The Transfiguration of Jesus Christ
Basic Info
Matthew 17:1–9, Mark 9:2–8, Luke 9:28–36
Matthew, Mark, and Luke recount an episode in which Jesus, Peter, John, and James went up a high mountain to pray. Peter, John, and James fell asleep. It may have been at the time of the Jewish festival of Sukkoth, when tents are erected to commemorate the time of wandering in the wilderness after the Exodus. When Peter, John, and James awoke, Jesus’ body had become glorified: his face was shining like the sun, his clothes were bright white, and Moses and Elijah were with Him. A cloud appeared and God’s voice proclaimed Jesus as his Son. Peter offered to make tents for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah, which would make sense if it were the festival of Sukkoth.
This has been seen as an important miracle in the New Testament, because it happened to Jesus. Some have interpreted Moses as symbolic of the Law (Torah) and Elijah as symbolic of prophesy. Others consider this a vision that the Apostles had, not a material event.
Raphael's Transfiguration includes elements of the Resurrection and the Ascension and that motif became a common way to depict the Transfiguration.
What to Look For
- The techniques used to depict Jesus’ glorified face and body (halo, color, mandorla [an almond-shaped full-body halo], floating, etc.)
- The relationship among Jesus, Moses, and Elijah
- The reaction of the disciples
- The cloud from which God’s voice came
Questions to Focus a General Interpretation
The event is generally understood as confirming Jesus’ divinity. What balance does the artwork strike between Jesus’ divinity and his humanity?
The Gospels often used the disciples as symbolic of readers / hearers (Christians). Does the artwork depict in the disciples the reaction that most people would probably have to such a scene, or does it prescribe a reaction that Christians should have to Jesus’ divinity?
Questions to Guide a Personal Interpretation
Can you relate to any of the disciples depicted in the artwork? What is your reaction to miraculous tales or events?
What about the artwork attracts you? What repels you? What might that say about where you are on your faith journey?
Questions to Guide a Personal Interpretation
Can you relate to any of the disciples depicted in the artwork? What is your reaction to miraculous tales or events?
What about the artwork attracts you? What repels you? What might that say about where you are on your faith journey?
Questions to Suggest a Historical Interpretation
Moses and Elijah are considered pretty important Old Testament saints. How they are depicted in relationship to Jesus can be reflective of how other important people do or should respond to Jesus’ glory or divinity. What was the relationship between important figures and the Church in the artist’s place and time? Could this artwork have been meant as a message to them?
Three Reflections on Artworks Depicting the Transfiguration
