10 things you need to know about Jesus’ Transfiguration

This Thursday commemorates the mysterious event known as the Transfiguration.

This event is hard to understand. Why did it happen? What did it mean?

Here are 10 things you need to know.

 

1. What does the word “transfiguration” mean?

The word “transfiguration” comes from the Latin roots trans– (“across”) and figura (“form, shape”). It thus signifies a change of form or appearance.

This is what happened to Jesus in the event known as the Transfiguration: His appearance changed and became glorious.

Before looking at the Transfiguration itself, it’s important that we look at what happened immediately before it in Luke’s Gospel.

 

2. What happened right before the Transfiguration?

In Luke 9:27, at the end of a speech to the twelve apostles, Jesus adds, enigmatically:

“There are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”

This has often been taken as a prophecy that the end of the world would occur before the first generation of Christians died out.

The phrase “kingdom of God” can also refer to other things, though, including the Church–the outward expression of God’s invisible kingdom.

The kingdom is embodied in Christ himself and thus might be “seen” if Christ were to manifest it in an unusual way, even in his own earthly life.

 

3. Did such a manifestation occur?

Yes, and it is the very next thing that Luke relates: the Transfiguration.

Pope Benedict states that it has been . . .

. . . convincingly argued that the placing of this saying immediately before the Transfiguration clearly relates it to this event.

Some—that is to say, the three disciples who accompany Jesus up the mountain—are promised that they will personally witness the coming of the Kingdom of God ‘in power.’

On the mountain the three of them see the glory of God’s Kingdom shining out of Jesus. On the mountain they are overshadowed by God’s holy cloud. On the mountain—in the conversation of the transfigured Jesus with the Law and the Prophets—they realize that the true Feast of Tabernacles has come. On the mountain they learn that Jesus himself is the living Torah, the complete Word of God. On the mountain they see the ‘power’ (dynamis) of the Kingdom that is coming in Christ” (Jesus of Nazareth, vol. 1, p. 317).

We thus may have the key to understanding Jesus’ mysterious statement just before the Transfiguration. He wasn’t talking about the end of the world. He was talking about this.

In fact, Luke notes that the Transfiguration took place “about eight days after these sayings,” thus stressing its proximity to them and suggesting that it was the fulfillment of this  saying, concerning the fact that some of them would see the kingdom of God. Mark gives a different number of days, saying it was “after six days” (Mk. 9:2), but these both approximate a week.

 

4. Who witnessed the Transfiguration?

The three who are privileged to witness the event are Peter, James, and John, the three core disciples. (Andrew was not there or not included.)

The fact that Jesus only allowed three of his disciples to witness the event may have sparked the discussion which swiftly ensued about which of the disciples was the greatest (Luke 9:46).

Click here to watch a video about how Jesus answered this question.

 

5. Where did the Transfiguration take place?

Luke states that Jesus took the three “on the mountain to pray.”

This mountain is often thought to be Mt. Tabor in Israel, but none of the gospels identify it precisely.

Click here to learn more about Mt. Tabor (though be aware that the gospels do not actually say which mountain it was).

 

6. Why did the Transfiguration take place?

The Catechism explains it this way:

Christ’s Transfiguration aims at strengthening the apostles’ faith in anticipation of his Passion: the ascent onto the ‘high mountain’ prepares for the ascent to Calvary.

Christ, Head of the Church, manifests what his Body contains and radiates in the sacraments: ‘the hope of glory’ [CCC 568].

 

7. What does Luke–in particular–tell us about this event?

Luke mentions several details about the event that the other evangelists do not:

  • He notes that this happened while Jesus was praying.
  • He mentions that Peter and his companions “were heavy with sleep, and when they wakened they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him.”
  • He mentions that Peter made his suggestion to put up booths as Moses and Elijah were departing.

 

8. Why do Moses and Elijah appear on the mountain?

Moses and Elijah represent the two principal components of the Old Testament: the Law and the Prophets.

Moses was the giver of the Law, and Elijah was considered the greatest of the prophets.

The fact that these two figures “spoke of his departure, which he was to accomplish at Jerusalem” illustrates that the Law and the Prophets point forward to the Messiah and his sufferings.

This foreshadows Jesus’ own explanation, on the road to Emmaus, of the Scriptures pointing to himself (cf. Lk. 24:27, 32).

 

9. Why was Peter’s suggestion misguided?

The fact that Peter’s suggestion occurs when Moses and Elijah are preparing to depart reveals a desire to prolong the experience of glory. This means Peter is focusing on the wrong thing.

The experience of the Transfiguration is meant to point forward to the sufferings Jesus is about to experience. It is meant to strengthen the disciples faith, revealing to them in a powerful way the divine hand that is at work in the events Jesus will undergo. This is why Moses and Elijah have been speaking “about his departure, which he was to accomplish at Jerusalem.”

Peter misses the point and wants to stay on the mountain, contrary to the message the two heavenly visitors have been expounding.

As a seeming rebuke of this, a theophany occurs: “A cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!'”

 

10. What can we learn from this event?

The Transfiguration was a special event in which God allowed certain apostles to have a privileged spiritual experience that was meant to strengthen their faith for the challenges they would later endure. But it was only a temporary event. It was not meant to be permanent.

In the same way, at certain times in this life, God may give certain members of the faithful (not all of the faithful, all the time), special experiences of his grace that strengthen their faith.

We should welcome these experiences for the graces they are, but we should not expect them to continue indefinitely, nor should we be afraid or resentful when they cease.

They may have been meant only as momentary glimpses of the joy of heaven to sustain us as we face the challenges of this life, to help strengthen us on the road that will–ultimately–bring us into the infinite and endless joy of heaven.

Author: Jimmy Akin

Jimmy was born in Texas, grew up nominally Protestant, but at age 20 experienced a profound conversion to Christ. Planning on becoming a Protestant seminary professor, he started an intensive study of the Bible. But the more he immersed himself in Scripture the more he found to support the Catholic faith, and in 1992 he entered the Catholic Church. His conversion story, "A Triumph and a Tragedy," is published in Surprised by Truth. Besides being an author, Jimmy is the Senior Apologist at Catholic Answers, a contributing editor to Catholic Answers Magazine, and a weekly guest on "Catholic Answers Live."

7 thoughts on “10 things you need to know about Jesus’ Transfiguration”

  1. Hello Jimmy. I infer from your article that Moses was in heaven before Jesus went to Abraham’s bosom to call the righteous to heaven after the Passion. Can you give us some background on this pious belief. Also, was Moses in heaven body and soul or just soul? Thanks.

  2. Sooooo beautiful, just reading brought me up. It is hard to describe that smile or?. That you know you know, but…
    Thank you so much for you in-sights, Kathleen

  3. How many bodies are there in heaven? MARY,JESUS,ELIJA @and who else?
    And lots of invisible spirits or souls. Not much company for the bodies!

  4. How many bodies are there in heaven? MARY,JESUS,ELIJA @and who else?
    And lots of invisible spirits or souls. Not much company for the bodies!

  5. FRIDAY COMMENTARY-Jesus’ Transfiguration’
    I love how Jimmy refers to Peter,James and John,i.e the core disciples and why?
    I tend to think these three disciples were very close friends to Jesus and could be why some where in the scripture of John,He says,”I no longer call you servants but friends for I have made known to you all that I heard from my father”.
    While other disciples were busy asking Jesus what they would receive in return for having forsaken / left everything to follow him,these three could be busy building their relationship with Jesus-working on their spiritual development which is an individual responsibility,and this could have moved or brought Jesus more close to them and thus prompting their friendship to grow more strongly(John17.8)
    They seemed to had received and believed Jesus’ words about the Kingdom / the Father who sent him,and what words did they received?
    This translates to why Moses and Elijah came in that scene,with Moses as having been said to symbolize / represent the Law,while Elijah the prophets,which all pointed to Jesus as their fulfillment,with the ten commandments being summarized into two,Love the Lord your God,with all your mind,strength and life and Love your neighbour as you love yourself(Love for God and neighbour).
    Once we keep God’s word by faith,we become his friends and not slaves and he thus reveals himself to us just as it’s mentioned in the scriptures that God would never do anything on earth before he reveals it to his prophets / friends just as the case of Abraham.

    LESSONS LEARNED.
    i.) Since while we are in this contemporary world,in this mortal flesh prone to death and suffering,we need to persistently seek the transfiguration grace to enable us overcome our deadly sins caused from the cravings of our mortal flesh.
    ii.)This could only be possible if we unite with Jesus on the mountain top in prayer,and this could be alluded to be why James says that we should not be deceived,all good gifts and presents only come from above(James1.16-17)
    iii.)Peter and his companions were heavy with sleep since they were also being transfigured by being on the presence of the transfiguration experience to enable them witness the experience,which could not be possible for them in this mortal flesh.
    iv.)Since Jesus came to show us the way,to lead from the front,he took his friends to experience a fore taste of the power of the resurrected Christ to come after his crucifixion and death.
    This was to show them that if they could expect such experiences / transfiguration in their faith,then they needed to know that there is no glory without death,climbing the mountain and communing with the risen Lord in prayer by keeping connection to the vine(John15.5)
    v.)Peter’s suggestion misguided simply because having been transformed,transfigured,experienced the glory,what follows is serious work of saving souls by witnessing and spreading the Light to the dark parts of the world by sharing with God’s people in their sufferings,pain,death,lack,etc.
    This could be why Jesus challenged the gentleman in the gospel who said since he had worked hard,accumulated wealth and built big granaries,that he was then to sit,eat and enjoy,when the Lord told him you stupid fellow,tonight I come for your life and who will inherit your wealth???????
    It’s only through the testimonies of the believers and the blood of the lamb of God which enables God’s elect to defeat the dragon.
    vi.)With Moses and Elijah disappearing out of the scene before the transfiguration may be alluded to mean that for our lives to experience this transfiguration,all the prophets,laws,wealth,knowledge,wisdom,etc we could be clinging to have to be faced out for they all lead us to Christ and if Christ is to appear,they all have to give room first before he appears.
    This could mean that it’s an individual’s responsibility to wok for his spiritual development and salvation.
    vii.) Transfiguration is a special event in which God allows all those who diligently seek him in truth to have a privileged spiritual experience,and not just for a select few,meant to strengthen their faith and the faith of the Church,God’s people,
    viii.)These events are temporary but always on going simply due to our mortal flesh / body which is ever craving for sin and thus rendering us to loose these glorious momentous / grace periods.
    ix.) The transfiguration experiences are meant for strengthening the pilgrimage Church,especially during hard times / suffering,and these could be why from time to time,God kept sending the prophets as per the Old Testament cases,to give God’s people hope,and strengthen their faith in following the Lord.
    N /B-With Moses and Elijah’s appearance on the mountain during this moment may also be alluded to mean that it’s only when we commune with Jesus in prayer,when we begin to grasp the connection within the law,prophets,principles,leaders,etc-the connection in everything which all points to Jesus(Love).

    God’s blessings and Love,
    Maurice.

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