A Glimpse of Glory

One of the many things you don’t know about me is that I am interested in the Apollo project that sent humans from the earth to the moon in the late 60’s and early 70’s. I have read a fair number of books on the subject – from general overviews to Jim Lovell’s book about Apollo 13 to a book about the people behind the scenes – the engineers and designers of the various parts of the rocket. In fact, I just recently rewatch Tom Hanks HBO miniseries, From the Earth to the Moon.

Many things stood out as I read those books but one particular thing continues to amaze me. To put the Saturn V rocket together they had to have a huge building. To meet this need they built the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center.

This building had to contain the entire rocket in pieces and stacked up together. It had to house all of the equipment and cranes involved in putting the rocket together as well as all the people and support services. The VAB is 525 ft tall, 716 ft long and 518 ft wide.

If that building were plunked down right here in Victoria it would fill all of the space from the front steps of St. Andrew’s, east to Blanshard Street and south to just shy of Burdett Ave. It would fill that area – basically two blocks of downtown Victoria – and it would do so to a height of 52 stories.

The VAB is a massive structure. It is so big that the book I read said that it is impossible to take a picture of it that conveys its size. If you stand back far enough to get the whole building in the shot everything else is so small that there is nothing to compare it to. And if you get close enough to find something to give it scale you can’t get the whole building in the shot.

It is possible to get only suggestions that describe its size without actually experiencing the place first hand. Imagining how much space it would take up in this neighbourhood gives a hint of how big it is but that is but a glimpse of the true vastness of the building. It is but a glimpse of something truly amazing. It is but a glimpse…

About a week after Jesus told His disciples that He was going to suffer and die and that all His followers would have to take up their own crosses, He took three of His disciples to be witness to something incredible. Now what we are looking at today is the transfiguration of Jesus. No one of us can know for sure what really happened that day. We read the passage and we look at the context but, in the end, we are faced with the fact that it is cloaked in mystery. But still we try to understand.

As we look at this story, as always, we have to keep its context in mind. Leading up to this passage, there is: Peter’s confession of Jesus as Messiah. Then Jesus confused the disciples to no end when He told them that that meant that He would suffer and die. Jesus introduced to them the reality of His being Messiah but also the reality of the lives to which they were called to take up their own crosses. Well here Jesus took the next step in revealing the truth

Jesus took Peter, James and John up a high mountain. No one else was near them. No one else was there to see what would happen. Luke used such an economy of words to express what the disciples saw:

29 And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. 30 Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. Luke 9:29–30 (NRSV)

“The appearance of His face changed.” Mark wrote, “He was transfigured before them.” What could that possibly mean? The word Mark used means to be transformed or to change one’s form.

Jesus certainly appeared different to the three disciples but the word used to describe what happened is more substantial than just a change in appearance. Jesus’ form was

somehow changed. And what the disciples saw was a dazzling whiteness. Both Luke and Mark were very clear in their writing that what happened was supernatural. Jesus didn’t just have a special robe tucked under His cloak. What they saw happen was truly beyond human ability.

Then added to that was the appearance of Elijah and Moses. They both talked to Jesus while the disciples watched. They were shaken out of a sleepy stupor. Were they open mouthed in shock? Were they cowering in fear? Were they left dumb in amazement? They probably experienced all of those things. Then after a time perhaps Jesus looked at the disciples or spoke to them and Peter had to say something. Peter told Jesus it was good that they were there – good that they could serve Him and good that they could have this experience.

Peter also offered to set up shelters or booths for Jesus and Moses & Elijah. Luke adds the comment that Peter really didn’t know what he was talking about. There is probably a lot of truth in that but it would seem only logical from what Peter said to believe that Peter wanted this experience to continue.

We don’t know if Jesus answered Peter but then a cloud closed in on the mountain. The cloud was so often seen as a sign of God’s presence – at Mount Sinai when God gave the law, Moses went up into the cloud to talk to God. The cloud closed in and then came the voice – a voice out of the cloud. For us there can be no question, this was the voice of God.

35 Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” Luke 9:35 (NRSV)

This time when God spoke it was for the sake of the disciples. When God spoke at Jesus’ baptism it was for His benefit: “You are my Son, whom I love. With you I am well pleased.” God spoke almost the same words but this time to the disciples and this time telling them to listen to Jesus. Jesus Himself would speak the word of God to them.

And then just as suddenly as it had happened, it was over and the three disciples were alone with Jesus. The cloud was gone, as were Moses and Elijah. The experience was at an end and it was time to go back down the mountain.

What happened on that mountain? As best as we can know what happened was God revealed the truth about Jesus to those three disciples. God revealed Jesus in all His glory as He would appear at the Father’s right hand following the resurrection and ascension. Peter, James and John were given a glimpse of glory. They saw something of the glory of Christ – even if it was just for a moment.

As Luke tells this story we see the purpose of the experience as being for the disciples. God’s grace was given to them in this experience to help them reconcile the concept of a suffering and dying Messiah. They came away having seen the revelation of God but also with those words that they were supposed to listen to Jesus. They couldn’t just brush off those words about suffering and death. Nor could they brush off those words about taking up their own crosses.

But what about for us, what does this passage say to us today? Well it tells us more about who Jesus is. It gives us a glimpse of the glory of Jesus Christ. He was more than most realized 2000 years ago and He is more than most realize today. This passage tells us that Jesus is full of glory and therefore should be glorified – He should be worshiped with our lives and thereby we should reflect His glory around us. Jesus is the very Son of God worthy of our praise and worship.

But this passage also speaks about an experience. It was an experience that God gave those three disciples through Jesus. They experienced the glory of Christ. They saw a glimpse of glory. God may not take us up the mountain of transfiguration but God still does give us experiences of His grace today.

The Presbyterian Church has historically – at least in my time – downplayed experience. Some of that is for good reason – we want to hold up the place of importance of Scripture. We don’t want to get to the point of having feelings as more important than Scripture but from that fear we have really denied ourselves God’s grace.

Now I am not just talking about things like seeing Jesus in dazzling white and having a vision of Moses and Elijah. But I am talking about experiencing the grace of God. I am talking about experiencing God’s grace such as being filled with a sense of peace, about tears of joy coming to your eyes when you sing God’s praises, somehow knowing that God really loves you because you do feel it – even if it is just for moment.

We can’t make those experiences happen – it is the grace of God. But we can choose to be open to those experiences or closed off from them. Truly they are special things because as with the disciples it is not an everyday event. But the more we are open to God working in our lives the more likely we are to know the touch of His hand in our lives.

I pray that you know the touch of God. I pray that you experience the power of God’s grace in your life – really experience it – but I also have to tell you that we can’t stay in the experience, nor can we just wait around for the next experience.

All of a sudden, the cloud was gone and the Moses and Elijah were gone. The experience came to an end and it was time to go back down the mountain. God gives those moments of grace – those glimpses of glory – but then He calls us back down the mountain. Not only does He call us back down the mountain but He reminds us to take up our crosses and follow Him.

I celebrate those glimpses of the glory of Christ. I celebrate them and remember them and hold on to them. I look forward to the next time God touches me in such a way but in between I have to live in the real world serving Him who gives me such grace.

May we be open to the grace of God in Christ. And may we know the touch of God in our lives. And may we serve and follow Him always.