Scripture Scribbles: February 25, 2024

the Gospel

Mark 9:2-10

Jesus took Peter, James, and John
and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves.
And he was transfigured before them,
and his clothes became dazzling white,
such as no fuller on earth could bleach them.
Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses,
and they were conversing with Jesus.
Then Peter said to Jesus in reply,
"Rabbi, it is good that we are here!
Let us make three tents:
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified.
Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them;
from the cloud came a voice,
"This is my beloved Son. Listen to him."
Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone
but Jesus alone with them.

As they were coming down from the mountain,
he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone,
except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
So they kept the matter to themselves,
questioning what rising from the dead meant.

the devotion

I’ve always been awed, beyond measure, by the Lord’s transfiguration, whether I am reading it in the passage or hearing it as a gospel reading. 

Therefore, I can only imagine what Peter, James, and John must have felt when they themselves witnessed Jesus’ transformation. It got me thinking that if I were to witness this miracle, would I just drop dead right then and there because my human brain couldn’t process what just transpired? Or would I prostrate myself to pay homage to God because He allowed me to see one of His greatest miracles? 

For the life of me, I couldn’t really tell. I do know one thing, though. God said: "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him." This felt like Jesus’ transfiguration, His clothes turning so dazzling white, became even more meaningful because God seemed to have emphasized two things here. One, just how much He loves Jesus Christ and two, that the disciples, who experienced that divine moment, should listen to Jesus. Try as I may, this is as far as my understanding could go. At first.

This glorious change happened shortly before the passion and death of our savior. I seldom believe in coincidences, so there must be a connection between these two: Christ’s transfiguration and His impending suffering. 

To satisfy my intense curiosity, I sought for more insights regarding the miracle that God performed on that mountain. 

Fortunately, the Byzantine Liturgy had this to say: “You were transfigured on the mountain and Your disciples, as much as they were capable of it, beheld Your glory O Christ our God, so that when they should see You crucified, they would understand that Passion was voluntary and proclaim to the world that You truly are the splendor of the Father.”

Beautiful, isn’t it? 

This most probably explains why Christ’s brightest splendor happened before His passion and death. God wants us to see that He is in-charge. He got it all covered, after all: including our savior’s resurrection and His ascension. 

However, more than God being in-charge, He wanted Jesus’ followers to listen to His son. By this, it means listen when Jesus decides to accept the most humiliating kind of death possible. Just as Jesus heeded the Father’s will (at a very costly price), the disciples were expected to heed Jesus’ wishes as well. 

Dear God, You are the Alpha and the Omega. Please help us to be always mindful of Jesus’ stories through which You Yourself are revealed. Thank you for Your beloved Son. We will listen to Him.

Today’s devotion is written by Edwina Yu