What Happened On The Mount Of Transfiguration?

We have all had those moments, haven’t we? Something had happened right before your very eyes. Your mouth dropped open and you wanted to say something. Even though you were speechless you said something anyhow. That’s what happened on the Mount of Transfiguration.

Jesus took Peter along with James and John to a mountain top. The event is called the Mount of Transfiguration. As we examine these verses we’ll look at how Peter responded to what he saw.

He said this because he didn’t really know what else to say, for they were all terrified.  Mark 9:6

The apostles witnessed many wonders and miracles performed by Jesus. He cured incurable diseases and raised people from the dead. The Lord caused the blind to see and the lame to walk.

Undoubtedly though the most spectacular visual event that happened was on the Mount of Transfiguration. But it was only seen by three of them. Here is the account.

Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed, and his clothes became dazzling white, far whiter than any earthly bleach could ever make them. Mark 9:2-3

There’s a commercial on TV about a walk-in-tub. The husband says to the wife, “are you seeing this?” I wonder if one of these guys said something like that as the appearance of Jesus transformed?

Right after that two men from the Old Testament visited Jesus.

Then Elijah and Moses appeared and began talking with Jesus. Mark 9:4

I have written post about another mountain top experience Moses had. You’ll enjoy it, The Necessity Of Powerful Intercessory Prayer.

What Happened on the Mount Of Transfiguration with Peter?

From what we know about Peter, he was never one to lack words. But he really had nothing to say in this speechless moment. That, however, didn’t keep him from saying something.

Peter exclaimed, “Rabbi, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” Mark 9:5

Think about what Peter just said. How were they going to build three shelters? Did they have the right materials? Did they have any tools? When you stop to think about it, it was a dumb idea. All because he didn’t know what to say.

Years ago we attended a Sunday School class at a North Carolina church. The night before a terrible accident happened with the death of two teenagers.

The pastor who was teaching the class asked, what would you say to the parents of those two young people? I think the class thought the pastor was looking for “spiritual” answers.

They ranged from, “all things work together for good” to “beware your sins will find you out.” With a variety of answers in between. The pastor finally stopped the conversation.

He said, “what about saying, I don’t know.” That almost seemed like a new concept to those in the class. Sometimes staying quiet is good when we either don’t know what to say or have nothing to say.

Our Heavenly Father Bailed Peter Out

Fortunately for Peter, the Heavenly Father spoke up which got him off the hook. God is available to bail each of us out also.

Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son. Listen to him.” Mark 9:7

Lord, help us to hear what you have to say. Also, help us to know what to say and if we should say anything in those “speechless” moments. We don’t want to do like what happened on the Mount of Transfiguration.

Read the entire story about what happened on the Mount of Transfiguration in Mark 9.

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