BCP- Mark 9:2-9

"Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, "This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!"

The Lectionary this week is full of incredible images. It was hard to pass up the Elijah image and the silence. The above has me thinking about how I might preach this next week. There are some odd events in the transfiguration (beyond the transfiguration itself.) that will be interesting to follow. The first is the the statement by Peter. Here he is terrified out of his wits. Is the text suggesting the dictum "The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the lord" Fear being closer to Awe rather than terror. Awe being the combination of fear and reverence.

The second is that Peter has been brought here by Jesus and now he's hanging out not just with Jesus but Moses and Elijah. Certainly this is not something that happens every day. So what does Peter say to deal with the event but suggest to make three dwellings. My guess this would be tents and tents may lead us back to Moses and the tabernacle. The tabernacle is the tent of the covenant which contains the law (commandments). The tabernacle could only be entered by the high priest and there within is the Arc of the Covenant which is the very seat of God.

So here we have an interesting image. Is it suggesting that in this image of prophets and Jesus under tents reveals the holy seat of God? Jesus as the Arc of the Covenant and the new law? It fits theologically and would follow the understanding that the new covenant lies not in a place (temple of Jerusalem) but in Jesus. It takes place on a mountain (where Moses receives the law ie Sinai) and happens quietly (Elijah and God in the silence)

The third funky image is the repetition of the words used in Jesus' baptism. God comes in a cloud (again Moses and the leading of the Israelites from slavery to freedom) and speaks (as God speaks He creates- Genesis) that Jesus "Is my son, the beloved. Listen to him." So like Jesus being sent into the desert to be tested after his baptism, he is now sent into Jerusalem to be tried, convicted, killed, and resurrected.