The Transfiguration of Jesus: Summary and Meaning

What was Jesus' Transfiguration and what can we learn from this important event in the New Testament today?

In all three Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) we read about the event known as the Transfiguration. Jesus leads his three closest disciples (Peter, James, and John) up a mountain. At the top of the mountain, Jesus is transfigured. His face shined bright and his clothes become dazzling white.

Then two miraculous events occurred. First, the prophets Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus and spoke with him. Then a voice came down from the clouds of heaven saying, "This is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him."

Why do Moses and Elijah appear with Jesus on a mountain?

In the Old Testament Moses and Elijah both met God directly on Mount Sinai (also called Mount Horeb). Moses encountered God in the burning bush. Elijah experienced God's presence in the still small voice. In the Transfiguration, the disciples experience God's presence in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. They see Jesus body burning brightly. They hear God's voice.

Another way to interpret their presence is to see Jesus as the fulfillment of the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah). Jesus is more than a prophet. Jesus is the Son of God.

Why does Peter want to raise tents for them?

In the Old Testament, the Israelites lived in tents as they wandered the desert and God was present in the cloud over the a specific meeting tent for the Lord.

What does the Transfiguration mean for us today?

Jesus is the Son of God. We may take that idea for granted today, but this was profound in the early Church. Jesus Christ walked this earth just as we walk the earth. God became man. The transfiguration revealed who Jesus really was and is for us today. He is the beloved Son of God.

The question for us is this:

Will we listen to him?

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