The Transfiguration of Jesus (Mark 9:2–8)

Significantly, within the unique events in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, it is necessary to highlight the Transfiguration account (Mark 9:2–8). Through it, Christ confirms Peter’s confession, ¨softens¨ at least the scandal of the cross but, more importantly, announces that that was not the end of the journey neither in Christ nor the disciples.

The events in the Transfiguration were based on various historical, cultural, and geographical understandings. Initially, Mount Tabor was believed to be the scene of transformation where it was named “The Mount of Transformation,” even though the “high mountain” was not mentioned[1]. However, other scholars find Mount Hermon the most probable scene for Transfiguration, due to its close proximity to Caesarea Philippi, where the disciples were told who Jesus was.

The Transfiguration, as described by Mark, has an irrefutable link to Jewish and Greek traditions, language, and culture. The term “transfigured” or metamorphoo -μεταμορφόω- was commonly used in the Greek New Testament to mean transformation. Mark uses the term to mean “change in bodily appearance,” where he says Jesus’ clothes “became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them” (Mark 9: 3)[2]. The Jews believed some heroes went to heaven directly without dying, for example, Elijah and Enoch[3]. The apocalyptic…