and keep listening
Epiphany Last A | Matthew 17:1-9
Six days later. Nothing says “middle of a story” like starting with a reference to this happening six days after…something.
I’m a naturally curious person, so if it says “six days later,” I’m going to look back to see what happened six days ago. It might be important!
So…what happened six days ago? That’s a story. The first half of this story.
Six Days Ago…
The disciples are about to cross the water. Jesus has performed his most amazing miracle. He fed thousands of people from a couple fish and a few loaves of bread.
Then at the beginning of chapter 16, Jesus is confronted by some religious leaders. He’s been talking about the Kingdom of Heaven and why it is so much better than this. And they demand a sign. Now, we know it doesn’t work like that, but they’re the ones who benefit from the kingdoms of earth. Jesus brushes them aside.
And as Jesus and the disciples cross over the sea, he warns the disciples about them. But they don’t really get it. Jesus uses a beautiful analogy, connecting the bread of the miracle to the bad yeast of the Pharisees.
On the other side, they reach Caesarea Philippi, a Greek area. And this is where it gets interesting.
The Question
Jesus asks The Question. But he starts with this:
“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
A prophet, they say.
“But who do you say that I am?”
And to that, Peter says:
“You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Peter’s got it right. He names, not just a factual truth, but a true truth. A truth that transcends all definitions of Messiah. He nails it.
And yet he doesn’t get why it’s the right answer.
Yes, in a way, it’s the textbook answer. But it’s also obviously not. The Messiah from the (anachronistic) textbook is a conquering king and Jesus…isn’t. So it’s an odd right answer.
And because Peter can’t square the circle in his own mind, he can’t understand what Jesus is about to tell them: that he will die. They will head to Jerusalem. And there, the authorities will arrest him, brutalize him, and Rome will execute him.
Peter, of course, wants to protect the Messiah. He wants to prevent that outcome. We must stop the evil! But that’s not what the Messiah is supposed to do. He is to die. And Peter is getting in the way of his work.
The Witness
This is what happens six days before the Transfiguration.
On the first day, Jesus predicts his death, Peter gets in his way, and Jesus calls him Satan—the Adversary. The one who tempts Jesus in the wilderness. Who tries to get Jesus to save himself. Now, in Peter! Trying to do the right thing!
And Jesus says that following him requires sacrifice. We must take up our own crosses and follow him on a march to die.
Then, on the seventh day, Jesus takes that same young man, Peter, the momentary manifestation of Satan, up the mountain to witness the glory of God.
What He Sees
Following Jesus up the mountain, Peter, with James and John, makes a union with prophets of old. Those who hold what Jesus calls The Kingdom of Heaven as a common vision; the striving of a people for freedom. To be in union with the divine in peace, love, justice, health, and wholeness.
And Peter again speaks the truth.
“Lord, it is good for us to be here”.
Good. What God declares of creation. What God desires for all. That which only God can ever truly be.
Good.
And Peter sees it. He knows it. This is it!
Of course, being Peter, he doesn’t know what to do with that. His mind goes to service and hospitality (he’s learning!). This is a sacrifice. A bow-before-your-master idea. Yes, it is good, and we are blessed to be here.
So then he offers to make them comfortable. So they might stay. This isn’t the point. We know that. But how could he? He’s trying, after all.
Like before, Peter is half-right.
What happens next…
God speaks, Moses and Elijah disappear, and Jesus and the disciples descend the mountain. And this passage ends with Jesus telling the three not to talk about the experience.
The story isn’t really over, though. It ends soon after this. When they get down from the mountain to find a demon possessing a boy and the other disciples unable to cure him. So Jesus has to do it himself.
Another moment of not quite from the disciples when Jesus knows they are totally capable.
Think about this: Jesus trusts us, his disciples, completely. And yet, like Peter, we only ever get it half-right. The right answer for the wrong reason. Or the right idea, but the wrong timing.
And yet, Peter’s the one trying. The one doing his best to understand. He’s learning. He’s listening.
Listen to Him.
This of course is the bullhorn lesson in the middle of the story, isn’t it? God saying to his followers Hey! Wake up! This is my guy! I think he’s amazing. Listen to him!
And I know it is shocking news that maybe we do that, too. Maybe we’re supposed to listen to Jesus as, you know, followers of Jesus.
Even when it’s inconvenient or complicated and we just don’t want to. Maybe we suck it up and do it anyway?
And what makes that harder for us is that God says this after Jesus has told them to follow him into a nonviolent demonstration that will lead to a violent death.
Because the Kingdom of Heaven is fundamentally different than the kingdoms of earth. Power is not good, but weakness is. Strength is not good, but vulnerability is. Conquering the enemy is not good, but loving them, even into our own death, is good.
Yes, it is good for us to be here. Not to build temples for Jesus, but to witness to God’s glory and to bring that with us into our world. Because ours is the Kingdom of Heaven: we who are poor in spirit or persecuted. We who mourn are comforted, are meek and inherit the earth, or hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled.
Blessed are merciful with mercy, the pure in heart with seeing God, and peacemakers are called children of God.
Jesus keeps telling us what heaven looks like, promising grace in finding it, and support in building it. And we best listen to that.