Below Them

Mark 9:2-9
The Transfiguration of Jesus

The transfiguration of Jesus is a mystical experience, in which Jesus’ physical body transforms into his spiritual body “before them.” It happened right in front of them, and they were awestruck, as we all would be. Jesus took Peter, James and John to a solitary place on the mountain and revealed his true self, his divinity. They had witnessed God’s power through Jesus many times, but this time it was personal. Jesus revealed himself to them in a mountaintop experience that was uniquely designed for them.
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They had seen Jesus heal their family members and strangers. They witnessed Jesus release the hold demons had on people. They distributed the multiplied fish and loaves when Jesus fed multitudes of people. Jesus walked on water and calmed the storms right in front of them. When Jesus confronted the opposition, they were present to hear every word. They knew Jesus was like no other rabbi and believed that he was the Messiah. Yet, it still didn’t quite sink in until they saw it with their own eyes. Jesus had to be revealed to them personally, in a solitary place. They had to see it happen right before them, right in front of them, with their own eyes. And, what they saw was Jesus clothed in God’s dazzling light.

I’m sure part of their wonder was that all along, this part of Jesus was always before them. They experienced God right before their eyes, but never saw God’s light shining like this. Perhaps they were too focused on the physical. They were caught up in seeing Jesus eat, walk, sleep, and pray, and that they expected God to do things differently than a normal, physical human. Perhaps they were trying to figure things out intellectually, using their minds to make sense of God’s power and glory.

Many times, Jesus tried to tell the disciples who he was and what was to happen to him, but they didn’t understand. He tried again just six days before this experience, and Peter “rebuked” or dismissed him. But Jesus “rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things” (Mark 8:33). Satan just means “Opposition,” so Peter was in opposition to or couldn't see the divine. He focused only on the physical, human aspect of Jesus.  
 
Jesus probably realized that Peter, in particular, needed to see more than the physical, so he would understand. He needed to see for himself how the spiritual shines through the physical. The two are intermingled as one, just as we use our minds and our hearts to truly understand the power of God’s transforming love.

Have you ever seen someone transform in front of you? Maybe not in an instant like this, but over time, you notice someone’s growth. They change little by little, and then one day, you see how far they’ve come. They’ve transformed into a new person. Their light shines through them, and you witness it before you. When you look back, you realize that their light was always before you. It was there the whole time, but perhaps you were focused on other things to see it. And now, their light is so bright you can’t miss it!

Peter, James and John could no longer miss it in Jesus. Even though they couldn’t talk about their mountaintop experience at first, they tucked it away within themselves until later when it would all make sense. This revelation of Jesus would prepare them for when they would see the Risen One shining before them after the Resurrection. This revelation of Jesus would prepare them to allow God’s dazzling light to shine through them.   
 
Reflection Questions:
Do you miss Jesus “before you” in the ordinary, every day life?
Do you miss seeing Jesus in the people you encounter?
Have you had your own personal mountaintop experience when Jesus revealed himself to you?
How does God’s light shine through you?
 
Action: Go to a solitary place, perhaps even a mountain hike, and open your eyes to see Jesus reveal himself to you in ways that you may not expect.