Glory & Suffering
Readings: Matthew 17. 1-9, 2 Peter 1. 16-21
How does the Transfiguration equip the disciples and us when suffering comes?
Our Gospel reading today begins ‘after six days’. Six days after what? Well, if we look back at the previous chapter we find that these events immediately follow that key moment when Jesus asks his disciples who people think he is, and then who they say he is. And you may remember that Peter recognises who he is with the eyes of faith ‘you are the Christ’, and now, six days later he sees with the eyes of his body. We often want the proof before we place our faith, in many ways it would be easier right? Jesus is transfigured and then he asks who they think he is. But that’s not what happens here. First they have it revealed in their hearts by faith, and now, that faith is confirmed by sight.
We are a people who see with the eyes of faith, we have never seen Jesus stood in front of us in the flesh, and yet our faith and hope is in him. So having seen now with the eyes of faith, soon we will see face to face. Soon we will see his glory for ourselves.
And that in many ways is what I want to focus on this morning but looking at the events that fit immediately after Peter’s declaration of who Jesus is, and the events of the transfiguration 6 days later. Because as soon as Peter has recognised Jesus, Jesus starts speaking plainly about his mission. Speaking about how he will be betrayed, killed, and on the third day rise again. And how, if we would follow him, we too are to take up our cross and follow in his steps. There’s this stark warning of the suffering that awaits Jesus, and therefore the struggle and suffering that awaits all believers. And this is then followed with the transfiguration, the revealing of Jesus’ glory. Suffering, then glory.
It’s the shape of what Jesus life is moving towards; the suffering of the cross and then the glory of the resurrection and his return at the end of the age. It’s the shape of the journey we are about to embark on as we enter Lent, the suffering and self-denial of the 40+ days followed by the glory of the Easter celebrations. And it’s the shape of our lives as Christians, the suffering now in this life, which does not compare to the glory coming when we see Jesus face to face. Suffering then glory.
And this revelation of Jesus’ glory atop the mountain happens to strengthen these core disciples. Peter and James and John are the core three, the ones who are with Jesus the most, who are witnesses to the most. And this revelation of Jesus’ glory is meant to show them that, even though suffering is coming, for Jesus in his crucifixion and death, and for them in all that will come their way as they follow Jesus, that glory will follow, the glory of the resurrection, and the glory of his coming again. This glimpse of who Jesus really is is all about glory that sustains us through suffering.
When Peter recounts these events, as we heard in our second reading today, although notice how he skips over his misstep of offering to build shelters for them all, interesting how he doesn’t mention that. But when he tells of the transfiguration he says that ‘we were eyewitnesses of his majesty’. In other words of his glory. This vision is, for Peter, all about ‘the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power’. That’s what he says. In other words what Peter and the other two have seen is a reminder to them that this is who their master truly is, and who it is who is coming back for them. This is no mere man, this is the God of the Universe in the flesh. He looks ordinary, but here they see him truly as he is, in all his glory. And so as they looked to his return, even in the midst of suffering, it was with that same vision in mind, the glory about to be revealed, which strengthened them in the midst of their trials and troubles.
Peter speaks of Jesus’ glory, and John, who is there with him, does the same. As he writes in the prologue to his Gospel ‘the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father’. We have seen his glory. John is thinking of this moment, when he stood atop the mountain with Peter and James, as he writes those words. How for just a moment the veil was lifted and they saw him as he truly is.
This moment atop the mountain is imprinted on the minds of the three who were witnesses. Peter writes about it, John writes about it. And yet this revelation only comes following directly on from Jesus talking about his coming suffering. The glory of Jesus will only be truly revealed after his death and resurrection. Suffering, then glory. But the vision of this glory is given to strengthen them through their suffering too. This moment is imprinted on their minds so that, in the midst of their own suffering, they can recall this moment and know who it is who is coming for them, the glorious God of the Universe, and what it is that awaits them, the glory of the resurrection.
I’ve recently been reading Tim Peake’s autobiography, the British Astronaut who went to the ISS in 2015. In choosing to apply to be an astronaut and in all the selection process and training he made huge sacrifices, his time, his family life, his comfort and even at times his perceived safety. What kept him going in it all? Where he was going. He had this huge opportunity to go into space. He kept reminding himself that he’d come this far, he wasn’t going to give up now, this next sacrifice would be worth it. With going to the ISS in his sights he kept going through it all. He knew where he was headed, and he knew it would be worth all the trials and sacrifices he was making to get there.
I haven’t quoted JC Ryle, the first Anglican Bishop of Liverpool for a while, but he’s great on this. He says ‘It is good for us to have the coming glory of Christ and His people deeply impressed on our minds. We sadly tend to forget it. There are few visible indications of it in the world… It does not yet appear what His people will be. Their crosses, their tribulations, their weaknesses, their conflicts are all clear enough, but there are few signs of their future reward. Let us beware of giving way to doubts in this matter. Let us silence such doubts by reading over the history of the transfiguration. There is laid up for Jesus and all that believe in Him such glory as the human heart never imagined. It is not only promised, but part of it has actually been seen by three competent witnesses… Surely that which has been seen may well be believed.’
All the sufferings of this life are all too evident he says. As we take up our cross as Jesus had instructed six days before these events, as we deny ourselves the pleasures that this world offers out of faithfulness to Jesus, as we choose a different way that pits us against the world, and as we perhaps suffer ridicule or personal sacrifice or even persecution for his sake, let us fix our eyes on his glory, on where and who we are journeying towards. This is what awaits us, this is who is coming for us, just as it was imprinted on the minds of these three, let it so be imprinted on our minds that, whenever we face such struggles, the glory that is to come may swim straight into our minds. It will be worth it, because of who Jesus is and what he has promised.
Sometimes the choices in the lectionary are a mystery to me, but here this reading makes perfect sense. The Church in her wisdom has placed this reading today, as it does every year, because it points us through the suffering of the cross to the glory of Christ’s resurrection and return, it points us to where all of this is headed. And, as we prepare to enter Lent, as we prepare to deny ourselves, to make sacrifices, to examine our lives and leave behind all that hinders our walk with the Lord, as we take up the cross and follow in Christ’s steps, which may be costly, we have first set our sights on the glory to come, such that we know that the sufferings and sacrifices of this present time are not worth comparing to that coming glory.
My brothers and sisters, in suffering, in self denial, in seeking to be faithful to Jesus, even if that places us against the world around us, let us not cast our eyes downwards and pull on some inner strength, let us lift our eyes to Jesus, to behold his glory, that we may see the glory to which we are headed, and the one who is coming for us, and in that vision find strength to press on.
Amen.