Saturday 20 February 2021

Psalm 86:1-13

Background

If you read 'A Word in Time' last Sunday (14 February), you will recognise this passage because it is Luke’s version of the passage from Mark that we read that day (Mark 9:2-13).   Since we have four different gospels, the first three of which have a similar shape with many passages that appear in two or all three of them, it is important when we have parallel versions, to note the differences and ponder their significance.

Luke does not use the word 'transfiguration', but speaks simply of what was seen by those present. Like Mark, Luke refers to Jesus’ clothes becoming dazzling white but he also speaks of Jesus' face changing, albeit without specifying how.

We can only speculate how those present knew that the figures who met with Jesus were Moses and Elijah, but whereas Matthew and Mark only say in general terms that they were talking with Jesus, Luke states that their theme was 'the departure' (literally 'exodus' as a euphemism for death) Jesus was shortly to accomplish (notice how that word suggests his control of it) in Jerusalem. We might want to notice that both Moses and Elijah in the Old Testament stories may not have died in the usual way; Moses disappeared from the top of a mountain and Elijah was taken to heaven in a fiery chariot. Thus there is something parallel between their reported experiences and that of Jesus who would be resurrected. In the wider context, the conversation between the two visitors and Jesus is a confirmation for the disciples of the rightness of Jesus’ plan to accept suffering and death, which he had recently revealed to them (v.22).

 Luke alone includes the comment that the disciples were sleepy (v. 32). Perhaps this is Luke’s excuse for why they failed to get the message and continued as Luke's Gospel unfolded to resist the way of the Cross.

The voice in verse 35 describes Jesus as “my Son, my Chosen” rather than “Beloved” as in Mark's Gospel. But it is 'chosen' for a particular purpose, similar to why the Jews had much earlier been chosen by God. It does not carry any of the sense of 'favourite' that the word sometimes implies for us. The final verse (v.36) reports that the three disciples said nothing about the experience, but this is not stated to be due to a command of Jesus as it is in the other gospels. We might assume they worked out for themselves that this was a special event that needed to remain secret for the time being.

To Ponder:

• Do you value having four gospels or do you think it would be easier if the story of Jesus was contained comprehensively in one of them?   Do you have a favourite? Why?
• Peter’s proposal represents an attempt to preserve an intense experience of God. When have you had an experience of the presence of God that you would have wished to preserve or recreate if at all possible?
• Is inattention (such as caused by sleepiness) a better excuse than outright rejection of the message of Jesus?