Breaking the Word

 After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." When the disciples heard this, they fell prostrate and were very much afraid. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and do not be afraid." And when the disciples raised their eyes, they saw no one else but Jesus alone. As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, "Do not tell the vision to anyone until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."  (Mt 17:1-9)

Peter, James and John are there with Jesus. When these three are there, then there is something very important is going to take place. They are invited to experience something very special, which in turn would be one of the basics for the kingdom. This experience is given right at the beginning of their journey towards Jerusalem (still they are in Galilee) and they are asked not to reveal this until after his resurrection. So this experience is something to do with his death and resurrection.

They all have a vision of Moses and Elijah. Moses was the first one to experience Yahweh and share this experience with the enslaved Israelites. This sharing of God experience became the foundation for their liberation. Elijah was the first prophet who made the Israelites (who were enslaved to the Canaanite religion) re-live the God experience on mount Carmel. So the vision made them to reflect on God experience.

The experience on this mountain top is an experience of the Glory of Jesus. This will lead to another mountain top experience on Calvary. The second experience will be an experience of the Cross. One experience leads to the other. The experience of the glory will help (or should help) the awaiting experience of the cross. A disciple should learn to see glory in the cross and learn to see the cross in the glory.  

Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Messiah. Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means "God is with us." When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.  (Mt 1:16,18-24)

Joseph was a righteous man. This could mean that he was a person who followed the laws in sincerity of heart. This could also mean that he was an innocent man, faultless and guiltless man. This was also revealed in not putting others into difficulty. He was not willing to put others to shame. He was true to God in observing the laws; he was true himself in being innocent; he was true to others in not putting others to shame. This is the reason that he is called a just man.

God revealed himself to Joseph in a dream. God related himself with just man. God’s relationship was in revealing His plans to just man. God reveals himself also through just man. God chooses people like Joseph to reveal his plans. Even dreams are means of revelations. Many a time, we do not consider dreams as God’s means of revelation.

Relationship with God and God’s revelation are always for greater things. In the case of Joseph, God revealed that Jesus was to be born. He was to be born but always in a special relationship with the one who has the revelations from God. It is in this that even the relationship builds up. Relationship will always reveal that “God is with us”. Greater things will happen for man who is just: a man of relationship with God and others, and a man of revelation.