Transfiguration is pointing to the...

While a few days late on this post in terms of the liturgical calendar, a couple of weeks ago Mark 9:2-8 came up in the worship service in the church calendar.

It is worth noting that the transfiguration story is often understood as a precursor to the resurrection. But let us be clear, in the original ending of the Gospel of Mark, there is no resurrection story. So how could the transfiguration be a precursor to a story that does not exist?

Perhaps the transfiguration is not a story that points toward resurrection at all. Perhaps Mark's telling of the transfiguration points to the crucifixion.

Take a look at these similar connections:

• The transfiguration took place six days later while the  crucifixion took place over the course of six hours.
• Three men witnessed the transfiguration but three women witnessed the  crucifixion .
• Moses and Elijah appeared in one story while the other had two unnamed thieves with Jesus.
• Jesus has white clothes but at the  crucifixion his clothes are gambled for and he is naked.
• Peter wants to build three tents on the mountain but when Jesus dies the Jerusalem temple tent is torn.
• God declares Jesus as the "Son of God" at the transfiguration, but it was a roman centurion who make this same statement at the  crucifixion . 

This is just what I came up with while looking at the texts side by side and no exegetical work. 

While I quickly want to jump to the resurrection and all the hope that comes with that, perhaps I am missing the point int he gospel of Mark for whom seems to be pointing to the crucifixion as the apex of the gospel. 

What is the most important element of the NT?

The opening line of his preface to Romans, Martin Luther identified the book of Romans as "This letter is truly the most important piece in the New Testament. It is purest Gospel."

Whelp, I really thought the Gospel was "truly the most important piece of the New Testament." I thought the Gospel was the "purest Gospel."

I know that I am not a Martin Luther. I know that I also have not read the entire preface Luther wrote. I know that I am not the most clear theologian. I know that I may not be giving Luther a fair shake on this.

But what I do know is nothing in the Bible is more pure Gospel than the actual Gospels.

Nothing in the Bible is more Jesus than Jesus.

Nothing in the New Testament is more important than Jesus.

All due respect to Luther, but I think he and I may have a difference of opinion of what the "Gospel" is.

Is servant leadership a form of idolatry?

Leadership is a very strong emphasis in the UMC these days. It is one of the Four Focuses of the UMC. There are hundred of books and countless seminars on this subject of being a better leader.

Leadership is a big deal to many organizations and the UMC is no exception.

Some of the conversations in the UMC have understood that when talking about leadership, we are talking about a specific and alternate way of leadership. So the phrase "servant leader" is thrown about when we remember to do so. This is helpful for those who view leadership as being the first to charge solo into battle on a white horse while waving a sword over their head. It is even helpful for those who view the best leaders as those who operate like a CEO or a President.

But even servant leadership is a bit of missing the mark. It still places the emphasis on the individual who is deemed the leader to be the primary actor. If the person is riding horse back into battle or if they are washing feet of their friends, the action is still centered on the leader who is doing all (or most) of the work.

Here is where that view of leadership misses the mark. If we view leadership as a quality that we desire for pastors and lay members of the Church, then is it idolatrous to first focus on the actions of the person we might call the "leader"? Is it not appropriate to first focus on the way in which the Head of the Church (Jesus) is doing and then learn to follow?

What I mean is Christian leadership is not primarily focused on getting people more knowledge so they would know how to act in a situation that comes up. It is not about getting people to dream a dream and get people to "come along". It is not about getting others to be like us or follow us.

Christian leadership is primarily focused on instilling wisdom of the Spirit into people so we would know how to listen to others. It is centered on helping people see the vision that has already been cast by Christ and live into that reality. It is about inviting others to be be like Christ and follow.

Leadership in a Christian context is first and foremost about "follower-ship".

We already have a leader.