Transfiguration of Jesus
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Mount Tabor Transfiguration of Jesus |
Mount Tabor rises 1900 feet above the beautiful and productive agricultural plains of Galilee. It is one of the three prominent peaks/high points in northern Israel, the other two being Mt. Hermon and Mt. Carmel. To reach the summit, the tour bus stopped about a third of the way up the mountain and everyone transferred to cabs. From there, one looks west to Nazareth and the Yizreel Valley, east to the Sea of Galilee and to Jordan, or north to Mt Hermon and the headwaters of the Jordan river which flows south to form the Sea of Galilee. This mountain was the site of many ancient battles in the history of this amazing country, but Christians remember it as the site of the Jesus's transfiguration and his great commission after the resurrection.
Matthew 17:1-8 The Transfiguration Jesus took Peter, James, and John and climbed with them up to the top of a high mountain so they could have some time to themselves. Right before their eyes he went through an amazing transfiguration. His face seemed to become as radiant as the sun. His clothing seemed to be transformed into light. Then both Moses and Elijah were manifested speaking to Jesus. Peter spoke and said: 'Lord, how good it is for us to be here. Why don't we set up three dwelling places, one for each of you?' Even while he was speaking, they were overshadowed by a shining cloud, and from it they heard a voice: 'This is my Son, the one whom I love, the one upon whom my favor rests. It is his voice that you should be listening to.' The disciples didn't know what to make of this, and fell to the ground. But then it was over, and Jesus came and put his hand on them and said: 'Rise up. Be not afraid.'
Jesus commissioned his disciples: 'The fullness of power both in heaven and upon earth has been entrusted to me. Go out to all and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to live by all that I have commanded you. And behold I am with you always, now and forever.'
Mount Tabor was first mentioned in the Bible in connection with the defeat of an invading army at the hands of Deborah and Barak in 1125 BC. The 900 Canaanite chariots swept across the plain of Jezreel from Megiddo, but after a sudden rain, the chariots got bogged down near the foot of this mountain, and were then destroyed by an Israelite charge from the top of the mountain. There is some evidence that a village existed on the summit in the 1st century AD. There is archaelogical evidence of between 1 and 3 chapels in 570 AD. The Byzantine edifice was still standing when Benedictine monks were installed in 1099, but it was destroyed by a Turkish attack in 1113. The Benedictines returned and built an even stronger monastery in 1183. The current basilica was completed in 1924.
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