The Transfiguration

The Transfiguration

Q: Who appeared with Jesus at the Transfiguration on the mountain?

• a. Elijah and Elisha
• b. Moses and Aaron
• c. Elijah and Moses

Some movies use special effects to make the story more sensational. During the Transfiguration, God used many special effects. He didn’t do it to make things more sensational, but to show who Jesus was.

One day Jesus took Peter, James, and John to the top of a mountain. While Jesus was praying, his face changed and his clothes became dazzling white. Those changes in Jesus are why this is referred to as the Transfiguration. Transfiguration means a change in form or appearance.

Moses and Elijah appeared on the mountaintop. Moses represented the Old Testament law, and Elijah represented prophecy. Jesus fulfilled both the law and prophecy by his coming to earth as a baby and later by his death and resurrection. God spoke from heaven, “This is my Son, my Chosen One. Listen to him.” After that, Elijah and Moses were gone.

The disciples never forgot what they saw that day. Later Peter wrote, “We saw his majestic splendor with our own eyes when he received honor and glory from God the Father. The voice from the majestic glory of God said to him, ‘This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy’” (2 Peter 1:16-17). Because of that experience, Peter had more confidence in taking a stand for his faith in later years.

When the three disciples realized Jesus was truly the Son of God, it changed everything about their witness and their lives.

For You

We don’t get to physically see Jesus, but as we draw closer to God, we can come to better understand who Jesus is. When that happens, our lives will change in incredible ways. We will become more like Jesus.

Answer: c

A cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him.” Suddenly, when they looked around, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus with them.   Mark 9:7-8

(The Whole Story: Matthew 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28-36)