February 15, 2026 ☩ The Last Sunday after the Epiphany
on
Exodus 24:12-18; 2 Peter 1:16-21; & Matthew 17:1-9
“Climb the Mountain”
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August 6th is the observance of the Transfiguration. Yet, we find ourselves hearing a Gospel account on this last Sunday after the Epiphany. This account of Jesus transcending the mountain is an important Epiphany, or revelation of God’s glory in Jesus.
Our Gospels often have short accounts that seem to switch topics, but often hold a deeper theme as a common thread. In the previous chapter, just three short sections prior to today’s Gospel reading, Jesus asks his disciples: “Who do people say that I am?” [see Matthew 16:13-20] The disciples respond that some say Jesus is John the Baptist or Elijah or another prophet. Then Jesus asks who the disciples say that Jesus is. Simon Peter responds correctly naming Jesus as the Son of God and the Messiah.
Today’s Gospel reading is a reiteration of this identification of Jesus. Jesus is standing beside Moses and Elijah, speaking with them. In doing so, Jesus is distinguished from these other prophets. Then, God overshadows Jesus and the disciples with a bright cloud and names Jesus as his Son. This is a reiteration of Simon Peter’s identification of Jesus as the Son of God.
Matthew is driving a point home. Jesus is distinct from other prophets. Unlike John the Baptist who carries forth the prophetic messages of Isaiah and Elijah to repent and refocus faith, Jesus is identified by God’s voice from the heavens as the Son of God.
The revelation of who Jesus is with explicit clarity is pointed and highlighted by literal illumination. Jesus is transfigured and his face shone like the sun. A bright cloud overtakes the disciples. Light marks the revealing occurring before the disciples. Consider this the ancient form of the sudden light bulb being lit over one’s head to denote a consumption of wisdom, a recognition of truth, or a moment of clarity and learning.
With Matthew making all this effort to identify Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God, we are also caught in a quandary as to why Jesus encourages the Messianic secret. The ‘Messianic secret’ is the phrase used in the Gospels to say that though Jesus was clearly acting and demonstrating that he was the Messiah, he kept telling those witnesses to not tell anyone.
Anyone who spends time with a very young child understands the passion with which human nature is drawn to share new wisdom. Children come home from preschool or elementary school ready to show art work that demonstrates the water cycle, to show their parents new methods of adding that work differently with place values than how the parents were taught as children. Children are eager to share wisdom because it is new, it is exciting, and there is a revelation of wisdom they are eager to be sure everyone else knows about. When the learning or wisdom comes after an arduous or difficult process, the desire to share is even greater because the wisdom must be, a child considers, even more of a treasure to share. Oh, how I cherish the heart of a child who yearns to share.
Jesus and the disciples take an arduous walk up the mountain before experiencing the Transfiguration. In Exodus, Moses, too, travels up the mountain to speak with God. In Moses’ encounter, a cherished set of stone tablets which held God’s Word and commandments was received. Moses yearned to share this with the Israelites. The endeavor of climbing the mountain, scaling rocky paths, and enduring a 40 day and night adventure with only one companion, Joshua, elevated the importance of what Moses received on the stone.
Think of the clovers of the field. They are so plentiful. Yet, when we spend several minutes, or dare we even scavenge for hours, and happen across a four-leaf clover… how special it is! Time and effort invested emphasize importance and specialness. How often do we keep something so special a secret?
And here in Jesus’ transfiguration, discussed in the Second Letter of Peter, the three disciples – Peter, James, and James’ brother John – experience an amazing sight of illumination and of sound in hearing God identify Jesus as his Son, the Beloved. What an amazing experience! How could Peter, James, and John keep such a special experience all to themselves? Imagine finding a five-leaf clover and not sharing a picture with all of your family and friends! Imagine, finding the Messiah, the true Son of God, and not telling your family and friends and neighbors, and even strangers!
This is what Jesus expected though. His command subtly masks another revelation. As Jesus predicts his earthly fate, he also indicates to them that he will “be raised from the dead.” [Matthew 17:9] We must look beyond the difficulty of keeping the secret of new wisdom, of a new learning, of a new revelation, to see the foreshadowed truth – Jesus will rise from the dead.
We live in the era beyond Jesus’ Resurrection and Ascension, and, as such, we are not bound to this secrecy of Peter, James, and John. We are now called to share this revelation so that all know the power of the Messiah. As we conclude the season after the Epiphany and approach the season of Lent – a season of preparation through repentance of all our faults – we, though humbled, can remain confident of the glory that lies ahead for us in faith since our Messiah even overcomes death. Let us look ahead through Lent and remember that if Jesus can overcome death, than salvation through the forgiveness of sins seems even more possible.
Take heart and take joy in the revelation of God before us, upon our mountains of difficulties and challenges. Keep climbing, for God is more clearly found in the time and effort we intentionally put forth. Remember, as Peter knew, who Jesus is and who our Messiah is to each of us.
Amen.
