SOURCES
Daniel L. Belnap, “'Those Who Receive You Not': The Rite of Wiping Dust off the Feet,” in By Our Rites of Worship: Latter-day Saint Views on Ritual in Scripture, History, and Practice, ed. Daniel L. Belnap (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center; Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2013), 209–260.
Richard E. Bennett, “‘It Is Finished’: The Divine Accomplishment of the Crucifixion,” in Celebrating Easter: The 2006 BYU Easter Conference, ed. Thomas A. Wayment and Keith J. Wilson (Provo, UT: Brigham Young University, Religious Studies Center, 2006), 177–99.
Richard Neitzel Holzapfel. “The Transfiguration.” The Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ: From the Transfiguration Through the Triumphal Entry. Edited by Richard Neitzel Holzapfel and Thomas Wayment
James E. Talmage. Jesus the Christ. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/jesus-the-christ/chapter-23?lang=eng
Thomas A. Wayment. The New Testament: A Translation for Latter-day Saints
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Painting: St. Paul Lutheran Community of FaithDESCRIPTION OF JESUS
“The main point for preserving this (Transfiguration) story, which is sometimes lost in commentaries on this pericope, is to demonstrate that Jesus, from a human point of view, was very ordinary, but was, in fact, extraordinary, even divine. Those who met Jesus knew He spoke a Galilean dialect of Aramaic, the common language of His world. He ate the common food of His day and dressed in the common fashion. He was probably not any taller or shorter than the average man of the period, nor was He handsome (see Isaiah 53:2). The length of His hair and beard (if He had one) would not have set him apart. He was susceptible to cuts and scrapes.
Chiseled into Jesus’ maturing face and imprinted into His hands and feet were the effects of a village life of hard work, including extensive walking and manual labor. His features and stature were affected by a limited diet, both in terms of variety and quantity (fresh meat was a treat), and a lack of dental care and minimal medical attention. Most likely Jesus had an olive complexion, angular features, prominent brows, brown eyes, black hair, and a black beard (there were, however, some recessive blue-eye, red-hair genes among ancient Jews). In other words, Jesus probably looked like many other Mediterranean first-century Jews.
No one would have particularly noticed Jesus, without being prompted by the Spirit (see Luke 2:26-30), until His ministry of preaching, teaching, and healing gave Him notoriety, but this recognition was not based on any special physical features; it was based on His words and deeds (see Acts 10:38).”
“The Transfiguration” Richard Neitzel Holzapfel. Pg. 48-49
Note: Pericope—an independent literary unit with a distinct beginning and end.
APOSTLES
Wayment: The Gospels rarely refer to the twelve disciples as apostles. This is the only instance where Matthew does. The term occurs once in Mark and six times in Luke. The Gospel of John does not use the term apostle.
Apostles: one who shares in the authority of the commissioning agent.
The length of the Apostles’ first mission is unknown—most likely weeks rather than months. Their return is possibly about the time of Herod Antipas’ infamous execution of John the Baptist. News of their work draws the attention of Herod.
"WIPE THE DUST OFF YOUR FEET"
“In summary, shaking or wiping dust off the feet, as recorded in the New Testament, appears to be a rite that fits within a cultural continuum of hospitality and its attendant rites, particularly the washing of feet. It was performed in response to inhospitable behavior exhibited by the inhabitants of a city or household, described as those who do not “receive” the missionary disciple, which reception may have included at least listening to the message proffered. Because they have not been offered the opportunity to wash their feet as expected, the offended disciples were to respond to this inhospitality by wiping off their own feet without water. The consequences of this act were left unsaid, though three of the four texts warn those who had the rite performed against them that they are to experience a worse judgment than even Sodom and Gomorrah, two cities recognized for their inhospitality, in the Day of Judgment.”
Daniel L. Belnap
MOUNT OF TRANSFIGURATION - James Talmage
Of the week following the events last considered, no record is found in the Gospels. We may safely assume that the time was devoted, in part at least, to the further instruction of the Twelve respecting the rapidly approaching consummation of the Savior’s mission on earth, the awful circumstances of which the apostles were loath to believe possible. When the week had passed Jesus took Peter, James, and John and with them ascended a high mountain, where they would be reasonably safe from human intrusion. There the three apostles witnessed a heavenly manifestation, which stands without parallel in history; in our Bible captions it is known as the Transfiguration of Christ.
One purpose of the Lord’s retirement was that of prayer, and a transcendent investiture of glory came upon Him as He prayed. The apostles had fallen asleep, but were awakened by the surpassing splendor of the scene, and gazed with reverent awe upon their glorified Lord. “The fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.” His garments, though made of earth-woven fabric, “became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them”; “and his face did shine as the sun.” Thus was Jesus transfigured before the three privileged witnesses.
The fulfillment of the law and the superseding of the prophets by the Messiah was attested in the command—Hear ye Him. A new dispensation had been established, that of the gospel, for which the law and the prophets had been but preparatory. The apostles were to be guided neither by Moses nor Elijah, but by Him, their Lord, Jesus the Christ.
Transfiguration
“Among the many other important things said and done on this majestic occasion, Moses and Elijah also “spake of his [Christ’s] decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem”. A moment of glorification, the Transfiguration was also a time of preparation and review of what the prophets of old had long said concerning Christ’s death and of what must inevitably transpire on Christ’s final walk to Calvary. . . . as Elder David B. Haight has more recently said, “He went up to prepare for His coming death. He took His three apostles with Him in the belief that they, after having seen His glory—the glory of the Only Begotten of the Father—might be fortified, that their faith might be strengthened to prepare them for the insults and humiliating events which were to follow.”
And all along the way, He taught His disciples in all of the particulars pertaining to His pending demise, though He was careful not to agitate them to the point of interfering with His mission. The very next day after the Transfiguration, “when they were come down from the hill,” He said to His disciples, “Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men. But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not.”
Richard E. Bennett, “‘It Is Finished’: The Divine Accomplishment of the Crucifixion,” in Celebrating Easter: The 2006 BYU Easter Conference, ed. Thomas A. Wayment and Keith J. Wilson (Provo, UT: Brigham Young University, Religious Studies Center, 2006), 177–99.
Other Writings Mentioned:
Francine R. Bennion. "A Latter-day Saint Theology of Suffering." https://www.churchhistorianspress.org/at-the-pulpit/part-4/chapter-43?lang=eng
Rosalynde Frandsen Welch. Ether: A Brief Theological Introduction.
