"Six days later Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus' appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus. "Peter exclaimed, 'Lord, it's wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I'll make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.' "But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, 'This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.'"
God the Father gave his Son a literal mountaintop experience right before his death. Jesus talked with Moses, giver of the Law, and Elijah, the prophet of prophets, both of whom prefigured Jesus. The Father publicly affirmed Jesus' authority and his own love for his Son. Perhaps it was this experience that strengthened Jesus for what he knew was just ahead: his suffering and death. Jesus himself received the Father's grace; it is the love relationship between Father and Son that Peter, James, and John witnessed. That's the love to which we are also given access.
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