This coming Sunday is the 2nd Sunday in Lent.  The scholar Pheme Perkins (632) provides a good final reflection for our Sunday gospel:

Despite providing the most dramatic evidence of Jesus’ relationship to God of any epiphany scene in the Gospel, the transfiguration cannot override the necessity of Jesus’ suffering and death. It does sharpen the paradox of the cross. Although God spared Moses and Elijah from the normal processes of death, not only does God’s own beloved Son die, but also his death is at the hands of his enemies. Even the affirmations of exaltation and entry into the glory of his Father (8:38) cannot nullify the scandal of the cross. God’s command to heed the word of Jesus gives his teaching the authority of divine revelation. Continue reading →

This coming Sunday is the 2nd Sunday in Lent.  4 Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. 5 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.” 6 He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified. 7 Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; then from the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” Continue reading →

This coming Sunday is the 2nd Sunday in Lent. In yesterday’s post Brian Stoffregen was offering some possibilities about the purpose(s) of mountain-top theophany. Today, we continue with his thoughtful list. Continue reading →

This coming Sunday is the 2nd Sunday in Lent. In yesterday’s post we described the theophany and offered some comments on the OT imagery contained in the theophany. But, what purposes did this theophany serve? There are a number of possibilities. Brian Stoffregen has compiled a good list of things to consider. Continue reading →

This coming Sunday is the 2nd Sunday in Lent. After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. (Mark 9:2-3) Continue reading →

This coming Sunday is the 2nd Sunday in Lent in Lectionary Cycle B. The first eight chapters of the Gospel according to Mark have been a display of the teachings, authority, and power of Jesus. These chapters include accounts of healings, casting out of demons, and the miracle feeding of more than 4,000 people – and yet the question still remains: who is this person Jesus? At Caesarea Philippi Jesus asks the disciples who the people say that he is (8:27) and receives a variety of answers: “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” And then the question is turned to the disciples, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Messiah.”  Continue reading →