Joe: "All right, we're diving into Matthew 17! Let's talk about what happens in this chapter."

Bible Expert: "Matthew 17 is about Jesus taking three of his disciples, Peter, James, and John, up a mountain. On the mountain, Jesus is transfigured and his face shines like the sun and his clothes become as white as light. Moses and Elijah also appear on the mountain and they have a conversation with Jesus. At the same time, a voice from heaven speaks and says, 'This is my beloved Son, listen to him.' After this, the disciples are afraid and Jesus tells them not to be afraid. They then come down from the mountain and Jesus tells them not to tell anyone what they have seen until he is raised from the dead."

Joe: "Woah! That's wild! So they saw Moses and Elijah there with Jesus? That's insane!"

Bible Expert: "Yes, it is quite remarkable. After this, Jesus and the disciples go to the region of Caesarea Philippi where Jesus questions them about who people say he is. Peter then proclaims that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Jesus then tells Peter that he will build his church on the rock of this confession. Jesus then begins to explain to the disciples that he will go to Jerusalem and suffer, be killed and then be raised from the dead. The disciples are understandably confused by this and Jesus explains that the Son of Man must suffer and die in order to enter into his glory."

Joe: "Wow, that's intense. So then what happens?"

Bible Expert: "Jesus then tells the disciples to go and tell no one what they have heard. Then Jesus is approached by a man whose son is possessed by a demon and he begs Jesus to heal him. Jesus then casts out the demon and the boy is healed. The disciples are amazed and ask Jesus why they weren't able to cast out the demon and Jesus tells them that it is because of their lack of faith. Jesus then tells the disciples that if they have faith the size of a mustard seed, they will be able to do great things. Then the chapter ends with Jesus teaching the disciples about paying the temple tax and giving them a miraculous way to pay it.