EPIPHANY A season that celebrates the making known or revealing of Jesus as the Son of God. It is fitting that on the final Sunday of the season we look at the Transfiguration account.

2 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

6 For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud. “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” 8 And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only. 9 And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. Mark 9:2-9 (ESV)

Jesus is publically revealed All three synoptic Gospels have two accounts where God, the Father, identifies Jesus as his beloved Son Jesus’ baptism (Matt 3:17/Mk 1:11/Lk 3:22) Jesus’ Transfiguration (Matt 17:5/Mk 9:7/Lk 9:35)

Jesus is publically revealed What does it mean that Jesus is the Father’s beloved Son? In the context of Israel’s story He was the divinely appointed representative of Israel (cf. Heb 5:5) He was the true King (cf. Psalm 2:7; Acts 13:33)

Jesus is publically revealed What does it mean that Jesus is the Father’s beloved Son? In the broader theological context Jesus is the Father’s divine “Son” (cf. Romans 1:3-7)

Jesus is publically revealed In this event the disciples get a glimpse of the glory of Jesus as the incarnate Son of God They have a brief look at who he really is

Jesus is publically revealed There is an important second part to what the Father says “Listen to him”

What does it mean to “Listen to him”? Jesus’ understanding of his messianic role was normative and to be accepted Not the common (mis)understanding Not Peter’s (mis)understanding (cf. 8:32)

What does it mean to “Listen to him”? Jesus’ understanding of the scriptures was to be accepted Not the Scribes and Pharisees They misunderstood Jesus because they misunderstood the scriptures (cf. John 5:37-47)

What does it mean to “Listen to him”? Jesus’ way of service/servanthood was the model for discipleship (Mk 10:42-45) It’s not about position, power, privilege or prestige (cf. 9:33ff.; 10:35ff.)

What does it mean to “Listen to him”? Jesus’ instruction for faithful living was to be obeyed: Love God, Love Others (Mk 12:30-31) One cannot be a genuine follower of Jesus if one ignores these commands “The only genuine ‘listening’ is obedient listening.” (W. Wessel, Mark, 700)

A Warning to Heed 7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, "Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, 9 where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years. 10 Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, 'They always go astray in their heart; they have not known my ways.' 11 As I swore in my wrath, 'They shall not enter my rest.'"

A Warning to Heed 12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. 15 As it is said, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.“ Heb 3:7-15 (ESV)

A Warning to Heed See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. Hebrews 12:25 (ESV)

THE JESUS CREED “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”