18 February 2026

Although the Transfiguration was  enfolded in stern warnings about keeping the experience a secret, it must have been a profound event, certainly it has been preserved in three of the  Gospels – Matthew, Mark and Luke. John doesn’t include it. He reveals several other signs of Christ’s  glory.

He manifested his glory at the wedding in Cana of Galilee where Jesus turns water into wine and, most especially,  in his crucifixion. ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.’ he says. ‘Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains just a single grain but if it dies,  it bears much fruit.’

And here on top of the mountain, Jesus is transfigured. His face shone like the sun. His clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly Moses and Elijah appear and start talking to Jesus. A bright cloud overshadows them. They hear a voice and fall to the ground overcome by fear.

This fear is something like awe or wonder. It is inspired by an experience of the powerfulness of God breaking into our ordinary world in unexpected ways. It encourages us to think more about God’s transcendence. He is beyond our understanding, beyond  our grasp.

The experience was brief. It was also an experience which could not be contained nor preserved. Peter tried to do this. ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’

And we would like to do the same – preserve in amber the few but wonderful intimations of God’s glory which we have experienced in our lives. These experiences of awe and wonder  may be more common than we think. There is evidence to suggest that nurturing a sense of wonder is conducive to belief!