The Transfiguration of Jesus Christ
COLLECT
O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
GOSPEL: Mark 9:2-9: The Transfiguration
2 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” 8 And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.
9 And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
In the Transfiguration story, Jesus takes three of his closest followers, Peter, James and John up to a quiet place to pray with God the Father. While Jesus is praying,
1. What do the disciples see? v. 2-4?
2 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. Moses and Elijah were important prophets in God’s story. They were God’s important messengers and leaders. Jesus and the two men talked together.
2. What do you think the three of them talking about? V4.?
“They talked about how he would be leaving them soon. This was going to happen in Jerusalem.” We find out later in Mark’s story that they were talking about Jesus completing the mission God the Father sent him to do: to conquer sin and death for all of us by his own death and resurrection. They were talking about his departure from earth back to heaven.
3. What else did Peter, James, and John experience v. 7?
7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” 8 And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.
4. Why do you think Jesus took his closest disciples up to the mountain to experience what happened when he prayed with God in a quiet place?
HERE ARE SOME POSSIBLE ANSWERS:
Jesus wanted his future leaders on earth to believe in their hearts that he was truly the Son of God on earth and in heaven.
Jesus wanted his future leaders to see that he truly was in the presence of God and his kingdom when he talked and listened to God in prayer.
Jesus wanted his future leaders to know that he knew God’s will for his life on earth and with the power of the Holy Spirit, he obediently followed God’s plan.
5. What is God teaching you as his follower and future leader of others? How do you want him to help you?
Let us pray: Almighty Father, you showed your Son Jesus in his divine light to the first leaders who carried on Jesus’ work on earth after he departed back to your heavenly kingdom.
Please give us the faith and desire to pray with you EVERY day as Jesus did so we would clearly understand and courageously carry out what you want us to do each day as we learn to love you and others as Jesus did.
In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit....AMEN.
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