The story of the transfiguration is one of those passages that have given the phrase "mountaintop experience" to our language. Peter, James, and John had joined Jesus and escaped from the crowd for some spiritual "R and R" up in the wilderness of (probably) Mount Hermon. Night had fallen and their eyes were heavy. Suddenly, they awoke with a start. Just yonder they saw Jesus take on something of a supernatural "glow" — his face and clothes "as bright as a flash of lightning" (Luke 9:29). Then Moses and Elijah appeared and spoke with the master. Until he had come, these had been the greatest law-giver and the greatest prophet. On the mountaintop, in the presence of the glory, Peter said, "Master, it is good for us to be here" (Luke9:33). Then he wanted to build three shrines to honor these …