The Transfiguration is a mysterious event that is described in the Gospels. What is it? The word “transfiguration” literally means to change form or appearance. This is what happened to Jesus during the event — His appearance changed to a glorified state before Peter, James and John. See below:
“There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.” (Matthew 17:2)
Hence, this event is called the “Transfiguration”. It is described in the Gospels of Matthew (17:1-8), Mark (9:2-9) and Luke (9:28-36). Peter also testifies to this event in his Epistle (Letter) to the Church (2 Peter 1:16-18). While in this glorified state, Jesus is visited by, and speaks with, Moses and Elijah — as in the Old Testament. God also affirms, again, that Jesus is His Son. Needless to say, there is a lot going on here. But the significance and meaning behind this incredible event is often overlooked by many.
Interestingly, there are a number of skeptics today that try and claim ONLY John’s Gospel presents Jesus as God incarnate. In other words, that Matthew, Mark and Luke (aka the “synoptic” gospels) did not have an “incarnational” view of Christ. This is of course absurd to the faithful, as there are numerous examples in the synoptic Gospels, and many Christian apologists quote them in retort. For instance, Jesus mentions and/or calls Himself the “Son of Man” 70 times in the synoptics. This is a reference to the divine figure prophesied in Daniel 7, who was with the ancient of days, and whom all nations will one day worship, and whose Kingdom will never end. By ascribing onto Himself this title, Jesus Christ was proclaiming that He was God Incarnate. This is why the Pharisees ultimately had Him arrested. Nevertheless, another great example of verses in the synoptic Gospels that affirm Jesus Christ is God incarnate is the Transfiguration. Most people today (including Christians) do not realize these verses affirm the incarnation, but they do — and quite explicitly when closely examined.
Here is the event in full as reported in Mark’s Gospel:
“After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There He was transfigured before them. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” He did not know what to say, they were so frightened. Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to Him!” Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.” (Mark 9:2-9)
Obviously, there is something remarkable and significant taking place. You not only have Jesus transfigured to a glorified state, but an apperance of Moses and Elijah, who converse with Christ. But of all the greats that came before Christ — Noah, Abraham, King David, among others — why do only Moses and Elijah get to see Jesus Christ on the mountain? The answer typically given is that Moses was the giver of the Law, and Elijah was among the greatest of the Prophets, and Christ was foretold by both Moses and the Prophets. Hence, Moses and Elijah were permitted to see and converse with Christ during this glorified state on the mountain. However, there is a much more remarkable and significant reason for their appearance than this.
For those Christians that are very familiar with the Old Testament, aka the Hebrew Bible, they will recall that both Moses and Elijah encounter God on top of a mountain. Once more, that God appears to them and reveals His glory.
In Exodus 33:18-20:
“Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. “But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”
In 1 Kings 19:9-13:
“There he (Elijah) went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. … The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.”
Both of these encounters take place on Mount Sinai, the mountain of revelation. However, notice that during these encounters, neither Moses, nor Elijah, was permitted to see the face of God. They could speak with Him, hear His voice, and witness numerous manifestations of His power, but neither was allowed to actually look upon or see His face.
Do you now see the significance of the Transfiguration? While on the mountain, Jesus is transfigured to a glorified state, and both Moses and Elijah appear, where they are now finally allowed to see the face of God. Something they could not see before. What changed that made this possible? That God, who appeared to both Moses and Elijah before on Mount Sinai, had now become incarnate. Meaning God became Man. Hence, Jesus Christ is the human face of God — and mankind can now see the face of God.
To that end, previously, when God spoke to Moses, He descended in a cloud over the mountain (Exodus 19:16-19). Similarly, during the Transfiguration, He again descends in a cloud over the mountain, covering Jesus, and says: “This is my beloved Son; listen to Him”. God previously declared, when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, that Jesus was His Son (Mt 3:17 / Mk 1:11 / Lk 3:22). By doing so again, while Moses and Elijah converse with Christ, God is showing that His Son, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, IS God.
Hence, there is a plurality of “persons” that exist within the one true God. Consequently, the Transfiguration event, allowed the Apostles to see there is One God, who is both God the Father and God the Son. Once more, from the Baptism, the Holy Spirit descended upon Christ in the form and/or likeness of a dove. Hence, there are three distinct “persons” that exist within the one true God. There is God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. But the Transfiguration event, clearly illustrates that Jesus Christ is both the Son of God, and the physical incarnation of God Himself, in the flesh.
However, the whole concept of the unseen God, that is now seen in Christ, is not a New Testament construct, but also found in the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible). Yahweh is both seen and unseen in the Hebrew Bible. How is that? As noted earlier, Moses was told by God he could not see the face of God and live (Exodus 33:20). However, Jacob reports to have “seen God face to face, and yet my life was spared” (Genesis 32:30). Similarly, when the parents of Samson were visited by the Angel of the Lord, they believed they would surely die, because they had “seen God” (Judges 13:21-22). Yet, both were spared. Why?
Theologians greatly debate this, but it is argued that the mysterious Angel of the Lord, often viewed as indistinguishable from God, was God. To that end, this mysterious Angel — unlike other angels mentioned in scripture who speak of God in the third person and refuse worship — will speak in the first person as both God and Lord. Hence, some have argued this is a manifestation of the pre-incarnate Son of God, Jesus Christ (Christophany), while others argue it is a manifestation of God the Father (Theophany). Regardless, most believe “the Angel of the Lord” denotes a physical appearance of God. Hence, in such occurrences, some could come face to face with God, but not in His full glory, only in an angelic form, and thus live.
Nevertheless, whatever the case may be with these other appearances, neither Moses, nor Elijah, were permitted to see the face of God in all His glory. That is, until the incarnation of God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. At the Transfiguration, God allowed them to see the Son, in His glorified state, and to converse with Him, speaking face to face. For in Jesus Christ, there is no more barrier between God and Man. He died for our sins and redeemed us before the Father, and through Him we receive the Holy Spirit and are saved from death, receiving eternal life. He is the ONLY mediator between God and Man; and through Him we come face to face with God.
As Jesus said in the Gospel of John:
“I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30)
“Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9)
To that end, the Gospel of John also reports:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” (John 1:1-3)
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)
And as discussed in this post, these verses written by John, are all affirmed in the synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. The Transfiguration of Jesus Christ on the mountain, is among the best illustrations found in scripture, that Jesus is God incarnate. Yet, incredibly most never see this.
That’s it for this post. Hopefully, some may have found this insightful.
God Bless,
JDN
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