More Than We Can Imagine
- Rev Robert Moses
- Feb 15
- 5 min read
Updated: Feb 16
The Last Sunday after Epiphany
Lessons (RCL, Year A): Exodus 24:12-18; Psalm 99; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Matthew 17:1-9
It had not been an easy time for the disciples and Jesus. They were constantly bombarded by people seeking healing or help, and they began to face scrutiny from religious leaders. No matter where they turned, they could not find a place to rest and retreat.
Amid this crucible of questions and exhaustion, Jesus asked his disciples who they believed he was. Peter responded that Jesus was the Messiah, the Lord. However, despite using the right words, Peter still didn't fully understand their meaning. When Jesus started talking about the cross, Peter faltered, shifting from being a cornerstone to a stumbling block. He couldn't comprehend how someone could save and liberate God's people if he was to be killed. It simply didn’t make sense to him.
Jesus then explained that the road to Jerusalem would be a difficult one and would end in a cross. He told them that if they wanted to follow him, they too would have crosses to bear. He had been trying to reveal to his disciples who he really was and why he had come, as well as what it truly meant to be the Messiah. But all Peter wanted was for Jesus to stop speaking; he felt as though the Jesus he had known and loved was slipping away.
Still, when Jesus began to ascend the mountain, Peter, James, and John followed him, navigating over rocky outcroppings and the slippery dust and sand to stand with him at the summit. As they looked back at all that had transpired, they remembered being called to follow. Now, standing at the top of this precipice and gazing across the valleys ahead, they began to wonder where Jesus would lead them next.
It was while they were on that mountain that everything changed. The three disciples had expected a break, a pause in the action, but instead, they were thrown into a terrifying and mystical experience that they could never have predicted or fully explained. Throughout Scripture, prophets and leaders encounter God on mountains. Moses, enveloped in clouds, received the tablets of the law on Mount Sinai. Elijah heard God in the still, small voice, powerful in its thundering silence, on a mountain. Similarly, Peter, James, and John encountered God as Jesus was transfigured before them. In this moment, God connects the law, the prophets, and the gospel, weaving them into a narrative of faith that culminates in Jesus. Moses, Elijah, and Jesus stand together on the mountaintop, clothed in white.
It is understandable that Peter wanted to stay on that mountaintop, far from the world below. Up there, there were no distractions or demands from others. On the mountain, Peter didn’t have to contemplate what Jesus meant about the cross, suffering, and death. Instead, he saw the glorified, victorious Jesus, who he had been longing to see in splendor and glory. So, Peter insisted that it would be good—better—to stay on the mountain, pitch some tents, and remain there.
But God’s glory pulls back the veil between heaven and earth even more profoundly.
“Look, here is my son. My beloved. Listen to him.” (Matthew 17:5b)
The disciples are terrified. Falling to their knees, they tremble in fear until the cloud dissipates. The cracked door to heaven closes once again. They are left on the mountain, alone with Jesus. Even as they cower, Jesus reaches out his hand, touching their shoulders and saying,
“Get up. Do not be afraid.” (Matthew 17:7b)
The scene returns to how it was before—Moses and Elijah are gone, and Jesus is there alone—as if everything has returned to normal. However, in reality, nothing will ever be the same.
In the Gospel of Matthew, this moment of transfiguration and the revealing of divine glory on the mountaintop serves as a turning point. Jesus, who had been ministering throughout the countryside, turns his face toward Jerusalem, ready to embark on the journey to the cross. The disciples now face a decision: Will they continue to follow him on this new leg of the journey?
Each year, on the Last Sunday after the Epiphany, we hear the narrative of Jesus’ Transfiguration. This day, along with its narrative, becomes a turning point in our liturgical year, positioned between Epiphany—a time characterized by light and revelation—and Lent, a season of repentance as we make our journey to the cross. From this mountain, we look back to see Jesus being baptized, beginning his ministry, teaching, preaching, and healing. We also look forward to the rocky and winding path to Jerusalem. From this vantage point, we notice how Jesus opens his arms to the world and reaches out to each of us, ultimately stretching wide across the beams of a cross. From this mountain, we might even catch a glimpse of the final act of the story when Jesus will stand, robed in glory, raised from the dead, and ascending to heaven.
Have you ever wondered where Jesus is leading you? Listen to Him.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit… Blessed are those who mourn… Blessed are the meek… Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness… Blessed are the merciful… Blessed are the pure in heart… Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (cf. Matthew 5:3-9). “You are the salt of the earth… You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:13a, 14a)
Perhaps Jesus is leading us to reflect on which people and actions we consider blessed, challenging us to consider our significance in the world.
“Be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:24b) “First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.” (Matthew 7:5) “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:44-45a)
Jesus may be leading us to lives of reconciliation, reflecting a Trinitarian love between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit so that we can develop holy and righteous relationships with our neighbors, our community, and the whole world.
“I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” (Matthew 9:13) “But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also.” (Matthew 5:39b) “Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)
Perhaps Jesus is leading us to live in a way that builds God’s kingdom here and now, focusing on the upbuilding of peace and the pursuit of justice.
“Follow me.” (Matthew 8:22) “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
Have you wondered where Jesus is leading you? Listen to Him.
"The knowledge of God is a mountain, steep indeed, and difficult to climb" (Gregory of Nyssa). As we grow in our faith, there are moments when it feels as if we have been climbing for years, still unsure whether we are heading in the right direction. Sometimes we find ourselves on the wrong path and must turn around and backtrack to find our way. There are also moments when we reach the top of a beautiful vista, given a glimpse of the world as it truly is or as it ought to be, only to discover that the trail continues, calling us ever forward.
“Beyond mountains, there are mountains.” (an Italian proverb) Jesus is already making His way back down the trail, back into the throng of people waiting for healing, vision, and hope—into the midst of all that need and all those questions. He is moving forward toward what lies ahead. He has extended His hand to us, urging us to rise, telling us not to be afraid. He has invited us to come and follow Him once more. We need to be on our way.
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