The Son of God

Now that the disciples had realised that much, the time was ripe for them to be told more about who Jesus really was.

A week later, therefore, while they were still in North Palestine, Jesus took Peter, James and John up into a high mountain by themselves.  This was probably Mount Hermon on whose slopes the snow remains until midsummer.  There a strange thing happened.  Jesus’ whole appearance changed.  His face shone like the sun and his clothing became a dazzling white, whiter than the mountain snows.  At the same time there appeared Moses and Elijah talking with him.  As the disciples watched, a bright cloud came round them and from the middle of the cloud they heard a voice, which was the voice of God, saying, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” (NRSV, Mark 9:7).Then, just a suddenly, the cloud disappeared and they saw no one else any more, except Jesus only with themselves (Mark 9:2-8).

We call this happening the Transfiguration, and from it the disciples learnt that Jesus was not only the Messiah but the Son of God himself.  Now they understood why he spoke of God as being his own Father in a special way; why he so often called him ‘My Father’.