TRANSFIGURED

When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said.” Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. —Matthew 17:6–8

Peter, James, and John had already spent quite some time with Jesus before witnessing His transfiguration. One night, on a high mountain in the north of Israel, Jesus started to glow as His true glory was allowed to shine through.

Then, two of the greatest heroes of the stories of the Hebrew scriptures appeared with Jesus, followed by a bright cloud. “A voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!’ ” (Matthew 17:5).

For a moment, the three disciples were given a glimpse of heaven and heard the voice of God—and they were terrified. Then Jesus was left to comfort them, and Jesus was all they needed. All of the other people and elements of this experience testified to the nature and significance of Jesus. So when the disciples were overwhelmed by the reality and majesty of Jesus revealing more of His divinity, He was also their comfort. Even when Peter suggested building shelters for the three citizens of heaven, he was rebuffed by the larger reality of Jesus Himself. Jesus already was God dwelling among them (see John 1:14); they did not need to add to that. In contrast with their vision of the transcendent and glorious God, Jesus was able to simply reach out and touch them. He gently quieted their fears and gave them time to reflect on what they had witnessed for themselves without the initial burden of having to try to describe or explain it to others. And when all that was left on this now-dark mountaintop was Jesus alone with the three cowering disciples, He was enough.