Mark 8:31-34

Mark 9:2-10

 This week the preschool had their Valentine’s Day party.  There were bags of cards and little treats and candies shared throughout the class.  Seeing all of those decorated bags in the courtyard reminded me of my elementary days. “Be Mine”, “Hugs”, “Will you be my Valentine?” on the candied hearts and colorful cards.  Of course you gave everyone in the class a Valentine, so no one would be left out. Yet I must admit, at the time I just felt tremendously loved with all of these expressions of love given to me by my friends. It expressed the love of friendship and support, not romance.   Interestingly Melanie told me when she was growing up in England Valentines were not so egalitarian, rather reserved only for your sweetheart.  I kind of like having expressions of love that express friendship.

We are in the heart of Mark’s gospel with the transfiguration.  A holy moment when the disciples see Jesus in a new light and they are all transformed.  My understanding changed when I was speaking with John Koeker- a parish associate in a neighboring church and a visitor last week about what he will be preaching on this Sunday.  That five minute conversation reoriented my musing about this mountain top experience.  That is why we have two passages from Mark getting a fuller picture of events.

Think of the hardest thing you have ever done in your life.  You did not want to do it, but it was what you had to do. It might have been be painful or embarrassing or incredibly difficult.  Maybe you were faced with an illness, you lost your spouse, you admitted cheating.  You finally had the courage to tell your closest friends about your troubling situation and all they want to do is fix it, change it and not really hear your truth or your reality.  Those dark moments are exactly when you need a true friend.  One who will listen, support, pray and cry with you if that is what you need.  If you had that in your life, then thank God.  If that was not the case, Jesus understands your pain.

Jesus knew he was heading for the cross- the pain, the suffering and dying, to live out God’s will.  Next week we will start our sermon series on Jesus’ last words from his cross. Each week we will hear words he uttered while being crucified as we journey together through Lent.  Today we heard the very first time Jesus told his disciples about his death and resurrection; not an easy thing to do.  So when Jesus had the courage to tell his disciples, arguably his closest friends, about his suffering, death and resurrection, how does Peter respond?  No, he does not listen and support.  Peter rebukes Jesus, he protests what Jesus is about to do.  They were so at odds, that Jesus says to Peter, “Get behind me Satan.”

This is where the visitor John’s thought came in.  He asked the question, “Would the transfiguration have to happen if the disciples had understood and supported Jesus?”  Now I realize there are many larger theological matters woven in this text, but I am intrigued by this relational question.  The moment Jesus is his most holy on earth, high atop a mountain, might have been a response to a very human need for friendship and compassion.  Something Jesus certainly did not get from his disciples.

It is almost like God intervenes- being the ultimate parent seeing his son all alone with his mission to save us from our sin, to die on the cross without any support or kindness.  Jesus is left alone with this huge responsibility.  God, being compassionate and loving, sends companions to Jesus to talk to him, to listen to him, to befriend him.  God even changes Jesus- transfigured him – his clothes dazzling white, so that he could be ministered to by these men of faith who dwell with God.

The transfiguration is a holy moment, a compassionate moment, a talking moment. They talk, they share, they listen.  It is the sharing of a moment between Moses, Elijah and Jesus; three prominent leaders, three faithful and righteous men of God.  Moses harkens back to the exodus, God freeing his people and providing the law – the Ten Commandments to Moses.  Elijah stands for all the prophets and is the one to come before the Messiah.  All ascend to heaven.  In that eternal moment, beyond time, Jesus is heard, supported, loved and transformed.  I believe we can be transformed when we are heard and listened to as well.

Peter once again is not into listening, he wants to build, commemorate.  Fortunately the cloud of God overshadows the three disciples and God declares Jesus his beloved Son, and what…. “Listen to him.”  I always heard that statement as saying listen to him, follow his teachings.  Now God might be saying you missed it when you rebuked Jesus- when you didn’t listen to him.  So maybe just maybe God is reminding them and us of the gift of love that is listening.

In the Enrichment meeting we all shared a romantic or loving memory in honor of Valentine’s Day.  Pat Lindstrom told of being really sick as a child staying home for a long while.  As Valentine’s Day approached, her mother was not sure she was well enough to go to school and to attend the party.  Her condition improved and she could go.  The decision was made at the last minute, and she was without any valentines to share with her class.  So Pat’s father stayed up late and carefully made cards for everyone – each one personalized saying “My Heart Goes Pitty Pat for you!”  A beautiful thought from a loving father…

God, your heavenly Father, has made, sent and delivered your perfect Valentine in Jesus Christ.  God’s Son is the manifestation and personification of God’s love; true love that listens and uniquely saves you from sin.  Christ has suffered and died on the cross for you.  All God asks in return is to take up your cross and follow Christ.  Love like he loves you.  Feed like he feeds you.  Listen like he listens to you.  You think, “I can’t”- well you have traveled up the mountain. And you have been transfigured too.  You are changed for the better -to be a listener for Christ; a lover of the world with Christ; a true friend in Christ.  Amen.