04/01/2021 ****************************************************** I was thinking the other day about the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ. The story is recorded in Matthew 17:1–8, Mark 9:2–8, Luke 9:28–36 and is referred to in 2 Peter 1:16–18. Jesus takes three of his twelve disciples, Peter, James and John (they are a sort of inner circle of the twelve) up on Mount Tabor(actually the the name of the mountain isn't mentioned - but it's the traditional site) where Jesus is transfigured. "Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain on their own by themselves. There in their presence he was transfigured: his clothes became brilliantly white, whiter than any earthly bleacher could make them. Elijah appeared to them with Moses; and they were talking to Jesus. Then Peter spoke to Jesus, 'Rabbi,' he said, 'it is wonderful for us to be here; so let us make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.' He did not know what to say; they were so frightened. And a cloud came, covering them in shadow; and from the cloud there came a voice, 'This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.'" - Mark 9:2-7 Then suddenly everything's back to normal. ********** This has always raised several questions to me. 1. How did the disciples know the two other men were Moses and Elijah? I mean, if Moses appeared to me, I wouldn't him know from Adam :-) Or Elijah either for that matter. Okay, I guess Jesus could have just told them who it was. I'll buy that. 2. And why do transfigured people need "shelters"? Okay, it says the disciples were frightened, maybe that was just crazy talk by Peter. 3. But why Moses and Elijah? Why Moses? Why not Adam or King David or Solomon or Joshua or one of the Judges - like Deborah? She might be fun. And why Elijah? Why not one of the other prophets like Isaiah or Jeremiah or Ezekiel? ********** I have a theory about this, but it's only my theory, I haven't seen it anywhere else - so it could be totally wrong :-) The first thing I think of about Elijah is - that he didn't die - he isn't dead. In English we use the words "assume" and "assumption" to refer to a statement we think is true but are not certain about. But in theological terms "assumed" means to be taken body and soul by God up into heaven and this is then referred to as their "assumption." (I'll use quotes when I mean it this way for clarity.) Anyway, Elijah was "assumed" up into heaven in 2 Kings 2:11. "Now as they walked on, talking as they went, a chariot of fire appeared and horses of fire coming between the two of them; and Elijah went up to heaven in the whirlwind." - 2 Kings 2:11 The old spiritual "Swing low, sweet chariot, (coming for to carry me home)" refers to this. Anyway, the fact that Elijah was still alive could explain his presence on Mount Tabor. Moses is a little trickier - the Bible does say he died. "There in the country of Moab, Moses, servant of Yahweh, died as Yahweh decreed; he buried him in the valley, in the country of Moab, opposite Beth-Peor; but to this day no one has ever found his grave." - Deuteronomy 34:5-6 (The "he" is unclear - did God bury Moses or did Moses bury himself?) You and I might interpret "no one has ever found his grave" to mean "no one has ever found his grave" but there was speculation at the time of Jesus that it was a wink and a nod that Moses had been "assumed" as well - even though the Bible doesn't say that. Jude 9 refers to a story in which the archangel Michael argues with the devil about Moses body. "Not even the archangel Michael, when he was engaged in argument with the devil about the corpse of Moses, dared to denounce him in the language of abuse; all he said was, 'May the Lord rebuke you.'" - Jude 9. This story is nowhere in the Bible but appears to be in a non-Biblical text called the "Testament of Moses" (or "Assumption of Moses"). It's one of the few times the Bible appears to quote a book not in the Bible. So anyway, if Moses and Elijah are assumed to have been "assumed" (you know I had to say that somewhere :-) it explains why they're available to talk to Jesus on Mount Tabor. ************ One might ask if anyone else in the Bible is assumed to have been "assumed". Yes, Enoch is assumed to have been "assumed". "Enoch walked with God, then was no more, because God took him." Gen 5:24. Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians believe Jesus' Mother Mary was "assumed" into heaven - this is based on tradition, it does not appear anywhere in the Bible. Whoa! I know what you're going to say - what about Jesus Christ himself? Wasn't he "assumed" up into heaven? Technically no - God didn't "take" Jesus up into heaven - Jesus, being God, "ascended" into heaven under his own power. It is referred to as his "Ascension" and that is not an assumption :-) Stay Jazzed! --Tom Swezey ....