The Mountain of Transfiguration

If you like this booklet, give it to your friends to enjoy reading about this great incident. If you have younger brothers and sisters who don’t go to school yet, they will be happy when you tell them the story with the help of the pictures in the booklet.

Now we will write the key verse in our story for you to learn by heart. Write it three times so that it will be easier for you to memorize.

This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him! (Matthew 17:5)

The twelve disciples followed Jesus day and night to learn from Him. But in spite of their love, honour and admiration for Jesus, they did not understand the essential nature of their Lord and the aim of His coming.

For that reason Jesus began to reveal to them that He had to suffer and that the chief priests and scribes would torture Him to death, but He would rise from the dead after three days. His disciples were shocked and sad when they heard this news, because they thought that Jesus was an all-powerful leader and would establish God’s kingdom on the earth.

What was the thing that the disciples couldn’t understand about Jesus?

Six days after this revelation, Jesus took three of His disciples: Peter, James and John, and led them up to a high mountain to pray.

When they reached the top, they were very tired from the long, steep climb and the disciples fell asleep. But Jesus began speaking to His heavenly Father in prayer.

Why did Jesus want to go up the mountain?

While Jesus was praying, His appearance changed. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as the light. His clothes became whiter than snow and even the brightest dye could not match its whiteness. His original glory, which He had before His incarnation, when He was with His heavenly Father, appeared again.

Why was the transfiguration not a strange matter to Jesus himself?

Suddenly two prophets, Moses and Elijah, appeared in brightness and glory, and came near to Jesus and talked with Him. The subject of their discussion with Jesus was very important.

The gospel tells us that they talked with Jesus about His coming suffering and death. This cannot be easily understood by the human mind.

Jesus, the righteous one, had to die for all of us because of our sins in order to make us right before God and release us from the last judgment. Moses and Elijah talked with Jesus about His crucifixion. He was the only mediator between God and man.

Why did God send Moses and Elijah to Jesus?

The three disciples suddenly woke up from their sleep and stared in astonishment at the heavenly shining glory of their Lord.

Jesus gave them the opportunity to see His glory and to live for a moment in His holy atmosphere full of kindness and love, and to see the beauty of His original glory.

This scene helped them to overcome the sadness which fell on them when they heard about the approaching suffering of their Lord and His death.

What helped the disciples overcome their sadness?

When Peter recognized the heavenly atmosphere around Jesus, he desired to stay there forever. He neither wanted to be silent nor wanted to watch like a spectator, but said, Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters – one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah..

What do you think? Wouldn’t you feel the same way that Peter felt when he recognized what was happening?

Why did Peter want to build three shelters?

Peter did not know what he was saying. The moment he finished speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them all so that they couldn’t see anything. They were very frightened. Suddenly, they heard a voice from the cloud saying, This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!.

From this moment on, the disciples knew who Jesus really was. God personally had revealed the essential nature of His Son to them. They knew that the word of God is truth itself.

Do you know why the heavenly cloud overshadowed the disciples?

When Jesus saw the terrible fear in His disciples, He came and touched them kindly and said, Stand up. Don’t be afraid..

The words of Jesus refreshed and strengthened them. They stood up and looked at their Lord. When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus..

Why were the disciples able to stand up?

Jesus was standing in front of His astonished disciples as the person they had previously known in human body. The glory which they had seen had disappeared.

Complete quietness and peace surrounded them. Again, they stared with astonishment at Jesus and realized that He was really the only living Son of God in human flesh.

What did the disciples see after being refreshed?

Jesus and His disciples, still full of the experience of His transfiguration, made their way down the mountain toward the valley where the other nine disciples were waiting for them.

On their way down, Jesus commanded them, Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead..

What was the subject of the disciples’ talk after the resurrection?

After Jesus’ resurrection and appearances to His disciples, they had the privilege to touch His spiritual body and remember the previous glory of Jesus on the mountain of transfiguration. After His ascension to His Father they began to tell the people that Jesus is Lord. In Jesus dwells the fullness of God’s nature. He who believes in Him will live for ever.

What news did the disciples spread after Jesus’ resurrection?