There is a story about two young fish merrily swimming along who encounter an old fish swimming the other way. The old fish says, “Good morning, boys. How do you like the water today?” The young fish swim on a bit and then one turns to the other and says, “What’s water?” Awareness of their reality shifts.
The transfiguration of Jesus recounted in Matthew 17 is a reality shifter. It comes after a series of dramatic declaratives. Peter has affirmed Jesus as the son of God. Peter is named the rock of the future church. Jesus speaks of his coming death and the imperative importance of the cross. Then Jesus takes his three companions, Peter, James and John, up a “high mountain” and their perception of reality is broken wide open.
Jesus is transfigured, transformed into his eternal divine image. His face shines like the sun. His clothes become dazzling white, as dazzling as the original light that birthed the cosmos. Time shifts to timeless as Elijah and Moses join them, too. A bright cloud of mystery overshadows them all, and the Voice of the Originating One speaks. His companions drop to the ground in fear and trembling awe.
Vision and shining and awe. It happened to Moses. It happened to Job. It happened to Mary Magdalen. And others. This dazzling white vision of Jesus shows up again in Revelation 1 in cosmic proportions, ending with the detail of his face like the sun shining with full force.
Visions are sheer gift, given at crucial times. They have communal meaning and purpose. Unknowing and confusion dissolve into clarity about another reality. Divine Presence reveals an inexhaustible dynamism of possibility. And promise. Time and space have unexplored dimensions. Death has new meaning and does not have the final word. Intensification of insight is given that is transforming and forever remains.
One value of Jesus’ transfiguration is that it was a group experience, a community experience. In fact, it was an eternal community including Moses, Elijah and the Voice. But Jesus’ chosen companions — Peter, James and John — shared the same experience and proclaimed it to the wider community later.
Jesus told them to keep it to themselves until after his resurrection. Why? Did waiting change their awareness of their experience, the meaning of what they saw?
I believe we all have experiences of transfiguration, of sudden insight divinely given, of seeing possibilities beyond our own imagination. Sometimes we start new mission groups. Sometimes we keep it to ourselves. Sometimes we just keep praying for further insight and revelation. Whatever does or does not happen, let us hold on to vision and remember what has been given. I think the world depends on it.
–Ann Dean, Dayspring Church
Reflection Questions
- Can you think of a time when you saw a new vision which astonished you?
- Is there someone or some group with whom it would be good to share your vision, or hope for vision?
- What do you see now?
