1 Six days later Jesus took Peter, James and his brother John, with him and they went up a high mountain to be by themselves. 2 He was transformed in front of them. His face was shining like the sun. His clothes turned white as light. 3 Then suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared before them, talking together with Jesus.
4 Peter spoke up, saying to Jesus, "Lord, it’s really good to be here. If you want I’ll make three shelters—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them. A voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my son whom I love, who pleases me. Listen to him." 6 When they heard this, the disciples fell down on their faces, absolutely terrified. 7 Jesus went over to them and touched them. "Get up," he told them. "Don’t be afraid." 8 When they looked up they didn’t see anybody there except Jesus.
9 As they descended the mountain Jesus gave them strict instructions. "Don’t tell anybody what you saw until the Son of man has risen from the dead," he told them.
10 "So why do the religious teachers say that Elijah has to come first?" his disciples asked.
11 "It’s true that Elijah comes to put everything in place," Jesus replied, 12 "but I tell you that Elijah has already come and yet people didn’t recognize who he was. They did whatever they felt like to him. In the same way the Son of man will also suffer at their hands." 13 Then the disciples realized that Jesus was referring to John the Baptist.