Close Reading: The Transfiguration

[This paper was written for the Synoptic Gospels class at Capital University, where I am seeking a minor degree in religion.]

Jesse Harmon

RELIG 330

October 28, 2013

The Transfiguration

            All three synoptic gospels have the account of Jesus’ transfiguration in them.  The Transfiguration was the point where Jesus literally “transformed” his image in front of Peter, John, and James.  For this analysis, I am using The Living Bible translation.  Later on in the paper, I will perform what Thomas Jefferson did and clip all three gospels apart, and put them together in the order I think would work the best as telling the story of the Transfiguration.

            When I read the Living Bible translation of the Transfiguration in Matthew, I couldn’t help but see how simplified the wording was.  As someone who is not a fan of “scholarly jargon,” and as someone who generally isn’t a fan of the King James Version of the Bible, I felt this very simple, easy to understand version was refreshing.  The wording was quite clear as to what was being said.  For example, in Matthew, Jesus took Peter and John atop a “high and lonely hill.”  One could assume that this means a mountain (which Matthew does mention later on in the story).  Jesus’ face “shone like the sun,” and became “dazzling white.”  These very simple terms are great image-makers.  In Mark’s account of the Transfiguration, we see that Jesus’ face began to “shine with glory,” and his clothing became like “dazzling whites, far more glorious than any earthly process could ever make…!”  According to Luke, Jesus’ face again shone to the disciples, and his clothes were “dazzling white and blazed with light.”  Since the English texts in all three gospels are the same when referring to “dazzling white,” I can only imagine that all three gospel writers used the same Greek words there.  Since I don’t know Greek, I’m going to assume this is the case.

            The two or three disciples saw Moses and Elijah standing with Jesus.  In the gospel of Matthew, Moses, Elijah, and Jesus were all talking together.  In Mark, all three were talking together.  And in Luke’s account, Moses and Elijah, who were “splendid in appearance” and “glorious to see,” were speaking of the ultimate death of Jesus in Jerusalem. 

            When Peter had seen the three talking, he couldn’t help but “blurt out” about building three tents for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah.  It was only in Luke that we learn that the three disciples fell asleep while Jesus, Moses, and Elijah was talking.  We learn that when Moses and Elijah started to leave, Peter (who I assume had woken up at some point) “blurted out” that he would build the three tents.  Interestingly in Mark, the translators of this version interrupted what Peter was saying by putting four periods in a row to indicate an interruption.  “’We will make three shelters here, one for each of you….’  He said this just to be talking, for he didn’t know what else to say and they were all terribly frightened.”  I thought the wording on that last sentence was a little awkward.

            As Peter was saying these things, God sent in a large cloud rolled in and swallowed up Jesus, Moses, and Elijah.  He did this, I think, to show to Peter that it was only Jesus who really mattered, as he was about to die for Peter’s sins.  Matthew describes this cloud as a “bright” cloud.  Mark said the cloud “blotted out the sun.” (I couldn’t help but laugh at the play on the word “sun” and “son,” as if not only did the cloud blot out the sun, it also blotted out the Son for a moment). 

            God spoke to the disciples, who according to Luke, were “gripped with terror.”  Luke writes these words of God, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him.”  Mark writes the exact same thing.  Matthew, on the other hand, writes, “This is my beloved Son, and I am wonderfully pleased with him.  Obey him.” 

The Transfiguration

            Six days [after Jesus told Peter to get behind him], he took Peter, James, and James’ brother John up on top of a high and lonely hill.  As they watched, his appearance changed so that his face shone like the sun with glory.  His clothes became dazzling white, which blazed far more glorious than any earthly process could ever make. 

            Peter, James, and John grew drowsy and fell asleep.  When they woke up, they saw Jesus standing there, talking with Moses and Elijah about Jesus’ imminent death in Jerusalem, which was to be carried out according to God’s plan.  As Elijah and Moses were starting to leave, Peter blurted out, “Teacher!  Master!  This is wonderful that we can be here!  We will build three shelters, one for each of you...”

            But as he was saying this, a large, bright cloud blotted out the sun, and covered Jesus, Moses, and Elijah.  And the three disciples heard God’s voice say, “This is my Son, the Chosen One.  Listen to him.  Obey him.” 

            At this the disciples fell face downward to the ground, terribly frightened.  Jesus came over and touched them.  “Get up,” he said, “don’t be afraid.”

            As the voice died away, Jesus was there alone with his disciples.  They didn’t tell anyone what they had seen until long afterwards.