Slices
Prepare
Reflect on some of your mountaintop experiences with Jesus. Which memory stands out most strongly?
Bible passage
The transfiguration
2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.
5 Peter said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters – one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ 6 (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)
7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: ‘This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!’
8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what ‘rising from the dead’ meant.
11 And they asked him, ‘Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?’
12 Jesus replied, ‘To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? 13 But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.’
Explore
I wonder what Peter, James and John were expecting when Jesus led them up a mountain (v 2). I would be surprised if they expected what followed – Jesus transfigured and in conversation with Moses and Elijah (v 4). I wonder how they recognised them. Perhaps they recalled the stories of Moses encountering God on Mount Sinai (Exodus 32–34). Has your journey with Jesus led you to any surprising or unexpected places or encounters? Peter didn’t know what to say. He was terrified (v 6, ESV) and suggested building a dwelling for each of them, perhaps echoing the tabernacle in the wilderness where God dwelt. I wonder what you would have done in Peter’s place. Then a voice from above announced that Jesus was the beloved Son (v 7, ESV), an echo of God’s words at his baptism (Mark 1:11, ESV).
As they descended the mountain, Jesus prohibited them from talking about their experience and again talked about his death and resurrection (v 9), which the disciples still did not understand (v 10). How hard might it have been not to share such an experience? How do we know whether or not to share with people some of our intimate moments with God? Jesus then confirms the belief that Elijah will return (Malachi 3:1) but also alludes to John the Baptist as a prophet like Elijah (v 13). A thought-provoking experience.
Respond
Pray: ‘Lord Jesus, open our eyes to see you, our ears to hear you and our hearts to behold you.’
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Isaiah 17–20; Titus 1
Pray for Scripture Union
Over the summer many young people who have responded to Jesus will have received the booklet So, What Next? Pray that this will help them as they set out on their journey with Jesus and discover who God is, who they are and who they are becoming.
