Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

¹⁶ You see, when we made known to you the power and appearing of our Lord Jesus the Messiah, we were not following cleverly devised myths. Rather, we were eyewitnesses of his grandeur. ¹⁷ For when he received honor and glory from God the father, a voice spoke to him from the Wonderful Glory, “This is my son, my beloved one, in whom I am well pleased.” ¹⁸ We heard this voice, spoken from heaven, when we were with him on the holy mountain. ¹⁹ And we have the prophetic word made more certain. You will do well to hold on to this, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star shines in your hearts. ²⁰ You must know this first of all, that no scriptural prophecy is a matter of one’s own interpretation. ²¹ No prophecy, you see, ever came by human will. Rather, people were moved by the holy spirit, and spoke from God.

The transfiguration

17 After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and James’s brother John, and led them off up a high mountain by themselves. ² There he was transformed in front of them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. ³ Then, astonishingly, Moses and Elijah appeared to them. They were talking with Jesus.

⁴ Peter just had to say something. “Master,” he said to Jesus, “it’s wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I’ll make three shelters here—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah!”

⁵ While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Then there came a voice out of the cloud. “This is my dear son,” said the voice, “and I’m delighted with him. Pay attention to him.”

⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were scared out of their wits. ⁷ Jesus came up and touched them.

“Get up,” he said, “and don’t be afraid.”

⁸ When they raised their eyes, they saw nobody except Jesus, all by himself.

The question about Elijah

⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them strict instructions. “Don’t tell anyone about the vision,” he said, “until the son of man has been raised from the dead.”