Jesus, a Jewish boy, was coming to the point where he was expected to take on adult responsibilities and have a good enough grasp of God’s law to be held accountable for obeying it. His parents visited Jerusalem each year to celebrate Passover, in accordance with Jewish tradition. When this visit ended, Jesus’ parents and their travelling companions embarked on the journey back home to Galilee. When they realized that Jesus had failed to join them, they returned to Jerusalem to find him. After a three-day search, they found Jesus in the Temple, discussing scripture with religious leaders. Although they expressed concern, Jesus seemed surprised, asking his earthly parents why they wouldn’t simply assume that he would be in his heavenly father’s house.
Jesus takes three of his disciples, Peter, James and John up to a mountaintop to pray. Jesus begins to shine with bright rays of light, his face and clothes radiant. Then Old Testament figures Moses and Elijah appear with him, and he speaks with them. Then they are covered by a cloud, and Jesus is called the Son by the voice of God the Father, who says to listen to Jesus. The disciples are initially afraid and fall in terror at God’s voice, and Jesus says not to be afraid, and they look up to see only Jesus.