Bible Discussion Thread

When Jesus was transfigured did the disciples see the event or were they sleeping?

It should be remembered that only 3 disciples went up the mount; the others likely were sleeping. There is no doubt from the text that Jesus was talking with Moses and Elijah. If nothing else; their discussion of His demise proves this; as Peter was rebuked from Satan's influence by Christ when he tried to admonish Christ for predicting such a thing! This showed a sort of foreshadowing of Christ's eternal glory (outside of space and time). It would seem also that Christ's statement immediately preceding this about some of them not dying until they saw the Son of Man in His glory could have been a veiled reference to this event; which also in some way could have gone ahead in time to show Christ's future state much as John did in Revelation as to what was to happen. The voice of God also is the same as earlier with John the Baptist "this is my Son; listen to Him" or something to that effect. That was to be the focus of the event; the Son of God. There will be future real physical bodies to what is now spiritual bodies for those passed on (Elijah would seem to still be in his old body as he is prophesied to die as one of the two prophets in the future). As to Moses there is some debate as Satan had contention about his burial; nonetheless he probably shone much like he did on earth when he had to wear a veil to cover himself. As with the story of Lazarus and the rich man; we are to take things literally unless they are clearly meant to be figurative. Even a dream or vision if truly from the Lord transcends our fleshly body and soul and therefore there is something real from heaven behind it. Our minds whether awake or asleep are controlled by our will (i.e. soul); and that is either still in darkness or the Spirit of God is living and active allowing us to die to our old nature and be transformed by the renewing of the mind ( Romans 12:2).

Hi Donaldg,

This is interesting and edifying if studied, Matthew 17:1-13 Mark 9:1-13 and Luke 9:28-37. Your question did they see it or were they asleep? They went up to a high mountain and they were gone for a least a day maybe more and in Luke 9:32 they were asleep, but they awakened, and it says they saw. In Mark 9:4 it says they appeared unto them and nothing about sleep.

In all three Jesus transfigured before them and they were awake, and in all three Jesus tells them not to tell anyone about this until He was raised from the dead. This they did not understand because that part was hidden from them, Mark 9:10 Luke 18:31-34, His death and other things were hidden from them until He appeared to them after His resurrection, Luke 24:44-45.

You asked were they asleep or did they see, the answer is in Matthew 17:9, it was a vision, horama, spiritual seeing, a supernatural apparition, same as John, when he was given the Revelation of Jesus Christ. There is a lot in these verses, like Mark 9:1 before Jesus took Peter, James and John to the mountain.

God bless,

RLW

Hi Donald, the account indicates that they saw it because they were later able to describe in in the gospel record.