Theophany of God the Beloved Son
Theophany of God the Beloved Son
Last Sunday after the Epiphany
O God who, before the passion of your only-begotten Son,
revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that
we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be
strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his
likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,
for ever and ever. Amen.
revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that
we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be
strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his
likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,
for ever and ever. Amen.
2 ... Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. 4And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings,* one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ 6He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, ‘This is my Beloved Son; listen to him!’ 8Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. ... (Mark 9:2-9 NRSV)
Today is the last Sunday of the Epiphany Season, and this is our gospel reading. Both in our gospel for the First Sunday of Epiphany, Jesus’ baptism (Mark 1:9-11), and now this Last Sunday, a voice speaks from the heavens proclaiming Jesus as the Beloved Son. Over and above simply an epiphany, each of these two events seems a theophany, God showing Himself. This One Jesus is not just the Son of God, but God the Son, the incarnation of the Creator. Specifically, He is the very Word of the Creating God, He is the Logos, He is the Creating Word. This may be a bit beyond what Mark realized and meant to say, but the theology of it is perfected by John in the prologue to his gospel
In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God ... and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
and the Nicene Creed sets the Church’s belief for all time:
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
Listen to Him, for He is the Word.
9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ (Mark 1:9-11 NRSV)
It's thundering at the moment on this Last Sunday of Epiphany as the gospel speaks of a voice from the heavens. What a wonderful day for a baptism. Virginia Carolyn, we welcome you into the household of God.
TW+