“Same Voice – Same Verse?”- R. L. Reinecke, M.Div. - Last Sunday after Epiphany,  Year C -  February 14, 2010

Luke 9:28-36

“And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’”  Luke 3:22  (from the Baptism of Jesus)

“Then from the cloud came a voice that said, ‘This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!’  Luke 9:34 (with three close disciples, Peter, James, and John) on the Mount of Transfiguration)

This Sunday is known in some Christian denominations as “World Mission Sunday” and comes on the Last Sunday of the Season of Epiphany – a season celebrating the Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles, and the church’s mission outreach throughout the world. 

This season and Sunday has to do with action and transfiguration, while the next season is Lent, a more reflective time of self-denial and discipline of ourselves as we seek to prepare ourselves to share the good news of resurrection and new life!

Right now, these three closest disciples are in a time of transition – we could say they themselves are in a time of transfiguration.  They have understood part of the good news of Jesus, but not yet all!

For example, they are beginning to grasp the special identity of Jesus.  They understand him to be great – as great as Moses and Elijah, who symbolize all of the Law and the Prophets, which are such great revealers of God.

And the often impetuous Peter wants to make this moment of revelation permanent by building three “shrines” there – one to each of these great revelatory figures of the people of God

After a stressful time, the disciples had been sleeping but were awake while Jesus was praying and saw his appearance change and his clothes become dazzling white, when they saw Moses and Elijah talking to Jesus about his departure, to be accomplished at Jerusalem.  A cloud appeared – usually a symbol of mystery in the Bible, and the disciples heard a voice from the cloud correcting Peter.  It said, “This is my son, my Chosen; listen to him!”

You may or may not remember several weeks ago when we were celebrating the baptism of our Lord at the beginning of the Epiphany season, that Jesus was reported as hearing a voice just after his baptism:

“And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’”  Luke 3:22.  It may have been the same VOICE, but it is not the same VERSE!

I, for one, do not believe in audible voices from heaven.  My own experience and that of others I have known, is that we may understand something anew or in a new way.  For example, at His baptism, Jesus became clear that he was the chosen or anointed One, but that this would involve suffering before there would be any triumphant victory. 

This revelation came with the combining of two special verses in the voice from heaven.  One was from the Psalm used for the anointing of the kings of Israel – and along with it was a verse from one of the so-called “suffering servant” passages from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah.  As I understand it, this revelation came to Jesus alone at that time – at least as presented in the Gospel According to Luke.

In the passage from today’s gospel story, Luke presents the voice as being primarily for the three disciples, rather than Jesus.  It is also a correction to them, reminding them of what they have been coming to understand;  Jesus is God’s “Son,” God’s Chosen one, in a special relationship, and the disciples are to listen especially to Him (rather than primarily to Moses or Elijah, for Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets.  THAT is to be their new understanding!

Jesus was transfigured in their understanding through this revelation and THEY, Peter, James and John, were being transformed to see and to know WHO He really IS and What His Mission is in the world!

I see this gospel as a caution to those of use who come to think of tolerance and broad-mindedness as the heart of the Christian way (or the Episcopal way)..

It may be especially to people to tend to say, “Oh well, we’re all trying to get to the same place!”

Are we?  Have you ever really studied where people’s actions seem to be leading them? Where are they headed, really?  Whom do they worship and seek to follow?  What “star” guides them?

Peter, James and John heard a clear message as they were being transfigured.  They were beginning to distinguish between Jesus and the other great spiritual leaders of the Israelites – ALL of whom were important, but not ALL were EQUALLY important.

Those three disciples finally heard and understood that THIS is God’s  “Son”, God’s Chosen, God’s special revelation to us; listen to HIM!’

Listen!  It was the disciples who were transformed on that mountain.  They saw Jesus in a new light.  Their minds were changed about Him. . .not forced but lovingly persuaded.  It was a revelation of realization.  Has that also ever happened to you about others?

They finally “got it”.  Have we?