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As we see in the movies from artistic effect, James, John, and Peter saw before them from divine effect.
Jesus’ clothes turned bright white and a glow emanated from his person as two Jewish heroes appeared beside him. They lived centuries, even a millennium, prior to A.D. 29.
Moses and Elijah stood next to Jesus and chatted with him on the mountain.
Peter, not content to listen, interrupted their conversation to offer his construction services. He believed the time had come for God to act cataclysmically on behalf of the Jews.
Jesus’ clothes then changed to their normal state while Moses and Elijah disappeared. A voice from the heavens roared, “This is my beloved son. Listen to him.”
Peter, James, and John experienced Jesus’ transfiguration, listened to Jesus speak with Moses and Elijah, and heard the voice of God come from heaven.
I’m not sure how they were even able to walk after this trifecta, but they traveled down the mountain with Jesus.
* * *
On the way down, Jesus told them, “Do not explain this to anyone until the Son of Man rises from the dead.”
At this point in Mark, Jesus’ resurrection from the dead was not a new idea to the followers of Jesus. They had heard him tell them about it before.
How did they respond? They kept the miracle on the mountain secret, but discussed what Jesus’ rising from the dead meant.
They still didn’t understand what he was talking about.
This is another piece of good evidence that they would not have preached that Jesus resurrected unless they believed it happened.
They did not fully understand its significance even when they preached it. The church had to sort it out for years—perhaps even a decade. But the message was unanimous: Jesus Christ resurrected from the dead.
Even the extraordinary event on the mountain did not lead them to grasp what it meant for Jesus to resurrect. A resurrection is far more miraculous than a transfiguration.
The only miracle that would seem to persuade Jesus’ followers of his resurrection was the resurrection itself.