Leonard Sweet
2 Kings 2:1-12
Psalm 50:1-6
2 Corinthians 4:3-6
Mark 9:2-9
In this vlog I am using transfigure in both a technical sense and a metaphorical sense. Of course, only Jesus was technically “transfigured.” But Jesus’ “transfiguration” is a prolepsis of what the disciples became after Pentecost, and what is possible for all disciples as they become “new creatures in Christ.” as “all things are passed away, all things become new.” That’s transfiguration, not transformation.
There is a book-ends contrast between the Mount of Temptation and the Mount of Transfiguration. Satan led Jesus to high mountain and tempted him with power and glory
Jesus led his disciples to a high mountain and showed the the meaning of power and glory . . .service and selflessness.
Satan’s version of power and glory is self-glorification and self-aggrandizement
Jesus’ version of power and glory is sacrificial love and self-emptying.
The mountain-top life is not life lived on mountain-tops, but life lived in the low country, life lived in the vales and valleys where people are hurting and hungry but with mountain-top dreams, mountain-top hopes, and mountain-top faith.
A mountain-top life is not satisfied with mole-hills or foot-hills, or basks only in scenic ridges or beautiful vistas. A mountain-top life goes through death valleys and desolation canyons. Only the Mount of Calvary can take us to the Mount of Transfiguration.
On 01 April 1989 there was held in St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Vienna, the funeral of the Empress Zita of Austria/Hungary, the widow of the last Emperor Charles I, who had died 70 years before. She was 96. The service lasted two hours: 6000 people attended; the musical setting was Mozart’s Requiem Mass.
At the end the coffin was placed in a hearse drawn by six black horses and accompanied by 600 Tyrolean militia to the nearby Habsburg burial place, the church of the Capuchins. When the cortege arrived the doors were closed. The chamberlain knocked three times and one of the friars inside called out: “Who requests entry?”
The reply was formidable (and spoke of a vanished Europe): “Her Majesty Zita, Empress of Austria, crowned Queen of Hungary, Queen of Bohemia, Dalmatia, Croatia, Slavonia, Galizia, Illyria, Queen of Jerusalem, Archduchess of Austria, Grand Duchess of Tuscany and Cracow, Duchess of Lorraine, Salzburg, Carinthia, Krain and Buconia, Grand Duchess of Transylvania, Marchioness of Moravia, Duchess of Upper and Lower Silesia, of Modena, Parma, Piacenza, of Dubrovnik and Zara, princely Countess of Habsburg and Tyrol, Duchess of Trent and Brixen, Marchioness of Upper and Lower Lausitz and Istria, Countess of Hohenembo, Ruler of Triesta, Great Princess of Servia, born Royal Princess of Bourbon, Princess of Parma.”
There then followed her orders to open the door.
The Capuchin friar replied: “We do not know her. Who requires entry?”
“Her Majesty Zita, Empress of Austria, Queen of Hungary.”
Again the reply came: “We do not know her. Who requires entry?”
This time the chamberlain replied: “Our sister Zita, a poor mortal sinner.”
Suddenly the gates flung open.
“Come in.”
Only Jesus . . . opens the Gates.
Only Jesus ….. The Door . . . opens the Door.
For the actual ceremony of opening the doors of the church, see this exchange:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-BBgc_uBZQ
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