What is the meaning of the Transfiguration?

Answer 1

The Transfiguration of Jesus is an event in the gospels, in which Jesus took Peter, John and James up a mountain, where they saw his appearance change and he spoke to strangers that the disciples somehow knew without question were Moses and Elijah, offering to build three tabernacles, one each for Jesus, Moses and Elijah. They heard the voice of God from heaven.

Read literally, the sole reason for this journey was to let the three disciples see Jesus talking to Moses and Elijah. Yet they learnt nothing from the experience and were even instructed to tell no one. In spite of this life-changing event, and its supposedly absolute proof that Jesus was the Messiah, Peter went on to deny Jesus.

Mark's Gospel is regarded as the first of the New Testament gospels to be written, and in its original form had no resurrection appearances, with the "Long Ending" (verses 16:9-20) only added much later. Thus it was important for Mark that there be confirmation that Jesus really was the son of God. The Transfiguration was Mark's most important proof of the relationship of Jesus to God, as well as mirroring the baptism of Jesus. We can see the baptism and the Transfiguration as literary counterpoints in the structure of Mark, when we look at the two major divisions of the Gospel. The first division begins with John explaining the coming of Jesus, followed by the baptism and the voice of God from heaven, and ends with Jesus predicting the passion story. The second division begins with the Transfiguration of Jesus and the voice of God from heaven, and ends with his passion story, followed by the young man explaining the departure of Jesus.

The Gospels of Matthew and Luke are known to have relied on Mark for their information about the life and mission of Jesus. However, each its its own way has stories about the resurrection appearances of Jesus and so for these gospels, the Transfiguration becomes less important. A similar situation applies with the Gospel of John.

Answer 2

Jesus took Peter, James and John up into a high mountain, where his appearance changed - the Transfiguration - and they saw him talking to Moses and Elijah, although there can scarcely have been any reason for Jesus to meet Moses and Elijah face-to-face if he had really spent eternity in heaven with them. Somehow, the disciples knew without question that the strangers talking to Jesus were Moses and Elijah. More importantly, the voice of God repeats the message, first heard at the baptism of Jesus, that he is God's beloved son.

The Transfiguration appeared first in Mark's Gospel, which originally did not mention any appearances of the risen Jesus (the "Long Ending", verses 16:9-25, was added much later), so the Transfiguration was the most significant evidence offered in this Gospel, that Jesus is indeed the Son of God. In the framework structure of Mark's Gospel, the Transfiguration of Jesus and the voice of God from heaven also begin the second half of the narrative, by matching the baptism of Jesus and the voice of God from heaven, as we see from the following table:

A . John explains the coming of Jesus (Mark 1:1-8)

B .The baptism of Jesus (1:9)

C . The voice of God from heaven, "Thou art my beloved son" (1:11)

D . The forty days in the wilderness as an allusion to Elijah and Moses (1:13)

E . The people were astonished at what Jesus taught (1:22)

F . Jesus casts out an unclean spirit (1:23-26)

G . Pharisees took counsel with the Herodians how they might destroy Jesus (3:6)

H . Demons, whenever they see Jesus, fall down and say that he is the Son of God.

-- Jesus commands that they tell no one of this (3:11-12)

I .. Jesus calls the 12 disciples (3:13-19)

J .. Jesus rejects his own family: he has a new family, his followers (3:31-35)

K . Jesus rebukes the wind (4:36-41)

L . The demoniac, wearing no clothes (5:15), cries out that Jesus not torment him and Jesus sends out the demons (5:1-20)

M . Jesus comes into his own country (6:1)
-- Where he was brought up

N . The people misunderstand Jesus and he can do no mighty work (6:2-6)

O . Jesus sends out the disciples and curses those who will not receive them (6:7-11)
-- in sending the disciples with authority and expecting all to receive them, Jesus is asserting his own authority

P . Herod thinks that Jesus is John the Baptist risen from the dead (6:14)

Q . Herodias and her daughter conspire to kill John the Baptist (6:16-29)

R . Feeding the thousands, and related miracles and discourses (6:33-8:21)

S . Who do people say that I am (8:27)

T . Peter affirms faith in Jesus as the Christ (8:29)

U . Whosoever shall be ashamed of me: of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed (8:38)

V . The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and scribes (8:31a)

W . Be killed and after three days rise again (8:31b)

X . Prophecy of second coming (9:1)- Jesus tells the disciples that some of them would not taste death until they saw the kingdom of God coming with power.

B' .The Transfiguration of Jesus (9:2-3)

C' .The voice of God from heaven, "This is my beloved son" (9:7)

D' . Jesus talks to Elijah and Moses then to the disciples about Elijah (9:4-13)

E' .A great multitude was amazed at Jesus (9:15)

F' .Jesus cast out a dumb spirit (9:17-27)

G' .They shall kill the Son of man and he shall rise on the third day (9:31)

H' .Jesus clarifies his divine status, saying that he is not God: "Why call me good? There is none good but God" (10:18)

I' . Peter says the disciples have left all and followed Jesus (10:28)

J' . Those who have left their family for Jesus have a new family: all Jesus' followers (10:29-30)

K'. Jesus rebukes the 'sons of thunder', James and John (10:35-45 - cf 3:17)

L' .Blind Bartimaeus cries out for mercy and casts off his clothes, then Jesus heals him (10:46-52)

M' .Jesus comes into Jerusalem (11:1-10)
-- Where he will die

N' .Jesus misunderstands the fig tree that can provide no fruit (11:13-14)

O' .Jesus casts out them that sold and bought in the Temple and curses them for making the Temple a den of thieves (11:15-17)
-- Jesus is asserting his authority

P' .Jesus asks whether the baptism of John is from heaven or of men, and the priests, scribes and elders can not answer (11:30-33)

Q' .Parable of husbandmen who conspire to kill the vineyard owner's son (12:1-9)

X' .Prophecy of second coming (chapter 13)

-- on clouds of glory, within the lifetimes of some of those to whom he was speaking

R' .The Last Supper (14:17-25)

S' .Art thou the Christ, Son of God (14:61)

T' .Peter denies Jesus three times (14:66-72a)

U' .And when he thought thereon, Peter wept (14:72b)

V' .The chief priests, elders and scribes delivered Jesus to Pontius Pilate (15:1)

-- Delivering Jesus is a similar concept to rejecting him.
-- Both parts of the pair involve chief priests, elders and scribes

W' .Jesus dies and on the third day rises again (15:37, 16:6)

A' .The young man explains the departure of Jesus(16:6-8)

Answer 3

The Transfiguration is an event in The Bible where Jesus' appearance changed and became radiant while speaking with Moses and Elijah. It is seen as a manifestation of Jesus' divine nature and a preview of his glory as the Son of God. The event emphasizes Jesus' role as the fulfillment of both the Law (represented by Moses) and the prophets (represented by Elijah).