Luke 9:28-36
The Transfiguration
28 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, 31 appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. 32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (He did not know what he was saying.)
34 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him." 36 When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen.
Eight days earlier Jesus told His disciples, that some of them would see the kingdom of God before they died...Also, eight days earlier, Peter confessed that Jesus was the Messiah of God...Like many things Jesus said, the disciples probably did not understand, what He just said...But now eight days later, Jesus takes Peter, John, and James with Him and up a mountain to pray...As He was praying the appearance of His face changed...His clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning...Then two men appeared in glorious splendor...The two men were Moses and Elijah...They were talking to Jesus...They spoke about His departure and how He was about to bring fulfillment to Jerusalem...Peter, John, and James were sleepy, but when they became fully awake they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him...As the two men were leaving Jesus, Peter ask Him, if they should put up three shelters-one for Him, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah...Peter, seeing this glorious and great sight may not have known what to say...
While Peter was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them...The disciples were afraid...A voice came from the cloud and said, "This is My Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him."...When the voice finished speaking they found Jesus was alone...The three disciples kept this to themselves and told no one at that time...
The Transfiguration of Jesus was glorious...God briefly brought Jesus, Moses, and Elijah together...Moses and Elijah must have came from a paradise (and God sent them to Jesus)...The Bible is represented by the two...Moses represents the Law, and Elijah represents the Prophets...Moses and Elijah were demonstrating their approval of Jesus, and talk to Him about His fulfilling the Scriptures in Jerusalem...He is the new covenant, the ultimate, perfect sacrifice for man's sins...
Peter in his second epistle writes of this incident....He tells us that "we did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and the coming of our LORD Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty...For He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to Him from the Majestic Glory, saying "This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I AM well pleased."...We ourselves (Peter, John, and James) heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with Him on the sacred mountain (2 Peter 1:16-18)...
Peter felt he need to pass this story on to others, since he was one of the eyewitnesses...Peter, John, and James as well as the other disciples were all eyewitnesses to Jesus while He was on earth (although the other disciples did not witness the Transfiguration)...Peter and the others, who knew Jesus, did not invent these stories...Jesus did His ministry in the open...He taught many, as well as healing many...People in Galilee, Jerusalem, and Israel would not has missed Jesus...Paul states to Governor Festus, I am convinced that none of this (Jesus' teachings and resurrection) has escaped your notice, because it was not done in a corner (Acts 26:26)...Jesus did not hide his ministry, but was open about His teachings...He wants all to know that He resurrected from the dead, by His Father...
One day we will see another glorious splendor coming again from the sky and clouds...He will make a glorious entry at the end of times...At the end of the ages, we will see the sign of the Son of Man appear out of the sky, and all nations of the earth will mourn...They will see the Son of Man on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory...And He will send His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to another (Matthew 24:30-31)...