Why did Jesus transfigure? This story seems like a major milestone in the ministry of Jesus- it’s recorded in three of the Gospels (Matthew 17, Luke 9 and Mark 9)- yet what Jesus was doing seems unclear at first.

As this infographic below shows, the Transfiguration took place to parallel the circumstances of the Sinai covenant. In inaugurating the new covenant, Jesus was recreating the experience of Sinai and the Mosaic covenant. 

The new covenant rewrote the script on religion

While the creation of a new covenant is certainly patterned after the old one, they are very different. While the Mosaic covenant was centered on a tabernacle (or temple), the blood of bulls and goats, and sacrifices and expectations, the new covenant is centered around Jesus. In fact, the new covenant is not just different from the old one; it’s different from any other religion known to man.

Jesus’ mediation of that covenant reminds me of this sermon illustration, which originated with English minister Dick Lucas. To demonstrate how radically different Christianity is from any other religion, he imagined a conversation between a first-century Christian and one of their pagan neighbors. 

“Ah,” the neighbor says. “I hear you are religious! Great! Religion is a good thing. Where is your temple or holy place?” 

“We don’t have a temple,” replies the Christian. “Jesus is our temple.” 

“No temple? But where do your priests work and do their rituals?” 

“We don’t have priests to mediate the presence of God,” replies the Christian. “Jesus is our priest.” 

“No priests? But where do you offer your sacrifices to acquire the favor of your God?” 

“We don’t need a sacrifice,” replies the Christian. “Jesus is our sacrifice.” 

“What kind of religion is this?” sputters the pagan neighbor. 

What Jesus offers is radically different than any other religious system known to man. All other religions are about how to reach God. But Christianity is about how God came down to us. Other religions teach how to find God. Christianity teaches how God came to find you. Religion says what you must DO to go to heaven. Christianity tells us what Jesus DID to get us there.

Truly, it’s no religion at all.

Need more information about the two covenants and this chart? Check out this episode of the Weird Stuff in the Bible podcast: