AN ATHEISTIC BIBLE READING OF THE GOSPELS – THE TRANSFIGURATION OF JESUS
The Synoptic Gospels record one of the most mystical and bizarre episodes in the adventures of Jesus and three Apostles, Peter, John & Andrew – the Transfiguration – a meeting with the dead prophets, Moses and Elijah. Interestingly, John, the most spiritual of the gospel authors, makes no mention of the event.
Jesus leads the aforementioned trio of Apostles up an un-named mountain, with them trailing slightly behind himself. They see him radiating a blazing white light, in face and raiment. (We are not told what material or colour his clothes are at this time).
As if this was not enough, Moses and Elijah turn up and Jesus engages in some kind of dialogue with them. The Apostles do not get to see what is being said, and Jesus makes no effort to introduce his friends to the men, which seems rather anti-social of him. Exactly how anyone identifies them as Moses or Elijah is unclear, as Jewish rules against iconography and idolatry mean their portraits would not be available.
We don’t know if the Old Testament prophets are seen as substantial men, or as spectral ghosts, or angels.
As it looks as if the unlikely visitors are leaving, Peter takes Jesus aside and suggests that the Apostles build some kind of tabernacles in honour of Jesus, Elijah and Moses. The establishment of some kind of makeshift tent would give the figures a chance to stay longer on the mountain, and it may be that the Apostles are hoping in a calculated way, that their offer will get Jesus to introduce the Apostles to his old pals, and encourage the prophets of old to stay around longer.
Peter gets and answer, but not from Jesus – it is God the Father who replies. A massive dark cloud appears and shrouds over the mountain. The voice of God booms out to all that Jesus is his ‘Beloved son’, in who he is most pleased, and that the Apostles must listen to him.
The event shocks the Apostles so much that they faint away in terror. Jesus helps them recover, and assures them that there is nothing to be afraid of. The Apostles stand up to find that the ordinary daylight has returned and the figures of Moses and Elijah have vanished.
As Jesus leads his friends down the mountain again, he tells them to tell no one of what they saw until after his own death and resurrection.
The Apostles remember a prophesy stating that Elijah will return before the arrival of the new Messiah, and Jesus points out that this has already happened before his own arrival. It dawns on the apostles that Elijah was reincarnated as John The Baptist.
God’s message is clear. It is enough for the Apostles to see Jesus in company with the Old Testament heroes, but Jesus is the important one, and the one the Apostles must pay heed to. The others have become obsolete and redundant because of Jesus. All authority now rests with him. The Apostles are chastised for wanting to see and communicate with Moses and Elijah when they have their own living Messiah. This episode may well be a post Christian insert, aimed at separating the two religions, as opposed to seeing Christianity as a Jewish cult.
That is how Matthew’s Gospel describes the Transfiguration. Mark’s version is almost the same, bar for the Apostles being troubled by Jesus talking of his death and resurrection. They keep their concerns about this to themselves though.
In Luke’s account, we get more insight into the discussion Jesus has with his predecessors. They discuss the death that Jesus must endure for a time (a lot less time than most of us will have to cope with it).
In Luke, the Apostles faint on seeing the Old Testament prophets, and awake as the two men from the past part. We are not told if they just walk away or vanish like ghosts. It is only now, with the prophets gone, rather than still present, and waiting for Jesus to deal with the interruption, that Peter suggests building the tabernacle tents. Again, a cloud of darkness and the voice of God answer the question, and the apostles fall unconscious again.
It’s a preposterous episode, and one that ought to have more witnesses. Perhaps Judas might have behaved differently if he had seen such a vision. The use of ghosts, clouds and the voice of God gives the event a very over the top feel. Unusually Jesus is part of the miracles rather than its instigator, but he clearly took the Apostles to the mountain just to bear witness to the meeting with his predecessors and his Dad. Why not take more witnesses too? At least the other nine Apostles.
Arthur Chappell
