The Christian meaning of transfiguration is the same as its literal definition: to change something’s appearance.
In the Bible, Jesus was transfigured when he went up a mountain with three of his disciples. He began speaking to Moses and Elijah, who were two ancient prophets, and then his face became radiant and his clothes became dazzling white.
This is significant because it shows that Jesus was not just like other humans. He had a divine nature that could be seen by others—even though he was still in his human form when they saw him. The disciples were overcome with fear, but Jesus did not rebuke them or chastise them for their reaction. Instead, he told them that they should not be afraid because he would go up to heaven soon and return again in order to take them there with him (Matthew 17:1-8).
What Is The Message Of The Transfiguration
: an exalting, glorifying, or spiritual change.
About a week after Jesus plainly told His disciples that He would suffer, be killed, and be raised to life (Luke 9:22), He took Peter, James, and John up a mountain to pray. While praying, His personal appearance was changed into a glorified form, and His clothing became dazzling white. Moses and Elijah appeared and talked with Jesus about His death that would soon take place. Peter, not knowing what he was saying and being very fearful, offered to put up three shelters for them. This is undoubtedly a reference to the booths that were used to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, when the Israelites dwelt in booths for 7 days (Lev. 23:34–42). Peter was expressing a wish to stay in that place. When a cloud enveloped them, a voice said, “This is My Son, whom I have chosen, whom I love; listen to Him!” The cloud lifted, Moses and Elijah had disappeared, and Jesus was alone with His disciples who were still very much afraid. Jesus warned them not to tell anyone what they had seen until after His resurrection. The three accounts of this event are found in Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-8, and Luke 9:28-36.
Undoubtedly, the purpose of the transfiguration of Christ into at least a part of His heavenly glory was so that the “inner circle” of His disciples could gain a greater understanding of who Jesus was. Christ underwent a dramatic change in appearance in order that the disciples could behold Him in His glory. The disciples, who had only known Him in His human body, now had a greater realization of the deity of Christ, though they could not fully comprehend it. That gave them the reassurance they needed after hearing the shocking news of His coming death.
Symbolically, the appearance of Moses and Elijah represented the Law and the Prophets. But God’s voice from heaven – “Listen to Him!” – clearly showed that the Law and the Prophets must give way to Jesus. The One who is the new and living way is replacing the old – He is the fulfillment of the Law and the countless prophecies in the Old Testament. Also, in His glorified form they saw a preview of His coming glorification and enthronement as King of kings and Lord of lords.
The disciples never forgot what happened that day on the mountain and no doubt this was intended. John wrote in his gospel, “We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only” (John 1:14). Peter also wrote of it, “We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, saying, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased.’ We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with Him on the sacred mountain” (2 Peter 1:16-18). Those who witnessed the transfiguration bore witness to it to the other disciples and to countless millions down through the centuries.
The Transfiguration of Jesus Christ
This biblical event appears in each of the Gospel books as an important moment in the life of Jesus and evidence of his divinity. After Jesus performs a series of miracles and foretells His own death, Jesus leads just three of his disciples, Peter, James and John, to a “high mountain.” This is where the Transfiguration takes place in which his appearance was radiantly transformed.
The transfiguration of Jesus Christ was a powerful demonstration of His divine nature and manifestation of His glory, which Jesus possessed prior to coming to earth in the human body. This revelation is referenced in a passage in the Apostle Paul’s message to Phillippi. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:5-11 KJV).
What was the Importance of the Transfiguration?
The following is a transcription of the video above answering “What was the Importance of the Transfiguration?”
It’s impossible to appreciate what’s going on with the Transfiguration unless you consciously factor in the reality that that remarkable scene takes place just a few days after Jesus had, for the very first time, told his disciples He was going to die. And when he told his disciples, in Matthew 16:21, He was going to die, they were offended and scandalized. Peter, speaking for the group, grabbed Jesus and said, “far be it from you [to die], it can’t happen.” Jesus was, of course, upset with Peter and told him, “you savor the things of man and not of God.”
This (Transfiguration) is about three years into a three and a half year ministry. This is after for months and years those disciples had followed Jesus, they had seen his miracles, they had done miracles in His name. They knew something palpably and objectively about the power and the reality of who Jesus was, and yet, when He began to talk about dying it was staggering to the disciples and they began to wonder if He was really the Messiah. Therefore, for that reason, Jesus took three, Peter, James and John, into a high mountain apart, away from the other apostles.
Jesus takes Peter, James, and John into a very secluded place and He begins to pray. He asked the disciples to pray and they fall asleep. Then, as they wake up, they see Jesus standing before them with an ineffable (indescribable) manifestation of light and glory which will be His when he reigns as King in days to come. He had laid aside that external glory and for just a few minutes as they watched they see him transfigured (metamorphized is the Greek word). The point is that the caterpillar had become a butterfly, the one who had so carefully veiled his physical glory took it to himself for a brief moment. The whole purpose of that experience was to reinforce the staggering faith of those apostles. That’s exactly what Peter gets out of it when he remembers it and says we did not bring you cunningly devised fables, we made known to you the power of Jesus because we were with Him in the holy mountain. We know He is Messiah and will reign as Messiah because we saw His physical glory.
The point of the Transfiguration was to reinforce the staggering faith of the apostles. As Jesus, Peter, James, and John return from the mountain, they find the other apostles trying to drive a demon out of a man and unable to do so. When they ask why the exorcism won’t work, Jesus says it is because of their staggering faith. In the context, what is it that has staggered their faith? It was Jesus’ message that He is going to die and that is exactly what the Transfiguration is all about. In such an interesting and compelling way, the Transfiguration illustrates what a careful, sensitive, creative and resourceful teacher Jesus was.