LUKE 9:28b-36
Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white.
And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.
Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
But he did not know what he was saying. While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.”
After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen.
FROM THE GLORY TO THE CROSS
About what was Jesus speaking with Moses and Elijah? “His exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.” An exodus is a long journey, much like the word exit. Moses led the chosen people, Israel, on the first, great exodus. They had been slaves in Egypt, and Moses led them from this horrible oppression to freedom, and eventually to the Promised Land.
Why is Jesus going on this journey of his own exodus? Because we are slaves to sin and to death. Just as God heard the cries of the people of Israel, God has heard the cries of all of us who are slaves to sin and death. God the Father knows that we are suffering.
Just as God called Moses to lead his people, God has sent his own son, Jesus, to lead us into freedom. But this journey is even more harrowing than Moses’ through the Red Sea and into the wilderness.
We need to know that Jesus is undertaking this journey for each one of us. Jesus’ exodus takes place on the cross. We think of this suffering, this pain, even to death itself, which is Jesus’s journey for each one us. And we think about how each one us faces suffering and death, our own journey.
Our faith in Jesus is our sharing in his journey. He is walking with us into our suffering and death. And we are sharing in each others’ journey. In Jesus, no one of us travels alone.
Notice that Jesus’s journey starts with a glimpse into his glory. This dire prophecy, that Jesus will suffer and die, is proclaimed as his divine nature shines forth. The voice from heaven, the voice of God, tells us that he is part of the journey: it is his beloved son whom he offers for us. The glory of God is his love, shining in our darkness.