Curriculum

The Transfiguration

Transfiguration Go to Curriculum multi-week pack

Bible Background

What Kids Will Learn

Jesus was fully human and fully God. The disciples had seen supernatural miracles, yet the transfiguration boldly displayed God’s glory on Jesus’ face.

Scripture Summary

The transfiguration was a vision of the glory of Jesus. God created this moment to give the three disciples a brief look of what is to come and to confirm the authority of Jesus.

Moses and Elijah were the greatest prophets in the Old Testament. Moses represented the law (old covenant). Moses wrote the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible) and told of a coming Prophet. Elijah represented the prophets who told of a coming Messiah. Together, Moses and Elijah’s presence confirmed Jesus’ purpose–to fulfill God’s law and the words of God’s prophets.

God’s voice boomed over Mount Sinai giving authority to His law. And God’s voice was heard at this transfiguration giving Jesus authority.

Peter wanted to pay tribute to these three great men: Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. He wanted to show how the Feast of the Tabernacles was fulfilled in God’s kingdom. However, Peter was acting too soon, because Jesus’ ministry and mission was not yet completed. While Jesus was on earth, it was a time for worshipping and honoring Him.

Jesus was a great man, a great leader, a great teacher, and a great healer. But He was more than all of that. He was the Son of God. That incredible truth calls each of us to a heart of worship.

Why Is This Important

Even after spending so much time following Jesus, the disciples still hadn’t grasped the fullness of Jesus’ glory. He was the Son of God– reflecting everything about God in a real and tangible way. We can witness and experience the glory of Jesus in our own lives when we truly see Jesus for who He is.

Teacher Devotion

Scripture

Remember What You See

“For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.” James 1:23-25

I have not been diagnosed with short-term memory loss. But you can almost clock how quickly I can forget the name of someone I’ve just met. I’ve tried numerous tips (focusing, repeating the name, associating the name with something familiar, etc.) to little or no avail. I just forget.

I have been humbled as I’ve asked for someone to repeat his name or even asked a familiar face for her name for the third time. I find that I can better remember names if I interact with them on a regular basis and call them by name repeatedly. It takes action to remember.

Peter, James, and John saw Jesus transfigured by God’s glory. His face shone like the sun. This great teacher, great friend, great healer was even more. Jesus was the Son of God. Peter, of course, hastily attempted to ensure he’d remember by erecting shelters for Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. He wanted to be sure he remembered the glory of Jesus.

In God’s timing, we can remember what we’ve seen, heard, read, and experienced in our walk with Jesus. But it takes action to remember the Scripture that spoke truth into our lives, how Jesus answered prayer, the instruction that proved to be for our best, and the transformative experience of knowing God’s presence. We can take each of these experiences and live out the truths they represent.

What do you remember today? Do you remember Whose you are? Do you remember what Jesus has done for you and what He is doing for you today? Do you remember the incredible end of the story?

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for speaking Your truth to my soul today. I pray that You also help me remember Your truth and the way You have displayed Your glory in my life. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Get the full Sunday school lesson plan

  • Bible Memory Verse
  • Interactive Bible Experience
  • Animated video with companion questions

Bible Memory Verse

You’ll Need: “Transfiguration” coloring page for each child (best if printed on card stock), Yellow glow-in-the-
dark paint, White glow-in-the-dark paint, Paint brushes, Markers, Blacklight flashlight

“While they watched, Jesus was changed. His face became bright like the sun. And his clothes became white as light.” Matthew 17:2

SAY: In our Bible lesson today, Jesus was transformed. We’re going to learn our memory verse by painting these pictures.

Have children follow these steps as they learn each phrase:

  • "While they watched (Use markers to color everything but Jesus.)
  • Jesus was changed. (Use markers to color the rays around Jesus.)
  • His face became bright like the sun. (Paint Jesus’ face with yellow paint.)
  • And his clothes became white as light.” (Paint Jesus’ clothes with white paint.)
  • Matthew 17:2 (Help children write the Bible reference on the sheet.)

After the pictures are complete, turn off the lights and turn on the blacklight. Practice saying the verse together. Encourage kids to take home their pictures and share their memory verse.
 

Interactive Bible Experience

You’ll Need: Large blanket, Flashlight, Pillow

Get Ready: Place a blanket over a table to serve as the mountain.

Choose children (girls or boys) to play these roles:

  • Jesus
  • Peter
  • James
  • John
  • Moses
  • Elijah
  • Two cloud holders

Have children act out the Bible lesson for today. Read the Scripture, stopping to prompt the children to do the actions in parentheses.

Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John, the brother of James, up on a high mountain. They were all alone there. (Jesus, Peter, James, and John walk up to the “mountain.”)

While they watched, Jesus was changed. His face became bright like the sun. (Shine the light on Jesus’ face.) And His clothes became white as light. (Shine the light on Jesus’ clothes.)

[Stop and ask everyone: What would you have done when that happened?]

Then two men were there, talking with Him. The men were Moses and Elijah. (Moses and Elijah join Jesus. And Peter, James, and John move away.)

Peter said to Jesus, (Peter repeats these lines after you.)

“Lord, it is good that we are here. ( repeat)

If you want, I will put three tents here ( repeat)

—one for you, ( repeat)

one for Moses ( repeat)

and one for Elijah." ( repeat)

While Peter was talking, a bright cloud covered them. (Cloud holders lift up the pillow.)

A voice came from the cloud. The voice said, (in a booming voice) “This is my Son and I love Him. I am very pleased with Him. Obey Him!”

[Stop and ask everyone: What would you have done when that happened?]

The followers with Jesus heard the voice. They were so frightened that they fell to the ground. (Peter, James, and John fall down. Moses and Elijah leave.)

But Jesus went to them and touched them. (Jesus touches his friends.)

(Jesus repeats these lines after you.) He said, “Stand up. ( repeat)

Don’t be afraid.” ( repeat)

When Jesus’ followers looked up, they saw Jesus was now alone.

(Peter, James, and John look up at Jesus.)

When Jesus and His followers were coming down the mountain,

(All four walk away from the mountain.)

(Jesus repeats these lines after you.) Jesus commanded them, “Don’t tell anyone about the things you saw on the mountain.( repeat)

Wait until the Son of Man has been raised from death. ( repeat)

Then you may tell." ( repeat)

[Stop and ask everyone: What would you have done when Jesus said that?]

Give all the actors a big round of applause.

SAY: It was good that God spoke from heaven and said to focus on Jesus. Let’s do that this week: Focus on Jesus and obey Him.

Snack

Candy Mountain Snack

You’ll Need: Small ice cream cones ( pointed ones are best), M&M candies, Plastic wrap, Tray

Get Ready: Before class, pour the M&Ms in the ice cream cones (they don’t have to be full). Then wrap them with plastic wrap. Set the filled ice cream cones upside down on the tray.

Set out the tray of cones so all children can see.

SAY: Jesus’ face was changed and His face showed the glory of God. Today’s snack has also been changed. Take a snack and enjoy the change.

Let children enjoy their snack.

Game

Flashlight Tag

You’ll Need: Blacklight flashlight

Choose someone to be the Tagger and have this child close his/her eyes.

Have children hide around the room. Then have the Tagger open his/her eyes.

Give the Tagger the flashlight to look for the children. When the Tagger shines the light on a child, that child is caught. Play until all the children are caught.

SAY: Jesus’ face and clothes lit up on the mountain just as you lit up from the light. Jesus’ face showed the glory of God. When we’re close to God, it’ll show in our faces and lives too.

Play again as time allows.

Craft

Glow Bag Craft

You’ll Need: Two one-quart, Ziploc bags, Baby oil, Yellow glow, in the dark paint, Warm water, Packing tape, Blacklight flashlight

This is a craft that children will make together and leave with the teacher. Enlist children to help you with each step.

  • Mix ¼ cup warm water with 1 teaspoon of glow in the dark paint.

Mix until the paint is fully incorporated.

  • Fill the Ziploc bag one-third full of baby oil. Seal the bag tightly.
  • Place the first bag in another bag and seal tightly.
  • Place packing tape over the opening to secure it.
  • Turn off the lights and use the blacklight to see the glowing colors.

As children pass the Glow Bag around, talk with them about how Jesus’ face glowed when He was on the mountain.
 

Prayer

Change Me Prayer

SAY: When Jesus took His friends up on the mountain, it was a special time. Jesus was changed because He was in God’s presence. We want to be in God’s presence too. That just means to be with God. And when we’re with Him, God will change us.

Have children repeat each line of this prayer after you.

Dear God, (repeat)

We love you. (repeat)

Help us be close to You. (repeat) Please change us too. (repeat) In Jesus’ name. (repeat)

Amen. (repeat)

Encourage children to stay close to God throughout the week.