The Theology of Transfiguration of our Lord
by Fr. Dr. V.C.Varghese, Sugar Land, TX
The Festival of Transfiguration/ Koodaara Perunnal
Bible Reading: Matt.17:1-13; Mk.9:2-13
The Holy Orthodox Churches celebrate the
Transfiguration of our Lord on August 6. During August and September time the
Jewish people celebrate their Festival of Tabernacle or Ingathering (aka The
Festival of Booths) from 15th to 21st Tishri, which marked the completion of the
whole harvest by ingathering of grapes. Because this was the time when everyone
went out into the vineyards and lived in tents. It was an excellent time to
remember the religious lessons of the forty years when the whole nation had been
living in tents between Egypt and Canaan.
Location: Tradition enlists as Mount Tabor and scholars say Mount Hermon. Mount
Tabor rising to a height of 1,843 feet in the northeast portion of Plain of
Esdraelon, Mount Carmel to the west and Mount Hermon to the north. Even though
it is not as high as Mt.Carmel and Hermon, Psalmist and the prophets compare it
to those mountains (Ps.89:12; Jer.46:18). It may have been a sacred mountain
from early times (Deut.33:18-19). It is not mentioned in the New Testament, but
since second and third century A.D. it has been associated with the
Transfiguration of our Lord.
Why the transfiguration took place on a "high mountain" top? There are three
important scenes our Lord's life took place on mountains. On one He preached the
Beatitudes, on the second, He showed the glory that lay beyond the Cross, and on
the third, He offered Himself in death as a prelude to His glory. Mountains are
dominant feature of the biblical geography
When we examine the passage of this incident about the time, since feeding of
five thousand in April (Spring time- people sat on grass) and look forward to
the festival of Tabernacles we can come to the conclusion at the month of
August. What a perfect time August 6th for the Transfiguration envisioned by our
Holy Fathers. Matthew and Mark say that the Transfiguration took place "six
days" after the great confession (Matt.16: 13-20; Mk.8: 27-30; Lk. 9: 18-21),
but Luke says "eight days". Evidently Matthew and Mark were counting the
intervening days only; Luke counted also the terminal days. Luke tells of Jesus'
season of prayer which preceded the transfiguration, and of the three disciples'
vain struggle to keep awake. The transfiguration revealed some important aspects
of the glory of Jesus Christ the King.
As far as the record is concerned, this is the only time Jesus revealed His
glory in this way while He was on earth. The word 'transfigured' gives us the
Greek word 'metamorphosis'. A metamorphosis is a change on the outside that
comes from the inside. When a caterpillar builds a cocoon and later emerges as a
butterfly, it is due to the process of metamorphosis . Our Lord's glory was not
reflected but radiated from within. There was a change on the outside that comes
from within as He allowed His essential glory to shine forth (Heb.1: 3).
This event would strengthen the faith of the disciples, particularly Peter who
had recently confessed Jesus to be the Son of God. Had Peter made his confession
after the Transfiguration, it would not have been so meaningful. Peter believed,
confessed his faith, and then received assurance. Many years later St. John
recalled this event as the Spirit guided him to write " And we beheld His glory,
the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,....( John 1:14). In his Gospel,
St. John emphasized the deity of Christ and the glory of His person (John 2:11;
7:39; 11:4; 12:23; 13 :31, 32; 20: 31).
Part 2
Jesus Christ laid aside His glory when He came to earth (John 17:5). Because of
His finished work on the Cross, He received back His glory and now shares it
with us (John 17:22, 24). John 13:4,5 states "rose from supper and laid aside
His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, he poured water into
a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel
with which He was girded" (NKJV). There are seven distinct actions mentioned in
the above 'Feet washing' episode by John which related to His glory and
humility. Rising, laying His garments aside, taking a towel, putting it about
Him, pouring water, washing the feet, wiping with towel. The scene reported by
John was a summary of His Incarnation. Rising up from the Heavenly Banquet in
intimate union of nature with the Father, He laid aside the garments of His
glory, wrapped about His Divinity the towel of human nature which He took from
Mary; poured the laver of regeneration which is His Blood shed on the Cross to
redeem men, and began washing the souls of His disciples and followers through
the merits of His death, resurrection and ascension. St. Paul expressed it
beautifully "For the divine.......( Phil.2: 6-8). ( Fulton J. Sheen,
Archbishop).
The Glory of His Kingdom: Matthew 16: 28 Jesus promised that some of the
disciples would see " the Son of Man coming in His Kingdom". He selected Peter,
James and John as witnesses to this event. These three friends and business
partners (Luke 5:10) had been with Jesus in the home of Jairus ( Luke 8: 51),
and they would go with Him into the Garden of Gethsemane before His crucifixion.
All these three occasions had to do with death. Jesus was teaching these three
men that He was victor over death. The transfiguration taught them that He was
the Lord over the death and what lay beyond.
The presence of Moses and Elijah was significant. Moses represented the Law and
Elijah the prophets. All of the Law and Prophets point to Christ and are
fulfilled in Christ ( Luke 24:27; Heb. 1:1). "For how could Peter known Moses
and Elias, except (by being) in the Spirit? People could not have their images,
or statues, or likenesses; for that the law forbade. How, if it were not that he
had seen them in the Spirit? And therefore, because it was in the Spirit that he
had now spoken, and not in his natural senses, he could not know what he had
said. .... He ( Christ) selects from His disciples three witnesses of the
impending vision and voice. And this is just the way of the Creator. "In the
mouth of three witnesses , He says, shall every word be established" (Deut.19 :
15; Luke 9: 28). He withdraws to a mountain. In the nature of the place I see
much meaning. For the Creator had originally formed His ancient people on a
mountain both with visible glory and His voice. It was only right that the New
Testament should be attested on such an elevated spot as that whereon the Old
Testament had been composed".. ( Tertullian against Marcion : Ante- Nicene
Fathers, Vol. III pp.383,384).
The conversation of Jesus with Moses and Elias was breathless interest to the
disciples. It centered upon the very topic which was breaking their hearts, the
death of Christ. Luke gives us the detail using the word " exodus", the going
forth from earth back to heaven through death. The grave was not the terminus of
Jesus' glorious ministry. "Earth's exodus is heaven's genesis, and what we call
the end, celestials call the beginning" ( R.C. Foster ; Life of Christ).
Part 3
The conversation with Moses and Elijah showed that the forthcoming death of
Christ was in full harmony with the law and prophets. The climax was the voice
of God speaking from heaven and warning them not to put Jesus on the same plane
with Moses and Elijah, nor to hesitate to follow Him because God the Father is
well pleased with the conduct and course of His beloved Son.
Each of the three disciples would have a need for the important truth. James
would be the first of the disciples to die ( Acts 12 : 1-2). John would be the
last, but he would go through severe persecution on the Isle of Patmos (Rev.1:
9) Peter would experience many occasions suffering and, in the end, gave his
life for Christ. Peter opposed the Cross when Jesus first mentioned His death
(Matt. 16 : 22). In the Garden he used the sword to defend Jesus. In fact even
on the Mount of Transfiguration Peter tried to tell Jesus what to do. He wanted
to build three booths (tents) (Tabernacles) for Jesus, Moses and Elias so that
all of them could remain there and enjoy the glory. But the Father interrupted
Peter and gave other directions: "Hear Him." The Father will not permit His
beloved Son to be put on the level of Moses and Elijah. "Jesus" was the only one
of the God's pattern. Jesus cautioned them not to reveal what they had seen and
heard even to other nine disciples.
"In man, the body is a kind of cage of the soul. In Christ, the Body was the
Temple of Divinity. In the Garden of Eden, we know that man and woman were naked
but not ashamed. This is because the glory of the soul before sin shone through
the body and became a kind of raiment. Here too in the Transfiguration, the
Divinity shone through humanity. It was restraint to hide the Divinity that was
in Him. "As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe
became white and glistening. .... who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease
(exodus) which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem" ( Luke 9 : 29-30). (
Fulton J. Sheen- Archbishop).
Many years later, Peter realized and boldly proclaimed, "For we did not follow
cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from
God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent
Glory: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased". And we heard this
voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the Holy Mountain" ( 2
Peter 1 : 16 - 18). No mortal can fully understand the Glory of God ( Shekinah
), for I am but the despicable dust of the earth. May God bless us all.
and accordingly have influenced greatly the way of life, belief, and worships of
the ancient Israelites. Two sacred mountains inextricably associated with God
are Mount Sinai or Horeb and Mount Zion. In NT Jesus makes it clear that the
worship of God not restricted to any particular mountain (John 4: 2-24). But
many important events occurred at mountains in the life of Jesus and His
ascension site was Mount of Olives (Luke 24: 50; Acts 1: 9-12). The high
mountains offers challenge, sequester and serenity. Where else in this world may
one find such awesome grandeur of nature? Perfect place to commune with our
Creator.
The glory of His submission : Peter could not understand why the Son of God
would submit to evil men and willingly suffer. The Transfiguration was God's way
of teaching Peter that Jesus is glorified when we deny ourselves, take up our
cross, and follow Him. The world's philosophy is "save yourself" (Matt. 27: 40),
but the Christian philosophy is "yield yourself to God." As He stood there in
glory, Jesus proved to the three disciples that surrender always leads to glory.
First the suffering, then the glory; first the cross, then the crown.
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