Mat 17:1-8 | EE | STEP | 6 days after that, Jesus asked Peter and the 2 brothers, James and John, to go with him. Jesus led them up a high mountain by themselves.

Matthew 17:1-8

God causes Jesus to become different to look at

1 6 days after that, Jesus asked Peter and the 2 brothers, James and John, to go with him. Jesus led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 Peter, James and John saw Jesus change in front of them. He became different to look at. His face was bright like the sun. His clothes became very white and they shone. 3 Then Moses and Elijah appeared in front of the 3 disciples. They were talking with Jesus. ^{▼▼17:3 Moses had lived a long time ago. He was a leader of God’s people. He brought them out of the country called Egypt. He died about 1400 years before Jesus was born. We can read about Moses in the book called Exodus.} ^{▼▼17:3 Elijah was a prophet of God. He lived about 850 years before Jesus was born. He did not die. God took him up alive to heaven. We can read about him in 1 Kings.}

4 Peter said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good that we are here. If you want, let me build three huts. One hut will be for you. One hut will be for Moses and one hut will be for Elijah.’ ^{▼▼17:4 Peter and his friends wanted to build the huts so that these three important people could stay with them longer. Many years before, Moses had given the people God’s Law. Elijah was an important prophet of God. And Jesus was God’s son. But God had not asked the disciples to build any huts. Moses and Elijah came from a time that would soon finish. Jesus was showing people something new. This was the kingdom of God.}

5 While Peter was still speaking, a bright cloud appeared. It covered them all. A voice spoke from the cloud and it said, ‘This is my Son and I love him. He makes me very happy. Listen to him.’

6 The disciples heard the voice. They threw themselves down to the ground. They were very frightened. 7 But Jesus came to them and he touched them. ‘Stand up,’ he said. ‘Do not be afraid.’ 8 When they looked up, they could not see anyone else. Only Jesus was there with them.