The Life of Jesus in Harmony |
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transfigured
(Gk. metamorphoo, to "change into another form").
It is recorded (Mt 17:2; Mk 9:2) that our Lord "was transfigured" before His
disciples
Peter,
James, and John; and this is explained (Lk 9:29): "And while He was praying, the
appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and
gleaming." Each of the evangelists represents it as taking place
about eight days after the first distinct mention
Jesus made to them of His approaching sufferings, death, and
resurrection.
The location is merely given asa high mountain, which is traditionally thought
to have been Mt. Tabor; but as Jesus was at this time sojourning in the
neighborhood of Caesarea Philippi, it seems likely that it was one of the ridges of
Hermon. While our Lord was praying He was "transfigured," i.e., His external
aspect was changed, His face gleaming like the sun, and His clothing being so
white that it shone like light. The cause of this appearance was that His divine
glory shone out through His human form and was not, as in the case of Moses,
caused by God's having appeared to Him.