It is unknown which mountain Jesus, John, James, and Peter ascended the day Jesus was transfigured. However, many scholars believe the mountain was Mount Tabor. Mount Tabor is 575 meters or 1,886 feet high. It is located in the lower Galilee and Northern Israel region – just 11 miles west of the Sea of Galilee. If it was Mt. Tabor, then this is not the first time something significant happened atop its peak.
Mt. Tabor was first seen in the Scriptures in the book of Judges. Deborah, the current judge of the Israelites, and Barak the general of the army defeated Jabin, the king of the Canaanites, and Sisera, the Canaanite general. The entire story can be found in Judges 4. So, Mt. Tabor already played a significant role in Jewish history prior to Jesus’ ascent.
Matthew 17, Mark 9, and Luke 9 all recount the transfiguration of Jesus atop a very high mountain in Galilee (Mt. Tabor). Jesus was visited by Moses and Elijah. His appearance changed and Jesus became as bright as the sun with flashing lightning. His clothes became whiter than snow or as white as pure light. In this moment, Jesus’ glory and divinity were revealed to the chosen three who ascended the mountain with Him. Peter, so overcome by what he had witnessed, offered to make tabernacles for all three of them men illuminated atop Tabor – Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. Instead, a voice from heaven proclaimed “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” All three – Peter, James, and John were terrified and awe-strickened and immediately fell facedown on the earth. But, then Jesus came to them and touched them. He told them not to be afraid and when they finally looked up – it was just them and Jesus on the mountain.
What an experience.
I’d like to focus in on two big takeaways from Mount of Transfiguration:
🏔️ Jesus’ holiness and divinity should be equal parts awe-inspiring and terrifying. Our reaction to Jesus should be the same as Peter, James, and John. Even though we will never experience Jesus’ glory the way they did on this earth, our reaction to Jesus’ glory should be the same. Jesus’ holiness is shown as brighter than the sun, as white as pure light, and as powerful as flashing lightning. He is perfect in every way. When we contrast that to our own selves, we should have the same exact reaction of Peter, James, and John and fall to our face and worship Jesus.
🏔️ Jesus’ does not want us to be afraid of Him. He wants us to experience His holiness so we too can be transfigured. The word transfigure means a complete change of form or appearance into a more beautiful or spiritual state. When we turn our lives over to Jesus and let His light – His glory – And His holiness infiltrate our lives, then we too are transfigured. And the best part of this transfiguration is that it is two fold. We are transfigured here on earth, we completely change into something new. And one day that transfguration will be complete and we too will take on the perfect spiritual state God intended us to always have.
But we can only experience transfiguration if we climb the mountain like Peter, James, and John. We can only be changed by Jesus’ perfect glory and holiness if we allow it to truly affect us and penetrate our souls. We must have the proper respect and adoration for Jesus. We must allow His righteousness to influence our lives. Only then can we become we who were truly meant to be. #MountainsofGod #MountaineeringForGod
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