105. The Transfiguration of the Lord. Mt. 17:1–13; Mk. 9:2–13; Lk. 9:28–36

After these words, following an interval of eight or six days, the Lord Jesus took Peter, and James, and John, his brother, and led them up a high mountain alone—these three alone—and went up the mountain with them to pray.

Now while He prayed, Peter and those with Him were burdened with sleep, but they awoke (by the effect of extraordinary light). They saw the glory of the Lord, for as He prayed, He was transfigured wholly: the appearance of His face changed, and it shone like the sun; His garments also became white as snow, very white, whiter than any bleacher on earth could make them—they became radiant like light.

And behold, two men appeared in glory, who were Moses and Elijah, and they began to speak with the Lord Jesus, and they spoke of His departure, which He was to accomplish in Jerusalem.

Now as they were departing, Peter said to the Lord Jesus: Master! Teacher! Lord! It is good for us to be here; if You wish, we will make three tents here: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah—not knowing what he said, for he did not know what to say, because they were seized with fear.

But while he was yet speaking, a bright cloud appeared and overshadowed them; and they became even more afraid when they entered into the cloud. And behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying: This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear Him! When this voice came, the Lord Jesus was left alone.

And His disciples, hearing this voice, fell on their faces and were very much afraid. But the Lord Jesus, approaching, touched them and said: Rise, and be not afraid. They lifted up their eyes, but looking around, they saw no one with them any longer except the Lord Jesus alone.

When they were coming down from the mountain, the Lord did not allow anyone to speak of what they had seen; He forbade them, saying: Tell no one about this vision until the Son of Man has risen from the dead. And they kept silent and told no one in those days about what they had seen.

But they seized upon that saying—“until he rises from the dead”—and discussed with one another what it meant to rise from the dead.

Then these disciples of His asked the Lord: How is it that the scribes say Elijah must come first? He answered them: True, Elijah is to come first and restore all things. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased—as it is written of him. So also the Son of Man will suffer at their hands; for the Son of Man is destined, as it is written of Him, to suffer much and be despised.

Then His disciples understood that He was speaking to them about John the Baptist.