Why were Peter, James, and John terrified during the Transfiguration in Mark 9:6? Canonical Text “Peter said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ For they were all so terrified that Peter did not know what else to say.” (Mark 9:5-6) Immediate Narrative Setting Six days after Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Christ, the Lord leads Peter, James, and John up a “high mountain” (Mark 9:2). There He is “transfigured” (metemorphōthē), His garments radiant beyond any earthly bleach (v. 3), while Moses and Elijah appear and converse with Him. A luminous cloud overshadows them and the voice of the Father declares, “This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him!” (v. 7). Mark then notes the disciples’ terror (ekphobos; literally “utterly afraid”). Old Testament Precedent: Fear in Theophany 1. Exodus 20:18-19—Israel trembled at Sinai’s fire, cloud, and voice. 2. Isaiah 6:5—Isaiah cries, “Woe is me!” upon seeing the Lord’s glory. 3. Judges 13:22—Manoah fears death after witnessing the angel of the LORD ascend in flame. Because the Torah taught, “No man can see Me and live” (Exodus 33:20), any manifestation of divine glory instinctively produced dread. The Overwhelming Glory of Christ The Greek term metemorphōthē conveys an outward change corresponding to inner reality—Jesus’ pre-incarnate glory (cf. John 17:5). Witnessing unfiltered majesty exceeds normal human experience; terror follows as a reflex of encountering absolute holiness (Habakkuk 3:3-6). The Shekinah Cloud and the Divine Voice The bright cloud recalls: • Exodus 40:34—Glory filling the tabernacle. • 1 Kings 8:10-11—Priests unable to stand when the cloud fills Solomon’s temple. Hearing the Father’s voice magnifies the encounter. In Scripture, audible divine speech often paralyzes listeners with fear (Deuteronomy 4:33; Daniel 10:9-10). Moses and Elijah: Eschatological Implications Both figures were associated with end-time expectation (Malachi 4:4-6). Their sudden appearance signals prophetic fulfillment, intensifying the disciples’ awareness that they stand on sacred, epoch-turning ground—another cause for fearful awe. Human Limitation and Sin Consciousness When finite, fallen humans glimpse divine purity, innate guilt surfaces (Luke 5:8). Peter, James, and John instinctively realize their unworthiness. Mark’s comment “he did not know what else to say” underscores cognitive overload: fear shuts down ordinary reasoning. Peter’s Misguided Booth Proposal Eager to prolong the moment, Peter suggests three skēnai (booths), perhaps evoking the Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:42-43) and Zechariah 14:16’s messianic vision. Yet equating Christ with Moses and Elijah betrays misunderstanding. The Father’s corrective “Listen to Him!” places Jesus above the Law and the Prophets. Peter’s fear-induced impulse reveals confusion, not blasphemy. Synoptic Corroboration and Nuance Matthew 17:6 adds that the disciples “fell facedown in terror.” Luke 9:32 notes they were “heavy with sleep” and fully awake when they saw His glory, suggesting a sudden, dazzling intrusion that startled them. Psychological Dynamics Modern behavioral science observes that unexpected, high-intensity stimuli trigger a fight-flight-freeze response. The disciples’ “freeze” aligns with normal human neuro-physiology when confronted with overwhelming sensory and existential reality. Early Church Reception Irenaeus (Against Heresies 4.20.1-3) cites the Transfiguration as proof of Christ’s deity, noting the disciples’ fear as evidence that unredeemed flesh cannot endure unmediated glory. Origen (Commentary on Matthew 12.36) reads their terror as pedagogical, preparing them to heed the Father’s command. Purpose in Mark’s Gospel 1. Christological: Christ’s divine Sonship. 2. Discipleship: “Listen to Him”—their fear highlights their need for revelation over speculation. 3. Eschatological: A preview of resurrection glory (cf. 2 Peter 1:16-18). Practical Theology Awe before God is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). Healthy fear distinguishes Creator from creature, fostering humility and obedience. The Transfiguration reminds believers that future glorification awaits, yet present pilgrimage requires reverent listening to the Son. Conclusion Peter, James, and John were terrified because they suddenly confronted the unveiled, Shekinah-clothed glory of God in Christ, the authoritative voice of the Father, and the eschatological witness of Moses and Elijah—all realities that, by scriptural precedent and human limitation, evoke overwhelming fear and reverent awe. |
    |