The Beloved Son of God
Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice,
“This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!”
Mark 9:7
This is the last Sunday of Epiphany or the manifestation of Jesus as the incarnate Son of God who came to the world to begin the work for the coming of the Kingdom of God.
Today’s Gospel brings us to the mount of Transfiguration where the disciples, John, James, and Peter witnessed the glory of Jesus as his appearance transfigured before their eyes. They saw Jesus radiating the glory of God and his clothes became shining white. Indeed, a sight to behold.
Then they saw Jesus, having conversations with the two prominent people in the Old Testament—Moses and Elijah. Traditionally, these people have had special encounters with God on mountain tops. Also, these are the two known figures in OT who had a special relationship with God that their bodies were given special treatment even after they died enough for people to think that they have been transported to God’s presence.
On the other hand, the names Moses and Elijah also represent the sacred scriptures of Israel, namely, the Torah and the Nevi’im, otherwise known as the Law and the Prophets. Hence, their interaction with Jesus on the mount of transfiguration could have a very significant meaning on the identity and mission of Jesus as the incarnate Son of God.
If Moses and Elijah represent the Word of God in the life of his people, Jesus, on the other hand, is the Incarnate Word of God based on the Gospel of John. In some early Christian confessions, Jesus actually is God’s special revelation to man since he is the reflection of God’s glory, the imprint of divine being, and all the fullness of deity dwells in his human form (Heb 1:3; Col 2:9). In other words, Jesus is the embodiment of the glory of God or the spirit of his Word.
Therefore, through Jesus, we can get access to the will of God—His desires and expectations from his people.
Another point we see in this event is the intimate relationship between the Father and his Son. When Jesus was transfigured, the presence of God filled the mountain and it was covered with clouds, just like in the OT whenever God would reveal himself to Israel. Hence, the disciples were so terrified because they realized that they were in the presence of the most holy God. Then they heard the voice saying, “This is my beloved Son.”
In the OT, Israel is often compared to a child that God personally raised and brought up. However, Israel keeps on rebelling against their Father. They would, instead, follow their own selfish ways and would quickly turn to other gods and nations, rejecting God’s love (Hosea 11:1–4). Therefore, God punished them and gave them over to wicked and cruel nations and rulers. But now, in Jesus, we see a new Son of God, one who is able to fully obey God’s desires and commands. Someone who was tested in many ways and yet did not sin (Heb 4:15; 2 Cor 5:21). Therefore, God is pleased in him (Mark 1:11; Matt 12:18; Luke 3:22). In other words, Jesus is the new Israel who was able to accomplish what the old has failed to do.
Thus, through Jesus, God’s righteousness and justice is revealed to those who believe in his life and in his words.
Finally, the disciples were commanded, “Listen to him.” To listen means to hear the message and believe.
When the disciples listen and believe, their minds are enlightened and they discover God’s true light in Jesus. In other words, Jesus is the one that illuminates the mind of his disciples so that they can see and discover God’s truth and his goodness to people who will believe their message.
Interestingly, this light of God in Jesus is also what brings life and glory to the entire creation. Hearing the message of Jesus and trusting him is like experiencing the new creation, having a place, a new life, in God’s wonderful kingdom. Therefore, to those who believe in Jesus, they were given the rights to become children of God and fellow heirs of his kingdom (John 1:12; Rom 12:15–17).
Through Jesus, the beloved Son, the disciples discover the will of God—his plan to save the whole creation by bringing people into his Kingdom, making them beloved children of God.
SUMMARY
Through Jesus, the Incarnate Word of God, we can access the mind (or will) of God.
Because of the Intimacy between Jesus, the Son, and God, the Father, we know that we can also have a personal relationship with God through His Son.
If we have a personal relationship with God, we are illuminated to discover the love of God that gives us hope, strength, comfort, in the midst of all the challenges that we have to face.
Prayer:
Holy God, mighty and eternal,
you are beyond our knowing,
yet we see your glory in the face of Jesus Christ,
whose compassion illumines the world.
Transform us into the likeness of the love of Christ,
who renewed our humanity so that we
may share in his divinity,
the same Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who live and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
