Narrative Lectionary Program Year – Transfiguration
Luke 9:28-45
Free Additional Resources for Study & Sermon Preparation
Furthering the Power of God’s Story – Narrative Lectionary Commentary
by Rev. Dr. Clint Schnekloth
Luke is unique in so clearly tying the exodus narrative to Christ’s resurrection. Because the Transfiguration is such a luminous event, preachers and hearers can get bogged down in the details of the story itself, and the who’s who of who is there.
But if the Transfiguration is an exodus event, then the glory of the Lord (the one that went before the arc of the covenant during the exodus) and now shines in Jesus is to be understood as present and among God’s people.
Not just Jesus as a special someone. But rather glory present in Jesus for God’s special people.
In this sense, the more general direction culture goes of looking for “transfiguration moments” is not entirely misguided. Indeed the story invites hearers to consider how the transfiguration relates to transfiguration in their own lives and community, now.
However, what Luke does is something more ambitious—he then points such transfiguration moments ahead to the resurrection itself and the new life that Christ will live as Christ in community, first in the resurrection appearances, and then most resoundingly in that transfigured book, the Acts of the apostles.
Menu
The following links and resources are not produced or maintained by Clergy Stuff. However, at the time of this posting, the links were active and considered to be good source material for proclamation for the text for this week. Please scroll down or click on the quick jump menu you find below. For more free worship resources & planning materials, please visit our links for RCL Worship Resources.
Other Resources
Exegetical Links
Transparent. Transfigured. Nancy Rockwell.
Transfiguration: God Has the Long View, Nancy Hunt.
The Dial and the Switch: Recognizing the Moments of God’s Special Visitation, Pam Finckenscher
The Glory of God: Echoes of Exodus in the Gospels, Mark Watson
Transfigured Hermeneutics, Alastair Roberts
Great Quotes
“The Transfiguration of Jesus Christ is an important landmark in this journey. It is a timeless story, a wonderful and miraculous episode from the life of Jesus Christ that reveals a lot about our own journey toward salvation.”
A Good Read
This Is My Beloved Son: The Transfiguration of Christ
by Andreas Andreopoulos
Video Resources
Daily Devotional Feed
Free Dramatic Reading For This Text (NRSV)
Readers: Narrator, Peter, Voice, Man
Narrator: Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus,
Peter: Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah
Narrator:—not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said,
Voice: This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!
Narrator: When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen. On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. Just then a man from the crowd shouted,
Man: Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child. Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It convulses him until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him. I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.
Narrator: Jesus answered,
Jesus: You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.
Narrator: While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astounded at the greatness of God. While everyone was amazed at all that he was doing, he said to his disciples,
Jesus: Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands.
Narrator: But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was concealed from them, so that they could not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.