The Fifth Sunday after Epiphany
“Transfiguration Sunday”
February 9, 2025
(Matthew 17:1–9, NIV) “Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.””
As he is approaching his suffering and death on the cross, Jesus is strengthened in this remarkable event.
We see brilliance surrounding Jesus as “His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.”
It is easy to pass over the fact that Moses and Elijah were “talking with Jesus.”
As a true man, Jesus certainly needed strengthening for what he as true God knew he was facing. In this event God sent two important prophets so that they could strengthen and encourage Jesus for what he was about to face.
Of course, Peter didn’t know what to make of this event at this time and suggested he put up three shelters. And although the word refers to a temporary shelter, Peter could have been hoping they would stay and the disciples could listen to what the three men were talking about. Of course, we have Moses’ and Elijah’s words, as well as the words of Jesus recorded in Scripture.
God spoke from the cloud “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” and the disciples were terrified. But after Jesus’ suffering, death, and especially his resurrection, this event made more sense. Often we, too, need to examine Scripture more carefully when things in our lives don’t always ‘make sense’ to us.
Prayer
O God, who in the glorious transfiguration of Thine only-begotten Son strengthened him, lead us to look to your Holy Words to strengthen us in all our earthly troubles. This we ask through Jesus Christ, thy Son, Our Lord. Amen
