The story of the Mount of Transfiguration has been a story of great orthodox significance and personal quandary. Other than the glorification of Christ (which is an incredible moment, no doubt), this story seemed to be missing a meaningful aspect driving it like so many other stories in the gospels. Not only this, but there is a case to be made that more than one of the gospels is chiastic (I’m not completely sold on this idea, yet); if this is the case, then the story of the Transfiguration would sit at the center of those chiasms.
Nevertheless, since we’re used to asking the question, I’m sure we can waste no time in diving right in.
Let me identify the following seven characteristics in the story of the Transfiguration:
1) There is a “high mountain.”
2) There are three people taken with the leader.
3) A cloud covers the mountain.
4) Glory is on the mountain and a figure’s appearance is changed.
5) The glory “settles” on the mountain.
6) This all happens after “six days.”
7) God speaks.
Do these details remind you of any other story in the Tanakh?
These are all details that are shared in Moses’s journey up Mt. Sinai.
Enter into the story Peter’s voice, declaring a desire to build three Tabernacles.
And this is where we butcher Peter. In lesson after lesson and sermon after sermon, we talk about how Peter — the bumbling idiot — doesn’t know what to say and so he just blurts out idiotic nonsense.
Not the case here. Ironically, I think Peter knows his Text better than we do.
What is the next thing to happen in the story after Moses spends time on Mt. Sinai? They build the Tabernacle.
Whoops! Sorry Peter.
A lot of people assume God interrupts Peter in an effort to chastise his loose tongue. However, if you check your Text, you will find God never addresses Peter at all; there is simply God's voice from the cloud. Not only this, but the voice from the cloud says, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well-pleased. Listen to him!” What many of us don’t realize is that God shows up and quotes all three parts of His book!
“This is my son” — Psalm 2, from the Ketuvim (the Writings)
“Whom I love … [and] I am well-pleased” — Isaiah 42, from the Nevi’im (the Prophets)
“Listen to him” — Deuteronomy 18, from the Torah
The midrash taught that when Messiah comes, one of the ways we would know it’s him is that all three parts of the Tanakh would testify about him.
I love that when God speaks, He quotes His own book. Awesome!
Now, I know it says in Luke that “Peter didn’t know what he was saying,” but that statement in the Greek can be applied in a few different ways, not to mention that the entire statement seems to be a marginal (or at least parenthetical) addition to the story itself. Not only this, but let’s talk a little about the midrash and see if you think Peter isn’t a genius (maybe without even realizing it).
The story makes a point of telling us that Jesus is seen hanging out on the mountain with Elijah and Moses. What’s interesting about that is there are lots of stories in the midrash about Messiah and Elijah being together. There are also lots of stories about Messiah and Moses being together. However, there are only two stories of all three being in the same place at the same time. One of those stories is the New Testament account(s) in the gospels. The other is a midrash that predates Jesus by about 80 years.
This particular teaching comes as a conversation surrounding Psalm 43 (and 42). In it, the Psalmist says the following:
Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people,from the deceitful and unjust man deliver me!For you are the God in whom I take refuge; why have you rejected me?Why do I go about mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
Send out your light and your truth;
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy hill
and to your dwelling!
Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God my exceeding joy,
and I will praise you with the lyre,
O God, my God.
Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God.
As the Psalmist cries out for deliverance, he pleads for God to send him His truth and His light. Now, what is the Psalmist asking for in that? The midrash teaches that God’s truth is seen in Moses, the giver of Torah, and in the prophet Elijah, who had such great passion for truth. But who is light? Well, the midrash quotes Isaiah 42 (the same one God quoted) and says Messiah is the “Light” of God that is sent forth. So, the midrash concludes, when you are in trouble, pray for Moses, pray for Elijah, and pray for Messiah.
The next line of the Psalm says these figures will lead the Psalmist to God’s holy mountain, the place where He dwells. The word for dwell is the same root word for “tabernacle.”
Maybe “Peter didn’t realize what he was saying.” Maybe he did. But… whoa.
That’s an amazing teaching buried in the story of the Transfiguration. And while I still don’t know exactly where to land the plane (so be prepared for an awkward blog post ending), I do know there is A LOT MORE going on in this story than I ever realized.
I do know that I need to know my Text more. So join me as I try to follow in the footsteps of a disciple who could — in the midst of seeing Moses and Elijah — have the awareness to realize he’s experiencing Text and wants to enter into the story.
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