The answer is: Elijah and Moses

Matthew 17:3

The Transfiguration is one of those dazzling moments in the New Testament where both heaven and earth seem to intersect. Imagine standing on a mountain, watching as Jesus glows with radiant light and speaks with two iconic figures of the Old Testament—Moses and Elijah! Why these two, you ask? Well, Moses represents the Law, having received it at Mount Sinai, while Elijah embodies the Prophets, known for his powerful ministry and dramatic confrontations with the wicked King Ahab.

Together, they symbolize Israel's heritage, standing as key to understanding Jesus’s mission, just as he bridged the gap between Jewish teachings and a new path for humanity. Fun fact: their appearance also hints at a conversation about Jesus’s upcoming suffering—both Moses and Elijah faced significant hardships in their lives, too, showing that challenges can birth greatness.

And let’s not forget, in the Jewish mindset, mountains were significant places of divine encounter. The fact that this profound moment occurred atop a mountain nourishes our understanding of how encounters with God often lead to revelation. Moreover, the mention of a 'glorious’ light isn’t just a cool display; it's a symbol of divinity itself, echoing experiences from other significant biblical moments—like God’s presence in the burning bush. The Transfiguration teaches us that the old traditions carry forward into new revelations, urging us to find the sacred in our own earthly journeys!