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SON OF MAN, SON OF GOD (MARK 9:1-13)

REFLECTION
“Son of Man, Son of God” is the theme for our reflection. “Son of Man, Son of God” means Jesus is both Human and Divine . In other words, although He was born a human being, He is also divine. The key question is, what does the Transfiguration of Jesus mean to our faith and salvation as believers? It is important to note that the Transfiguration event points to the fact that Heaven is real but more importantly, Jesus is who is both the Son of Man and Son of God is the fulfilment of Scripture and our salvation.

The event of the Transfiguration proved that Jesus is both the Son of Man and Son of God. It was a supernatural occurrence which was witnessed by Peter, James and John. The glorious or divine nature of the Jesus or the Son of Man was made manifest as the Son of God in a spectacular manner which no one including the three disciples has ever experienced although they had seen him perform many miracles. Mark 9:2-4, described it as “ … There he was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.” (Mark 9:2-4) While the disciples were still astonished and filled with awe, Mark 9:7 tells us that “…a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” (Mark 9:7)

The Kingdom of God which was part of the central focus of Jesus’ message, is real. Moses and Elijah according to the Old Testament historical account, preceded Jesus, but there they were with Him during the Transfiguration event, signifying that there is life after our existence on earth and that heaven is for God’s saints. More importantly, Jesus was demonstrating to the disciples and also strengthening their faith that He is not only a human being or the Son of Man but also the Son of God who has come to establish the Kingdom of God and to save the world. It is for this reason that Jesus assured them in John 3:16, that “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Although Jesus, the Son of God came into the world through Mary as Human being, He remain at all time, the Son of God.

Beloved in the Lord, the Jews at the time were divided as to the true identity of Jesus. Some saw Him as an ordinary human being or the Son of Man who was the teacher of the Law and others saw him as a prophet but seldom did most people see Him as the Son of God. The Transfiguration proves to us that Jesus was beyond a mere teacher of the Law and a prophet, indeed He is the Son of God who came to fulfil the Law which was given to Moses in Exodus 24:12-18. In the Transfiguration event, we see Moses representing the Law and Elijah representing the Prophets. Since Jesus is the fulfilment of both the Law and Prophet, God said if we are to please Him and be saved, then “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” (Mark 9:7) This means that the Transfiguration event overshadows the event that took place in Exodus 24:12-18 which depicts Moses as the receiver and representation of the Law. Jesus has become our intermediary and the centre of our faith and no longer the Law of Moses as was the case in the Old Testament or Old Covenant. We must now interpret the Law as received by Moses and the prophecies of the Prophets such as Elijah and the other Prophets through Jesus Christ. Jesus said emphatically in Matthew 5:17 that “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. To put it succinctly, Jesus, who is both the Son of Man and Son of God is the embodiment of the law and the Prophets in the Old Testament. He fulfilled the Law as the Son of Man when we were unable to do it and gave it life through His teachings. Again, He fulfilled the prophecy of the Prophets as the promised Messiah and the Son of God who came to redeem Israel and the world from sin and death.

In 2 Peter 1:16-21, Peter confirms the Transfiguration event because He was an eyewitness.  Before the Transfiguration event, the disciples themselves did not fully understand the real identity of Jesus Christ, but it was confirmed to the disciples through His Transfiguration. I believe that was the purpose of the Transfiguration event so that we the followers of Christ will remain focused on Christ as a dependable Son of Man, Son of God and the only true saviour of the World. It is, for this reason, Peter said, “For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. He received honour and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.” (2 Peter 1:16-18) Beloved in the Lord, we who are in the twenty-first century, have every cause to have our faith strengthened and our hope deepened by the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ as the Son of God. We must therefore imitate Jesus, believe in His teachings, obey and put our faith in Him and surely at His second coming we shall also become the beneficiaries and partakers of the everlasting life.

In summary, beloved in the Lord, the Transfiguration proves the existence of Heaven but more importantly emphasizes the fact that Jesus is truly the Son of Man, Son of God and the fulfilment of the law and prophecy for which we must listen to Him and have faith in Him for our Salvation. Shalom.

PRAYER
Jesus, the Son of Man and Son of God, in You we put our trust, may Your glory never depart from us. Help us to be imitators of Your perfect example and may our lives be pleasing to God through the obedience of Your teachings. Amen.