As teenagers, you’re at a point in your life where you’re exploring your beliefs, your identity, and the world around you. It’s a time of change and growth, and your faith is an essential part of that journey. Today’s lesson is all about encountering the glory of Jesus and understanding His divinity through the incredible event known as the Transfiguration.
The Transfiguration is a powerful moment in the life of Jesus that reveals His divine nature to His closest disciples. This event has deep significance for us as teenagers because it teaches us important lessons about faith, who Jesus is, and how we should respond to Him.
Let’s dive into this topic together and explore how it can strengthen and deepen our faith.
Bible Reading: Mark 9:2-8 (NIV)
2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.
5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)
7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” 8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.
Explanation For Teenagers
- Transfiguration Means Transformation: The word “transfiguration” means a complete change of form or appearance. In this event, Jesus’ appearance was transformed to reveal His divine glory.
- The High Mountain: Jesus took Peter, James, and John to a high mountain, signifying that they were about to witness something extraordinary, something that would elevate their understanding of Him.
- Dazzling White Clothes: Jesus’ clothes became dazzling white, symbolizing purity, holiness, and His divine nature. It was a glimpse of His heavenly glory.
- Elijah and Moses: The appearance of Elijah and Moses represents the continuity of God’s plan through the ages. Moses symbolizes the law, and Elijah the prophets, both pointing to Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s promises.
- The Voice from the Cloud: God’s voice from the cloud affirmed Jesus as His beloved Son and commanded the disciples to listen to Him. This emphasized Jesus’ divinity and authority.
Youth Group Discussion Questions
- What do you think the disciples felt when they saw Jesus transfigured?
- How does the Transfiguration reveal Jesus’ divinity to us?
- Why do you think Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus during this event?
- The voice from the cloud said, “Listen to Him.” What does this mean for us in our daily lives as teenagers?
- In what ways can understanding Jesus’ divinity impact our faith and how we live our lives?
Youth Group Game: “Glory Relay”
Objective: To reinforce the concept of transformation and glory.
Instructions:
- Divide the group into teams.
- Set up a relay race with a starting line and a finish line.
- Provide each team with a white T-shirt and a set of fabric markers.
- On the signal, the first team member wears the T-shirt and runs to the finish line.
- At the finish line, they must use the fabric markers to transform the plain white shirt into a dazzling representation of the Transfiguration event (e.g., drawing Jesus, Moses, Elijah, and the cloud).
- Once they finish, they run back to their team, passing the shirt to the next person.
- The team that completes the relay first wins.
Closing Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
We thank you for revealing your glory through the Transfiguration of your Son, Jesus. Help us to understand His divinity and to listen to Him in our daily lives. May this lesson strengthen our faith and deepen our relationship with You.
In Jesus’ name, we pray.
Amen.