Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration

The end of today’s narrative says, “The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen” (v. 36). Later, however, Peter put the Transfiguration at the center of his claim to be an apostle: “We did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’ We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain” (2 Peter 1:16–18).

The text doesn’t tell us the location of the Mount of Transfiguration. In Mark’s Gospel, it is identified as a “high mountain” (Mark 9:2), and different scholars have argued for Mount Hermon or Mount Tabor. Scripture focuses on conveying the experience here, not the mountain’s name.

The experience of Peter, James, and John fits the biblical tradition of meeting God on the mountaintop. Eight days after predicting His death, Jesus took them up a mountain, where His divine glory was breathtakingly revealed. Luke compared it to a “flash of lightning” (v. 29). Mark rather amusingly wrote that Jesus’ clothes became “dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them” (Mark 9:3). Matthew simply said that Jesus “shone like the sun” and was “white as the light” (Matt. 17:2). Moses and Elijah appeared and discussed Jesus’ upcoming departure (vv. 30–31). And the voice of God the Father proclaimed, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him” (v. 35). The phrase “whom I have chosen” can also be translated “Chosen One,” a messianic reference to Isaiah 42:1.

Pray with Us

Today we invite you to pray for the Investment Accounting team on our Chicago campus: Andrea Palmer-Reed, Daphne Hussey, Marilou Logan, and Tonya Reed. We appreciate their work of managing annuities and trusts, as they serve Moody’s donors with excellence.

BY Brad Baurain

Dr. Bradley Baurain is Associate Professor and Program Head of TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) at Moody Bible Institute. Bradley has the unique privilege of holding a degree from four different universities (including Moody). He has just published his first book, On Waiting Well. Bradley taught in China, Vietnam, the United States, and Canada. Bradley and his wife, Julia, have four children and reside in Northwest Indiana.