The Transfiguration
Jesus speaks of some seeing the kingdom arrive with power, then leads Peter, James, and John up the mountain, where he is transfigured and joined by Moses and Elijah.
T1hen Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God arrive with power.” 2After six days Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There He was transfigured before them. 3His clothes became radiantly white, brighter than any launderer on earth could bleach them. 4And Elijah and Moses appeared before them, talking with Jesus.
Peter speaks out of terror, but the cloud and the Father's voice answer with a clear command to listen to the beloved Son. When the moment passes, only Jesus remains with them.
5Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters — one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6For they were all so terrified that Peter did not know what else to say. 7Then a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him!” 8Suddenly, when they looked around, they saw no one with them except Jesus.
On the way down, Jesus orders silence until after the resurrection, while the disciples puzzle over rising from the dead and Elijah's place. Jesus answers that Elijah has come and suffered as written.
9As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus admonished them not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10So they kept this matter to themselves, discussing what it meant to rise from the dead. 11And they asked Jesus, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” 12He replied, “Elijah does indeed come first, and he restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected? 13But I tell you that Elijah has indeed come, and they have done to him whatever they wished, just as it is written about him.”