Mark 9:2-6 2And after six days Jesus took along Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3and his clothes became radiant, extremely white, as no one on earth could make them white. 4And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5And answering Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here, and let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6For he did not know what he was answering, for they were terrified.
This scene adds insight into the person of Jesus, but in some ways, it further indicates the misunderstanding of the disciples. The disciples had six days to think about Peter’s confession and Jesus’ call to full commitment. Jesus took his three closest disciples with him. He was not showing favoritism but building leaders who would be called to sacrifice much in the future. Peter, James, and John would each have a special ministry and influence in the early church. They did not understand the significance of the event on the mountain until after Jesus’ death and resurrection.
High mountains have significance in the Bible and especially in Jesus’ ministry. Mountains represent the place where God and humanity meet and significant revelation is given, such as Moses receiving the law on Mount Sinai. Jesus often prayed and preached on mountains, was tempted on a mountain, and called and sent his disciples from mountains. The traditional location of the transfiguration is Mt. Tabor, located south of Galilee and rises to 1000 feet above sea level, but the 9,200-foot Mt. Hermon is more likely because it is closer to Caesarea, where Peter made his confession.
Mark gets right into the event by describing Jesus’ transfiguration. The word transfigured (metemorphōthē) is used to describe the change a caterpillar makes to become a butterfly. Jesus was still recognizable, but something was still different. Verse 3 describes the change: his garments became radiant (stilbonta), like a glistening gleam of burnished brass or gold, polished steel, or the golden glare of the sunlight. The change that happened to Jesus recalls the radiance of Moses’ face after he was in the presence of God.
Two people appeared with Jesus. Somehow Peter recognized the two Old Testament heroes. Moses represented the law, and Elijah was considered by some Jews to be the greatest of the prophets. Mark does not record their conversation, probably because the three disciples had no idea what was being discussed. The presence of Moses and Elijah is symbolic because Jesus fulfilled both the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 5:17). They appear together again but in a different context in Revelation 11:3–11. The ministries of both Moses and Elijah prepared the way for Jesus.
Peter’s response to the situation seems silly, but he wanted to preserve the experience and have a temporary shelter for the awesome presence of God that was there. Emotional experiences of God’s presence are precious and significant for us, but we cannot live on the mountaintops. We must descend to the valleys where real life happens.
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