**The Transfiguration: A Glimpse of Glory**
The sun had barely risen over the horizon, casting a golden hue across the Galilean hills. Jesus stood with His disciples, His face serene yet filled with purpose. The air was crisp, and the faint scent of wildflowers wafted through the breeze. For weeks, Jesus had been teaching His followers about the coming of the Kingdom of God, the cost of discipleship, and the necessity of taking up one’s cross. His words were weighty, and the disciples often found themselves wrestling with their meaning. But today would be unlike any other. Today, Jesus would reveal a glimpse of His divine glory.
Six days earlier, Jesus had spoken plainly to His disciples about His impending suffering, death, and resurrection. Peter, ever impulsive, had rebuked Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord! This shall never happen to You!” But Jesus had turned to Peter with a stern yet compassionate gaze, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” The rebuke had left the disciples shaken, and they had been pondering His words ever since.
Now, as the morning light grew brighter, Jesus called Peter, James, and John to follow Him. “Come with Me,” He said, His voice calm yet commanding. The three disciples exchanged curious glances but obeyed without question. They trusted Him implicitly, even when His actions seemed mysterious. Together, they began to ascend a high mountain. The path was steep and rugged, the rocks jagged beneath their sandals. The climb was arduous, but the disciples pressed on, their hearts stirred by an unspoken anticipation.
When they reached the summit, the world seemed to fall away. The sky stretched endlessly above them, a vast canvas of blue. The disciples caught their breath, their eyes scanning the breathtaking view of the surrounding valleys and distant hills. But what happened next would leave them utterly awestruck.
Jesus stepped forward, His figure silhouetted against the sky. Suddenly, His appearance began to change. His face shone like the sun, radiant with a brilliance that was both beautiful and terrifying. His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than any fuller on earth could bleach them. It was as if the very essence of heaven had broken through the veil of earth, illuminating Him with divine glory. The disciples shielded their eyes, their hearts pounding in their chests. They had never seen anything like this before.
As they stood there, trembling in awe, two figures appeared beside Jesus. One was Moses, the great lawgiver who had led Israel out of Egypt and received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. The other was Elijah, the fiery prophet who had been taken up to heaven in a whirlwind. These two towering figures of Israel’s history stood with Jesus, their presence a testament to His fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. Together, they spoke with Him about His impending departure, which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
Peter, overwhelmed by the sight, blurted out, “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.” His words tumbled out in a rush, driven by a mixture of fear and reverence. He scarcely knew what he was saying, but he longed to honor the moment.
Before Jesus could respond, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice thundered from heaven: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him!” The disciples fell facedown to the ground, overcome with fear. The voice was unmistakable—it was the voice of God Himself. The weight of His presence pressed upon them, and they felt utterly exposed in the light of His holiness.
After what seemed like an eternity, Jesus approached them. He touched them gently and said, “Get up. Do not be afraid.” As they lifted their eyes, they saw that the vision had passed. The mountain was quiet once more, and Jesus stood before them, His appearance normal again. But the memory of what they had seen burned in their hearts.
As they descended the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Do not tell anyone about the vision until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” The disciples nodded, though they struggled to understand His words. They whispered among themselves, “What does He mean by ‘raised from the dead’?” But they dared not ask Him directly.
When they reached the base of the mountain, they were met by a crowd. A man rushed forward, his face etched with desperation. “Lord, have mercy on my son!” he cried. “He suffers terribly from seizures and often falls into the fire or the water. I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not heal him.”
Jesus sighed deeply, His eyes filled with compassion and a hint of sorrow. “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” He said, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to Me.”
The man obeyed, and Jesus rebuked the demon that had tormented the boy. Immediately, the child was healed. The crowd erupted in amazement, praising God for His power. But the disciples were troubled. Later, they approached Jesus privately and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive out the demon?”
Jesus looked at them with gentle reproof. “Because of your little faith,” He replied. “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”
The disciples bowed their heads, humbled by His words. They realized that their faith was still weak, but they also knew that Jesus was patient with them. He had shown them His glory on the mountain, and He was teaching them to trust Him more deeply.
As the sun set over the horizon, casting long shadows across the land, the disciples reflected on the day’s events. They had witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus, heard the voice of God, and seen His power to heal. Though they did not fully understand all that was to come, they knew one thing for certain: Jesus was the Son of God, the fulfillment of all that had been promised. And they were determined to follow Him, no matter the cost.
