The Transfiguration according to Mark:
God’s Disguised Offering of Metanoia

December 9, 2014

New Testament Studies (THEO 2100)

Mark 9:2-10 (NRSV)
2Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. 4And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!” 8Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.
9As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead could mean.

*This paper will always use the NRSV translation unless otherwise indicated.
Introduction

Many scholars argue that the Gospel according to Mark is the first written Gospel proclaiming the “good news” of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Mark’s powerful inclusion of the transfiguration of Jesus in 9:2-10 has led many scholars to argue its meaning and purpose. Whether one interprets the transfiguration as a historical event, resurrection appearance, or apocalyptic vision, Jesus’ transfiguration can respectfully be acknowledged as perhaps a manifestation or revelation of who he really was. And while this paper respects all of the surrounding scholarly commentary, my own Christian motive rests to better understand the disciples’