Home > Jesus is God in Mark's Gospel
Six days later, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a high mountain. This event is also mentioned in Matthew 17:1-8 and Luke 9:28-36.
Mark 9:2–8:
And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.
The Transfiguration is mentioned by Peter in his letter as he and others had witnessed first hand.
2 Peter 1:16–18
ESV
For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.
“transfigured” - His metamorphosis (v. 2) reveals his pre-existent glory. t the Transfiguration, Jesus does not receive glory from an external source—His appearance is transformed from within. Only God possesses intrinsic glory. Humans may reflect it; angels may mediate it; but Jesus radiates it.
Isaiah 42:8:
I am the Lord; that is my name;
my glory I give to no other,
nor my praise to carved idols.
The cloud, the voice, and the glory all echo classic Old Testament appearances of God.
“cloud” - In every OT instance, the cloud marks where God dwells. At the Transfiguration the cloud does not fill a mountain shrine or temple. It centers on Jesus. See Exodus 24:15–18 and 1 Kings 8:10–11
“voice” - God’s audible voice accompanies theophanies. Deuteronomy 4:12, Psalm 29 and Isaiah 6 – God speaks from His glory
“glory” - Jesus shining with overwhelming brilliance. Moses reflects God’s glory temporarily (Exod. 34) but Jesus emanates glory. See Exodus 24:16–17 – God’s glory appears as consuming fire.
Moses and Elijah - Moses and Elijah appear as witnesses, not equals. The spotlight falls solely on Jesus, whose glory eclipses even the greatest figures of Israel’s history.
The Father's voice from the cloud (v. 7) identifies him as the "Beloved Son” - shifting the focus from the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah) to Jesus alone.
“Listen to Him” - The command ‘listen to him’ places Jesus above the Law and the Prophets and identifies him as God’s final and supreme revelation. To command obedience to Jesus over Moses is to place Him within God’s unique identity