When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
“But you,” he asked them, “who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus responded, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven.” Then he gave the disciples orders to tell no one that he was the Messiah.
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Notice Christ’s command to not share the revelation of his messiahship yet. What can we learn from Christ’s decision for obscurity?
View this work of art, titled The Transfiguration Window, connected to Sunday’s sermon passage.
Observe what you see in the image, from colors to composition to recognizable elements, without trying to understand what it is supposed to mean. Then read about the work, using these details to help you interpret the work of art. Ask God what he might be saying through the image and listen for his insight in your thoughts and feelings; then take a moment to respond through prayer to what God showed you in this image. How might what God is showing you connect to the concept of obedience?
Commentary:
Thomas Denny (b. 1956) is a leading British stained glass artist. The Transfiguration Window was commissioned for Durham Cathedral in honor of a former Archbishop of Durham, Michael Ramsey, who loved the passage depicting Jesus’ Transfiguration in Matthew 17:1–13.
This event comes a short eight verses after the passage describing Peter’s confession of faith. In those eight interim verses, Jesus predicts his suffering and death. The disciples are baffled by this proclamation, so Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up the mountain where he is transfigured before them, meeting with Moses and Elijah. His human and divine nature are both on display in this scene, and it reveals something of the paradox that is to come. The triumph of the Messiah will come through an intermingling of his human fragility and divine majesty. Through his passion, God’s full glory will be on display.
It is only through viewing details of this window that the viewer can appreciate its full beauty. Jesus stands between the prophets, the three disciples standing just below. When the evening sun spills against the cathedral’s facade, these images are made glorious with light. Archbishop Ramsey is depicted to the lower right of Jesus’ disciples, a reminder that our Lord is still being transfigured before each believer daily. The bottom right panel shows Jesus’ healing of the demon-possessed boy that takes place later in Matthew 17. There are also references to Durham’s local histories, including the story of St. Cuthbert, who stands in the upper left, his hair blown back, submitting himself entirely to beholding the glory of his Messiah.
Art Source: Transfiguration Window, Thomas Denny, 2010, Durham Cathedral. Used by permission. thomasdenny.co.uk
Pray for a humble heart to accept God’s leadership in your life.
If you are also following the BibleProject’s One Story That Leads to Jesus reading plan, complete today’s reading.