THE Transfiguration of Jesus can be difficult to comprehend sometimes.
We read about Christ’s appearance overcome with magnificent light, Moses and Elijah appearing to either side, and the voice of God speaking to the apostles – it can all seem a bit much to comprehend.
But if we see the Transfiguration as a pivotal part of Jesus’ earthly life, we begin to appreciate the useful reminder it sets for our own faith journeys.
The event marks the most direct demonstration of Jesus’ divinity.
It is not a reference to ancient scripture only the Rabbi would know or a new radical teaching.
Rather Jesus does what humanity has been crying out for since the Old Testament.
In fact, what we still call for.
Jesus directly and physically reveals himself to be God.
He sends rays of brilliant light from His face and clothing, calls upon the representatives of the Jewish law and prophets, and God the Father even speaks it in plain terms to the apostles.
You cannot get much more straightforward than that.
Little doubt remained for the witnesses – Peter, James and John.
But, after this moment, the prophets leave and Jesus returns to His regular appearance.
The disciples are told not to repeat the events until after the Son of Man was raised from the dead.
Why?
Would this not be at the top of God’s list, to show us all that He exists?
The Transfiguration teaches us the opposite, and helps us understand God’s complex plan for humanity’s salvation.
The Transfiguration reveals Jesus’ divinity is complicated.
It is most directly seen here by the reader, but only fully revealed in his death on a cross and his resurrection.
As the second person to the Trinity, Jesus is waiting to publicly demonstrate His divinity through both His fully human and fully divine nature, through the sacrifice on the cross.
We should understand the Transfiguration as the moment Jesus directly reveals Himself as the Son of God, as well as His intentions to do so again through His death and resurrection.
Jesus is not always going to appear like He did during the Transfiguration, and He teaches that we should instead expect Him in our day-to-day lives.
We celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration on August 6.
