The Vine: March 3, 2025

“Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing”

— John 15:4-5

This is a weekly reflection on the previous week’s sermon text. Each week there will be a devotional related to the scripture for the week, along with questions for reflection/discussion, as well as prayer. Feel free to make this a part of your individual spiritual growth throughout the week or utilize in small group settings (growth groups, Sunday school, etc.)

“About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure,[a] which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)
While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.”

— Luke 9:28-36

Luke emphasized the importance of prayer all throughout Jesus’ life. As we read through Luke’s gospel, we find Jesus in prayer at his baptism, before he chooses the twelve apostles, before Peter’s confession that Jesus is the Messiah, before he taught the disciples what we now refer to as the “Lord’s Prayer”, before he was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, and finally on the cross. In addition to all these instances, we find Jesus in prayer once again in our text for today. Prayer helped shape Jesus’ life, as it should shape ours as well.

This story is commonly referred to as “The Transfiguration”. Luke wrote, “As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed…” This is where things got a little weird. Jesus’ clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning and then Moses and Elijah show up. Jesus, Moses, and Elijah engaged in a conversation about Jesus’ upcoming “departure” or “exodus”. This departure or exodus referred to his upcoming death and resurrection. Peter, James, and John then became fully awake and were made aware that Moses and Elijah were there with Jesus.

Peter suggested that they put up three shelters – one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah. Perhaps that was his way of wanting the moment to continue. Next thing we know God gets in on the scene by speaking from a cloud, “This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!” Then without warning the magical moment was over. Moses and Elijah disappeared, leaving only Jesus, Peter, James and John. As if this odd story was not weird enough, Luke ended it by writing, “And they kept silent and, in those days, told no one any of the things they had seen.” In Matthew and Mark’s account of this same story it is Jesus who instructs Peter, James, and John not to tell anyone about this miraculous event until after he would be raised from the dead.

Perhaps that was Jesus’ way of saying that there are some experiences in this world that are so majestic that to speak of them too soon would be a great disservice to the experience. The time to speak will come, but not just yet. We must allow the experience of the Divine to do its work in and through us first, and then we can faithfully witness to what God has done in our lives.

Prayer:

Almighty God, we experience your presence in many ways. Often, you surprise us with not only how you appear to us, but also with the message itself. As Peter, James, and John were confused on the mountain, we too find ourselves confused at times as well. We want to understand but in our limited nature as humans we struggle to comprehend. Remind us again that our experience of you may not require understanding or explaining but simply trusting that the experience itself will be sufficient for your purposes. A glimpse of your transcendent glory is more than enough. Amen.

Questions for Reflection:

Christianity is a revealed religion – God constantly reveals God’s self to us in a variety of ways. How has God revealed God’s self to you in your life? Have you had an experience so mysterious and powerful that you have been hesitant to share with others?
What did Moses and Elijah represent in this story?
What is the significance of the voice of God from the cloud saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him”?
How did this event prepare the disciples for what was to come in Jesus’ journey to the cross?

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