The Mount of Counsel: "When Jesus Sought Wisdom Before the Cross"

Updated: Jun 30

How the Transfiguration Reveals Leadership Vulnerability, Divine Dialogue, and the Path to Purpose

Catherine (🇭🇹Guillaume🇭🇹) Sackey, MPAP

She/Her

I began this reflection with a question: Why do Moses and Elijah reappear on the Mount of Transfiguration right before Jesus begins His journey to the cross? These two towering biblical figures, each shaped by their own mountain-top experiences, join Jesus not on Horeb or Sinai, but on a different mountain altogether—traditionally believed to be Mount Tabor.[1]

This was no coincidence.

Jesus, in His humanity, invited them into divine dialogue. Not for affirmation—but for solidarity. In this luminous moment, we do not just see Jesus as God revealed—we see Him as a leader preparing to carry out the hardest part of His mission. And in that moment, He chose counsel. He chose community. He chose to stand with those who knew the cost of obedience.

Divine Dialogue on the Mount

The Transfiguration account appears in all three Synoptic Gospels—Matthew 17:1–8, Mark 9:2–8, and Luke 9:28–36.[2] Jesus brings Peter, James, and John to a high mountain, where His appearance changes and His clothes become dazzling white. Moses and Elijah appear, speaking with Him about His “departure,” which He was about to accomplish in Jerusalem.[3]

The Greek word for “departure” in Luke 9:31 is exodus—linking Jesus’ coming crucifixion and resurrection to the redemptive deliverance of Israel from Egypt.[4] This is no casual moment. It is a mountain of counsel, where the old covenant (Moses), the prophetic tradition (Elijah), and the new covenant (Jesus) converge in holy conversation.

Mountains as Sacred Intersections

Mount Horeb is where Moses met God in the burning bush (Exodus 3:1–6).[5] Later, on the same mountain—also called Mount Sinai—he received the Ten Commandments (Exodus 19).[6] Elijah, too, fled to Horeb in despair and met God not in thunder or fire, but in a whisper (1 Kings 19).[7]

Now, at the Mount of Transfiguration, these two leaders appear again—not as lawgivers or prophets in isolation, but as divine witnesses affirming the Son who fulfills both roles.[8]

Jesus as the Son of Man—and a Leader

In this moment, we see the fullness of Jesus’ divine nature—but we also witness His vulnerability as a leader. The conversation with Moses and Elijah shows a God who does not isolate Himself from leadership’s burden. Even Jesus, fully divine yet fully human, engages in sacred dialogue before His greatest test.[9]

This moment finds its echo in Gethsemane, where Jesus again seeks solitude, community, and communion with His Father: “Not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42).[10] It is also echoed on the cross: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46).[11] Leadership, here, is not a position—it is a posture. One of obedience, sacrifice, and deep spiritual surrender.

Transfiguration and Transformation

The word “transfiguration” in Greek is metamorphoō, the same root used in Romans 12:2—“Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”[12] In contrast to Moses, who reflected borrowed glory (2 Corinthians 3:7–13), Jesus radiates intrinsic glory. He is not changed by proximity to God—He is God revealed.[13]

Final Reflections: Carrying the Cross and the Counsel

Why does this matter?

Because leadership in the Kingdom is not about certainty—it’s about communion. Jesus models that even at the height of clarity, He pauses for counsel. He shows us how to navigate sacred responsibility not in isolation but in relationship.

The Mount of Transfiguration is not a detour from Jesus’ mission—it is a divine waypoint. A reminder that even the Son of Man stood in divine consultation before surrendering fully to the cross.

Reflection Questions

Have you created space for sacred counsel before making hard decisions?
Are you leading from isolation, or in relationship with those who carry wisdom from their wilderness?
Are you willing to pause in the middle of glory to prepare for sacrifice?

POP LABS Leadership Note

This teaching is part of the Policy Over Politics Christian Leadership Series. In this reflection, the Mount of Transfiguration is not viewed as a moment of spectacle, but as a strategic exchange—a sacred boardroom where the wisdom of past leaders meets the burden of present obedience. Jesus’ transfiguration reveals that glory and vulnerability are not opposites, but divine companions in the journey of purpose.

Definition of Leadership

Leadership is the stewardship of communion and clarity. It is the discipline of seeking divine counsel before decisions, drawing from spiritual mentors, and walking faithfully—even when the cost is high. Leaders, like Jesus, are called not only to carry glory but to engage in honest, holy conversations that fortify the soul and clarify the mission.

Reference Guide

All Scripture citations are from The Holy Bible: New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011).