He was changed before them

Debre Tabor

Unless I am a failure at sifting through my own writings, incredulously I say I haven’t written about this subject before, but ለደብረ ታቦር እንኳን አደርሳቹ። (le’debre tabor inkwan aderesachu), thankfully he allows you all (and I) to celebrate and commemorate again his transfiguration (latin) / metamorphosis (greek) / change (english). In ge’ez this feast is known simply as Mt. Tabor, because we have an extrabiblical tradition that says this took place on Mt. Tabor. There is even a city in Southern gwender named debre tabor, after the original in the Near East. It is the seat of one of the newer schools of aqwaqwam (noneucharistic liturgy and instrumental choreography).

Let us see what scripture has to say on this public matter adjudicated by a senior to his juniors. A connection that I believe exists between dbr in biblical hebrew (word) and dbr in ge’ez (mountain/parish). Anyhoo:

And He said to them, “Amen, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.” Now after six days Jesus (Joshua, yahweh saves) took Peter (Cephas, the Rock), James (Jacob, the Heel-Grabber), and John (yahweh is gracious), and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. And Elijah (el is yahweh) appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”— because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid. And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves. Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Adam had risen from the dead. So they kept this word (dbr) to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant. And they asked Him, saying, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” Then He answered and told them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all things. And how is it written concerning the Son of Adam, that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt? But I say to you that Elijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him.” (markos 9:1-12)

You must always pay attention to the word(s) coming out of Jesus’ mouth, but especially when he says, “amen, assuredly, verily, truly” whatever your version says right before his main point. I stick with amen, because it is both literal and universally understood. What’s understood doesn’t need to be explained. That the name of the Lord and salvation are in Jesus’ name should never be lost upon you, dear reader. He is the cornerstone, and Peter is a lesser rock upon whose foundation, along with the apostles and prophets, the church is built. Jacob of the New Testament is named after Jacob of the Old Testament, who is a heel-grabbing submission grappler of angels, and a standin for Israel. There is a suddenness, an immediacy, in Mark, that is not so present in the other gospel accounts. Take heed.

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy are the Old Greek names of these texts. The Biblical Hebrew refers to them by their first few words. For example, Genesis is berashyt, in the beginning. As a totality, mirroring the five fingers on human hands, they are referred to as the torah (teaching, law, instruction), or the Five Books of Moses. Or simply, Moses. The Saduccees only accepted these as scripture. The 800 or so remaining Samaritans hold this position too.

Other historic Jewish groups accepted the nebim (prophets), in addition to the torah. This includes, but is not limited to: Joshua, Judges, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jonah, and Hosea. Elias (Elijah) is a standin for the nebim. It would have been nice if the miscellaneous ketubim (writings) were represented too, but alas, I am no author nor editor of scripture. Just a mere play-by-play commentator and color commentator.

With such a great cloud of witnesses, the apostles and the prophets, Jesus stands alone, changed before them till he is exceedingly white and blindingly bright. There is no time to construct temporary houses. And yet that is exactly what Peter is humorously trying to do. Because he was clueless and afraid. We have a hymn about this that cracks me up every time I hear it. Must we read aloud the end of Isaiah, again? We must.

thus says yahweh:

“the heavens are my throne, and earth is my footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of my rest? For all those things my hand has made, And all those things exist,” says yahweh. “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at my word.

Then, what is to be done? We have to hear him. We have to hear his word. Again and again. Till it bores into us like Elon Musk’s abandoned venture to solve Los Angeles traffic. Finally, be careful, as you hear him, and do what he says, others will do to you whatever they wish. And their wishes are wicked. So, you better look good on wood, like your master, his beloved son.

Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray. As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening. And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him. Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone. But they kept quiet, and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen. (lookas 9:28-36 NKJV)

Luke keeps matters mostly the same as Mark. Here we see a focus on the face of Jesus, but the robes cover the body. The element of sleep is also present here. Before the term was corrupted, we can see the positive connotation of being woke or awake to matters of great import. Funny enough, although the communities who use these terms are oft opposed to one another, there is a shared meaning with the red pill. You have a new way of looking at reality. From now on, you will behave accordingly.

Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. But Jesus came and touched them and said, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.”And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist. (matthaios 17:1-13 NKJV)

Again, Matthew matches Mark and Luke pretty faithfully. But he is a perfectionist. We see Jesus is not only the beloved son of God the Father, but also the one in whom he is well-pleased. This makes Jesus both Davidic and Enochic. More Davidic (beloved) than David, and more Enochic (well-pleasing) than Enoch. Take heed. Strive to be by his grace what he his by his nature. Be beloved by God and well-pleasing to him.

For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. (2 cephas 1:16-18)

Peter tergiversates (doubts Christ, denies Christ, is baffled by Christ, aligns with false brethren splitting Gentile Christians from Jewish Christians) like no other apostle, and for a time he was the head of apostles. This makes him akin to King Solomon, and his harem. Mankind’s greatest men are failures before God. And yet, Peter is redeemed. His letters are scripture, along with those of Paul. And in his second letter, here, he has the same two phrases as Matthew, and emphasizes that he was an eyewitness of Jesus’ majesty during the transfiguration. He had ears to hear. May we too have such ears. Better late than never. Better now than later.

The heavens are Yours, the earth also is Yours;
The world and all its fullness, You have founded them. The north and the south, You have created them;
Tabor and Hermon rejoice in Your name. (Psalm 89:11,12)

Maybe the Ethiopian interpretation of where the transfiguration of Christ took place is wrong. Maybe it is right. God knows. But, the precise location is not a matter of salvation. I am not here to argue with you. But you can chant this Psalm, according to my psalmody tradition, or yours if it differs, and tell me if the Psalmist’s words help you paint a picture of the scenes above.