Transfiguration of the Lord Sunday can be challenging for our youngest disciples. While the story of Jesus’ transformation paints a vivid word picture for children, it’s difficult to explain exactly what is happening in this story. However, children do understand change. Over the last several years, they have gone through an incredible amount of change, some of it for the better. Drawing on this prior knowledge, this lesson encourages children to see Jesus’ transfiguration as a moment where the disciples see Jesus fully.
Starting off
Begin your time with the children by asking them to think of all the words they know that begin with the prefix trans-. You can make a list of these on chart paper or a whiteboard so they can see each other’s responses. After making this list, discuss what each of the words mean. Then ask the children to wonder about what the prefix trans– means. Explain that it translates as “beyond” or “on the other side”. When it’s placed at the beginning of a word, we know that the meaning of the word will include one of these two ideas. For example, transform means “to change shape” or “to go beyond the previous shape.”
Exploring the passage
Prepare to read aloud Luke 9:28-36. Share with the children that this story is often called “the Transfiguration of Jesus.” Have the children wonder what the word transfiguration means based on your previous discussion. Note that this reading comes from Luke’s Gospel. The event occurs after Jesus and his disciples have traveled around the region teaching and healing the people. Larger and larger crowds have come to see Jesus. Hoping his disciples are beginning to understand that he is God among the people, Jesus asks them who people are saying he is. The disciples respond that some think he is a prophet, while others believe Jesus is Elijah or John the Baptist. Peter says that Jesus is the one God has sent to save the people. After warning the disciples that he will suffer, Jesus and three of his disciples go up on a mountain to pray.
Read aloud Luke 9:28-36. After sharing the story, ask the children to describe what Jesus looks like when he transforms. Then, have them recount who Jesus was speaking to during this event. Encourage them to wonder what this story is telling us about Jesus. What do the disciples likely realize about Jesus when they see him change on the mountain? How does this vision take them beyond their prior understanding of Jesus? Note that the disciples see Jesus’ divinity more fully than they did before. He is joined by other figures who helped carry out God’s work on earth and who God blessed — Moses and Elijah. They see him bathed in light and wearing white clothing, images associated with God. And they hear words similar to what God spoke at Jesus’ baptism — “This is my Son, my Chosen.” In this moment, their understanding of Jesus goes beyond what they previously knew about Jesus.
Relating the passage to our lives
Following this discussion, provide the children with an opportunity to explore the idea of seeing one another more fully. Share that there are times in our lives when people can more fully see special gifts or attributes that God has placed in us. For instance, we may sing or play an instrument for a group of people. As they listen to our musical offering, they see the gift of music that God has given us. In these moments, we have a transfiguration. We are still ourselves but an important part of us shines.
Help the children explore this idea with playdoh or modeling clay. Give each child one container or ball of playdoh or clay. Note that the material isn’t particularly interesting when it isn’t formed. However, if it is made into a figure, we can see how special it is. Have each child create a figure with playdoh or clay. Encourage them to create a shape that shares something they think is important for others to know about them. It may be an interest, a talent, or a personality trait. When they have completed their creations, have each child share her art and her inspiration. Offer a prayer of celebration for each person’s God-given gifts.
