About eight days after these
sayings, Jesus took with him Peter, John, and James, and went up onto the
mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered,
and his clothing became white and dazzling. Moses and Elijah, in radiant glory,
spoke with him of what would happen at Jerusalem.
Peter and those with him were sound
asleep, but when they woke up, they saw Jesus in his glory, and the two men who
stood with him.
Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it
is good for us to be here. Let’s make three tents: one for you, one for Moses,
and one for Elijah.” He didn’t know what else to say because they were very
afraid.
A cloud came, overshadowing
them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to
him.”
Suddenly they saw no one with
them anymore, except Jesus. As they were coming down from the mountain, he
commanded them to tell no one what they had seen until after the Son of Man had
risen from the dead. They kept this saying to themselves, wondering what
“rising from the dead” meant.
His disciples asked, “Why do the
scribes say Elijah must come first?”
Jesus answered, “Elijah indeed
comes first, and will restore all things, but I tell you Elijah has come
already, and they didn’t recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted. The
Son of Man will also suffer by them.” Then the disciples understood he spoke to
them of John the Baptizer.
Reflection
This marks a major turning
point in the story of Jesus. Up until this time, Jesus has been teaching,
healing and talking about God’s kingdom. Now the story turns darker as Jesus
sets his face toward Jerusalem and the fate that awaits him there. Have you
ever had a sense of foreboding? Have you ever gone into a dark time in your
life knowing God would be with you as you went through it?
Prayer: Help me be faithful,
Lord, when dark and difficult times come.
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