Section 85
Transfiguration of Jesus
High mountain, perhaps Mount Hermon
| Matthew 17:1-8 | Mark 9:2-8 | Luke 9:28-36a |
|---|---|---|
| 1After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. 2There he was transfigured before them0x3B his face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as light. 3And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with him. | 2After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. 3His garments became radiant and extremely white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. 4Then Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. | 28About eight days after he had spoken these words, he took Peter, John, and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. 29As he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. 30And behold, two men were talking with him0x3B they were Moses and Elijah, 31who appeared in glory and were speaking about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment in Jerusalem. 32Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. |
| 4So Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, we will make three shelters here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased0x3B listen to him!” 6When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were utterly afraid. 7But Jesus came over and touched them, saying, “Rise0x3B do not be afraid.” | 5So Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6(For they were terrified, and he did not know what to say.) 7Then a cloud came and overshadowed them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my beloved Son0x3B listen to him!” | 33As the men were parting from Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah,” not knowing what he was saying. 34But as he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35Then a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son0x3B listen to him!” |
| 8And lifting up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus. | 8And suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus. | 36aWhen the voice finished speaking, they found that Jesus was alone. |
Notes
Hermon
The vista of snow capped Mount Hermon in the distance is a delight to the eyes and heart. With its fields of green grass, ponds of water, and its hills in a profusion of red, pink, white, and yellow wild flowers, Mount Hermon is a sight you will never forget. This lofty mountain, stretching for a distance of 30 miles, has several peaks; from a distance, it can almost look like a mountain range rather than a single mountain. The highest of the three peaks is on the southwest, the one most visible as you come from the Sea of Galilee. It rises to a height of 9,000 feet.
Lofty Mount Hermon, towering nearly ten thousand feet above sea level, is beautiful with its year-round snowcapped peaks. Without Mount Hermon, however, all Israel would be a desert wasteland. Essentially all the water in the country comes from this mountain: moisture blowing in from the Mediterranean Sea forms clouds around this towering peak, causing rain and snow to fall upon northern Israel. The resulting precipitation, as well as runoff from the mountain itself, is the sole source of water for the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River.