2 Peter
1:16-21—The disciples witnessed Jesus’
transfiguration. Peter will testify to the reality of Jesus’ experience with
God. People may ask, is the Transfiguration a legend of the early church or an
historical reality? The account in 2 Peter assures us that it can be accepted
as fact. The witness of eyewitnesses. The problem lies in this, do we believe
this testimony? Do we trust in Peter’s words? The authority of the church today
is the authority of the Apostles. Do we trust the witness of the Apostles? Were
you there at the Transfiguration as you were at the cross?
Peter
reminds us that the Transfiguration needs to be an historical event but also an
experience of faith today for the believer.
One
might ask what relevance the Transfiguration has for our faith and life. How is
it possible to relate this event, so bound up in experiences beyond our participation,
to our living the life of faith and hope? Apart from an historic commemoration,
what can we do with the Transfiguration.
It
would seem that one way is to view it in the same light as the apostles who
experienced it did. For them, it serves to underscore that in Jesus of Nazareth
all of the promises of God found their yes and Amen. For us it shows that in
Jesus Christ we find the prophetic Word made more sure.
Lord God, on this day you revealed
your Son to the nations by the leading of a star. Lead us now by faith to know
your presence in our lives and bring us at last to the full vision of your
glory. [2]
[2] Lutheran Service Book, © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
[3] Collect for Thursday of the week of Epiphany 6, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. III © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
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