Publications 
Memorial United Methodist Church
White Plains, New York 10605
Transfigurationists and Transformationists
A Sermon by Joe Agne, Pastor
Based on Mark 9:2-9
February 22, 2009 (Not edited or proofread)
The Biblical story
We are in the midpoint of the ministry of Jesus and his friends. His movement has completed its Galilee campaign and they are heading for Jerusalem. The phrase, “heading for Jerusalem,” had meaning beyond geography. As Mark tells the story this was Jesus’ way of saying that there would be struggle, suffering and death. He knew one couldn’t keep confronting the political, religious and economic authorities and remain unscathed. Throughout Galilee Mark has been foreshadowing this reality. Peter and the disciples were trying to figure out all of this. They did not yet understand. They kept saying to Jesus we want to follow you in the way you live, but stop talking about the suffering and dying stuff.
So here on the mountain is where Peter wants to stay. This has been quite an experience. Jesus had been given the Seal of Good God-keeping, “This is my son, the beloved, listen to him.” Jesus is of the caliber of Moses and Elijah. Peter loved this experience and he wants to structure a way to keep the experience forever. It is like Peter is singing, “Lord, I want to be a Christian, in my heart, in my heart. Lord I want to be a Christian, in my heart. Lord, I want to be like Jesus, in my heart, in my heart. Lord I want to be like Jesus, in my heart.” However Peter doesn’t yet get the whole heart of Jesus.
If this were a musical and I could choose what would be sung, I would follow Peter’s song of longing to be like Jesus with this song, “Are ye able said the master, to be crucified with me. Yea the sturdy dreamer’s answered, ‘to the death’ we follow these. Lord we are able. Our spirits are thine. Remold them, make us, like thee divine. Thy guiding radiance above us shall be, a beacon to God to love and loyalty.” Yet, Peter and the others are not yet ready to head to Jerusalem. They want to stay on Transfiguation Mountain .Jesus leads them down the mountain.
Transfirguationists and transformationists
Peter, James, and John are the first of the transfigurationists – people longing for high experiences of Christ. They have risked much to be with Jesus. They left their families, their work and their communities. They want something that confirms as faithful the choices they have made to follow Jesus. Later Peter will deny Jesus three times when he is in danger. James and John will argue which of them will become the vice-president and secretary of state in Jesus’ new government. Their mother will come to Jesus and ask Jesus to keep her sons closer to Jesus than anyone else. Today’s transfigurationists will search for high religious experience. They are not very interested in the valley of struggle on the way to Jerusalem. Talk of the realities of the valley can seem “too political.”
I am proposing for this sermon that we see Judas as a transformationist. He wants the revolution to start. He knows the pain of the Roman occupation of his Palestinian land and he has been longing for a messiah who will come and lead like King David. He thinks Jesus is the one to do this. He is prepared to risk his life for this movement but he starts to see Jesus as one unwilling to offer the needed leadership. Judas feels betrayed and he betrays Jesus, not just for thirty coins. Judas would not go up Transfiguration Mountain with Jesus. There is too much work to do. He has no need for spiritual experiences. He wants real action that will matter in the lives of people. Todays transformationist thing the mountain is to spiritual, an avoidance of the realities of people’s lives.
My take on this story is that the transfigurationist and transformationists are both on to something really important. The experiences of the holy that come on the mountain are intrinsically valuable. The experiences of the valley, struggle and even risking death, are intrinsically value. Neither is worthy because it is instrumental to the other. Neither is validated by the other. Yet our lives, if they are to be faithful to the way of Jesus and filled with abundant life need both. John Wesley said our lives needed to include acts of piety (time on transfiguration mountain) and acts of mercy (time in the valleys of transformation). The United Methodist Church, seeking the same balance says we are called to acts of devotion and worship (on the mountain) and acts of compassion and justice (in the valley). The mission statement of Memorial is “to invite and welcome all people to the abundant Way of Jesus Christ through a balanced journey inward and journey outward. Transfirguationists and transformationists need each other.
When I think of transfigurationists who function without a commitment to transformation I think of the Gas-X man. Maybe you have seen him on TV. He bloats up and looks even bigger than a stereotype of a person on steroids. It seems like you could pop him with a pin and the explosion would not be very pretty.
My sense of a transfomationist who has never climbed transfiguration mountain is one of emaciation. I picture a dog that has been abandoned or abused and I hear the beautiful and melancholy singing of Sarah McLaclin In this case the abuse is the result of the self-abandonment that comes when one focuses only on what one can do for others.
To the transformationists among us I hear a word from the Lord, “Climb Transfiguaration mountain.” The message is similar to the song addressed to Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar, “Let the world turn without you tonight.” To the transfigurationists among us I hear another word from the Lord, “Get off the mountain. I have work for you to do.”
A Word from Dr. King
In the last speech of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., speaking in Memphis in the midst of a sanitations workers strike, he said
And then I got to Memphis. And some began to say the threats, or talk about the threats that were out. What would happen to me from some of our sick white brothers?
Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn't matter with me now. Because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land. And I'm happy, tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.
Dr. King was a transfigurationist and Dr. King was a transformationist. In him was the unity we seek as we try to be faithful to the way of Jesus Christ.
