The Transfiguration
The Transfiguration is a theophany, a manifestation of God, especially of the divinity of Christ, through a display of His uncreated, divine energy.
All three Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) reference this biblical event and connect it with Christ's preceding prophecy just days earlier of His own suffering, the carrying of the cross, and the coming revelation of the Kingdom of God.
The Lord took His closest and most trusted disciples, Peter, James, and John, up a high mountain. Even though the Evangelists don't mention this mountain by name, Christian tradition predominantly agrees that this was Mount Tabor in Galilee, south of Nazareth. This majestic hill is almost three thousand feet high, covered with flora from the bottom to about halfway up, giving amazing views of the surrounding valley.
Transfigured Before Them
The Lord, Jesus Christ, was "transfigured before them." He appeared before the disciples in His heavenly glory, from which His face grew bright as the sun, and His clothes became "as white as the light," "like snow," and "glistening."
The Apostle Luke adds an important point, indicating that the reason for the ascent to this hill was to pray and that the Lord was transfigured during prayer: "As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening."
The Apostles with Christ had fallen asleep during prayer, and when they awoke, they saw Him transfigured and flanked on either side by Moses and Elijah, who were speaking to Him about His forthcoming death in Jerusalem.
Icon of "The Transfiguration of Christ"; Credit: Flickr/Jim Forest
Moses and Elijah
Moses appeared to show that Jesus was not a destroyer of his law, as the scribes and Pharisees said. The appearance of Moses, who had already died, and Elijah, who did not die but was taken alive into the heavens, revealed the Lord's power over both life and death, over heaven and earth.
The Apostle Peter expressed the especially grace-filled state that had inspired their souls: "Master, it is good for us to be here," and offered to set up three tents. Peter then says it would be better not to return to the evil world full of hatred and cunning, the world that was threatening the Lord with death and suffering.
The miraculous cloud, the evident indication of God's presence, surrounded them, and out of this cloud, they heard the voice of God the Father: "This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!" These same words were heard during the baptism of Christ, but now with the added "Hear Him!" which should have reminded the apostles of the prophecy of Moses concerning the Messiah and the fulfillment in Jesus.
How the Transfiguration Shows Christ's Divinity
1. Because God is light (1 John 1:5), the bright cloud, the shining of Jesus' face like the sun, and the brightness of His garment all demonstrate that Jesus is God.
2. The Father bears witness from heaven concerning His Son. He says, "This is My beloved Son" (Mt 17:5), indicating that this divine glory is Christ's by nature.
3. The Transfiguration not only proclaims Christ's divine sonship but foreshadows His future glory when He, as the Messiah, will usher in the long-awaited Kingdom.
4. The Holy Trinity is manifest, for Christ is transfigured, the Father speaks from heaven testifying to Jesus' divine sonship, and the Spirit is present as a stunning light surrounding Christ's person, overshadowing the whole mountain.
Bible Passages of the Transfiguration
Read the full Bible text from each of the Gospel books in the passages below: Mark 9:1-13, Matthew 17:1-13, Luke 9:28-36
"For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” ~ 2 Peter 1:16-17
"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us" ~ 1 John 1:1-2
"Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done." ~ Revelation 20:11-12
Learn more about the Transfiguration in our Bible Dictionary!
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/sedmak
