offering to make three booths. Jesus is not first among equals with Moses (the law) and Elijah (the prophets); Jesus is God's one and only beloved Son, the one above all others to whom we are commanded to listen. The law and the prophets, Moses and Elijah, point to Jesus, and what Jesus says and does with the law and the prophets—how he interprets them, how he lives them—is the final Word. The voice did not say, "Listen to them." It said, "Listen to him." Moses and Elijah disappear*. Jesus only remains. Only Jesus.

And not even one booth for Jesus on the mountain is necessary, because Jesus is not staying on the mountain. This is the second thing that Peter seems to be wrong about. Jesus does not come seeking worshippers on mountaintops; he comes seeking followers as he goes down the mountain preaching, teaching, and healing. He seeks people who will follow him to Jerusalem and to the cross, a very different mountain and a very different kind of worship.

So, who is Jesus? Emphatically Lord of all, including Moses and Elijah. He's the one and only one to whom we are to listen. If the law seems to disagree with Jesus, listen to Jesus. If the prophets seem to conflict with Jesus, listen to Jesus. If any Old Testament historical violence tempts you to justify violence as necessary, look to Jesus. If any interpretation of any scripture does not seem Christ-like, listen to Jesus. If any New Testament scripture, whether by Peter, James, John (or Paul!), seems contrary to what Jesus taught, listen to Jesus. As Jesus himself will later say in Matthew, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." Teach them "to obey all that I have commanded you." Not we; I.

Jesus has already practiced this authority in the "You have heard it said...but I say to you" passages of the Sermon on the mount. The Transfiguration confirms his right to do so.

Where is Jesus? Emphatically not on the mountaintop being worshiped. He's come down the mountain to go to Jerusalem to confront the powers and be crucified.

What then shall we do? If Jesus didn't want Peter to build a booth on the mountaintop to stay and worship, should we? Jesus has twice quoted Hosea 6:6 ("I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.") in Matthew's gospel. If we practice worship (sacrifice) without following Jesus (practicing mercy), we are as wrong as Peter. This is the second time Peter has tried to keep Jesus from Jerusalem and the cross. Twice wrong...so far. If we want to worship others along side Jesus, if we want to worship Jesus rather than follow him, are we any better than Peter? If we would be better followers, we must listen to Jesus alone, and hear his call to obey all that he has commanded us.

Only Jesus.

"In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world." (Hebrews 1:1)

*Compare this disappearance of Elijah to John 3:22-36, in which John the Baptist (Elijah, if you will, in Matthew 17:9-13) says, "He must increase, but I must decrease."