The Transfiguration of Jesus (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A): Revision Note
Exam code: 8062
2 Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5 Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” 8 Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. (Mark 9:2–9)
The Transfiguration
This event takes place after the conversation in Caesarea Philippi; therefore, Peter had already recognised Jesus as the Messiah
The Transfiguration happens with Peter, James and John in attendance, not all of the disciples
They were alone up on a mountain and Jesus transfigured, or changed, before the disciples
His clothes became dazzling white
This is a sign in Judaism of the “Shekinah” — God’s presence
Christians believe that this is a sign of Jesus’s divinity or godly nature
Elijah and Moses appear
Elijah was one of the greatest Old Testament prophets and was expected to return to Earth before the Messiah came
In this event, Elijah represents the Prophets
Moses was the great leader who was responsible for leading the Israelites out of slavery and who had been given the Ten Commandments and the Law by God
In this event, Moses represents the Law
The presence of both Elijah and Moses shows that in Jesus, God is fulfilling the promises made to the Jews in both the Prophets and the Law
It is therefore a sign that Jesus is the Messiah
A voice comes from the heavens: “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!”
Although the voice is not explicitly stated as God’s voice, it is assumed to be God telling the followers to listen to Jesus
This echoes the events of Jesus’s baptism
This shows the disciples that Jesus is the Son of God
The disciples were told by Jesus not to relate this event to anyone before he had come back from the dead
This is another example of the Messianic Secret
The importance of the Transfiguration for Christians
This is a unique event: a miracle happens, but Jesus does not perform it — it happens to him instead
The Transfiguration is important for Christians because it shows:
That through Jesus, humanity meets the divine (godly)
Jesus as the Son of God
That God wanted Jesus to be listened to, which demonstrates his authority
Jesus as the Messiah
That Christian teachings about eternal life are true because both Moses and Elijah appear, even though they had died long before these events
Christians may interpret this passage differently:
Some Christians think of these events as a literal mystical experience
Others think that this might be a vision or dream that Peter had and related to Mark
Some think that this event might have happened after Jesus’s resurrection from the dead and that Mark placed it at this point in the story to strengthen the teaching that Jesus was the Son of God
Worked Example
Which one of these disciples was not present to witness the events of the Transfiguration?
[1 mark]
A. Thomas
B. James
C. John
D. Peter
Answer:
A. Thomas
Peter, James and John are the three disciples Mark reports as being present at some of the most important events of Jesus’s ministry, including the Transfiguration.
Examiner Tips and Tricks
There are several parallels between Mark’s account of Jesus’s baptism and the Transfiguration. Make sure you do not confuse the two events if you are retelling them, especially the words that were heard from heaven.
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