People of the Eighth Day

"Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up the mount to pray." (Luke 9:28, NRSV)

So begins the story of the Transfiguration of Jesus. A strange keeping of time, "about eight days after." Why eight days? Luke is trying to get our attention, to let us know that something important is happening. The Transfiguration - Jesus' appearing in glory is a foreshadowing of the Resurrection - Christ's eternal glory.

The "Eighth Day" is the day of the new creation. God created the world in six days and on the seventh God rests, on the eighth day God resurrects Jesus from the grave, on the eighth day Christ's glory is revealed. Followers of Christ are people of the eighth day, people of the new creation in Christ, people of the Resurrection.

That is why in many churches the baptismal font is eight sided. Through the waters of our baptism we join Christ in his death and resurrection, becoming Eighth Day people.