The transfiguration is the precipice that overlooks the road into Lent.  How Mt Calvary stands in contrast to this glorious mountain! Peter said,  “Lord, it is good for us to be here!” He wanted to stay forever. Jesus  could have stayed on the mount of transfiguration, but we couldn’t. And  so he didn’t either. He came down from that mountain of light to another  mountain, a mountain of darkness, from a mountain of brilliant glory to  a mountain of suffering and pain and death. He does all this so that  his glory is not out of our reach, not a consuming fire for our sins,  not terrifying to behold. Instead, clothed with his righteousness, his  heavenly glory is our joy.

Sermon on Matthew 17:1–9 by Pastor Seth Georgson