After beginning to talk opening about his impending death, Jesus takes several disciples up the mountain to reveal his glory. The experience of the transfiguration challenges the disciples to see that Jesus’ glory is not inconsistent with his impending death—glory and suffering are not contradictory. While the disciples marveled at this mountaintop experience, they soon had to return to the valley below. It’s a reminder for us that both mountain tops and valleys are part of the journey of following Christ.