ESV Matthew 17:1 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 And Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah." 5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and have no fear." 8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. 9 And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead."
ESV Mark 9:2 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, 3 and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 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." 6 For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son; listen to him." 8 And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only. 9 And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
ESV Luke 9:28 Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. 30 And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at
- Comparison of details from the Transfiguration pericope
Context: All three follow Peter’s confession of Jesus as o` cristo.j and Jesus’s prediction of his own crucifixion. Matthew and Mark have it as six days following these events while Luke says it is eight.
Company: All three agree that with Jesus was Peter, James, and John.
The Change: Matthew and Mark use the verb metemorfw,qh (metamorphosized or transfigured) while Luke calls it e[teron (different or altered).
Jesus Conversant: All three agree that Jesus spoke with Moses and Elijah.
The Response: All three record Peter as suggesting they build three tents, one for each of the heavenly beings. Only Luke notes that the disciples were “heavy with sleep” while praying immediately before the transfiguration.
The Reason for the Response: Matthew gives no reason, but both Mark and Luke note that it was because Peter did not quite know what to say. Mark adds at this point that the disciples were terrified (e;kfoboi), a detail that Matthew and Luke include after the voice from the cloud (see below).
The Cloud: Drawing on the OT imagery of the Shekinah glory, Matthew and Mark agree that the cloud “overshadowed” (using a form of evpiskia,zw) the disciples. Luke adds a unique detail that the disciples actually entered the cloud.
The Father’s Speech: Matthew interestingly notes that Peter was cut-off by a voice from the cloud. Mark’s version is the shortest, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” Matthew similarly records this but adds, “with whom I am well pleased” between the two clauses. Luke’s version is slightly different, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!”
The Disciples Fall Down: Matthew notes that the disciples went prostrate upon hearing God’s voice. Mark does not put it this way. From his perspective, the whole scene dissolved with the Father’s statement. Luke follows Mark.
Left with Only Jesus: All three agree that after this magnificent event, they saw Jesus only.
The Messianic Secret: Matthew and Mark record Jesus as commanding the disciples to keep the event a secret until he had risen from the dead. Luke notes that they told no one, but he does not highlight Jesus’s command.
- The Quiz!
In listening to Sufjan Steven's musical rendition of this story, which account does he seem to follow (Matthew, Mark, or Luke)? Defend your answer and win a copy of the CD from which this track is drawn: Seven Swans!
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2 comments:
Sufjan relies most heavily, though not exclusively, on Luke's account.
1) Sufjan's account includes that the disciples went "to pray" (Luke 9:28).
2) Sufan's account mentions that Jesus' "countenance was modified", which is more similar to Luke's language of "his face was modified" (9:29).
3) Sufjan speaks of the content of Jesus' conversations with Moses and Elijah ("whenever he would die" corresponding to "his departure" (9:31), and "both Luke and Sufjan speak of what Jesus would "accomplish" (9:31).
Sufjan departs from Luke's account when he says that the Father spoke of his "beloved" Son, which is found in both Matthew and Mark, but not Luke.
Lastly, Sufjan attributes Jesus' words to the disciples, telling them remain silent, to God, which again, is found in Matthew and Mark, but not Luke.
Joe,
Man...great response. You are correct. I found it interesting that Sufjan did follow Luke quite closely, though (as you noted) not exclusively. I'd be interested to know whether he wrote the song while drawing on his general sense of the text or if he conferred with the biblical account. If the latter, was it Luke primarily? Either way, good for you in making the right call.
Give me your mailing address (on the board or via email) and I'll send the CD along. Thanks!
-- JR
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