Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And Jesus was transfigured before them, and Jesus’ face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as light. And there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus [Matthew 17:1-3].
Questions…
What were Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James, Thaddaeus, Simon, and Judas doing while Peter, James, John, and Jesus were hiking this mountain?
Did Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James, Thaddaeus, Simon, and Judas feel bitter, disgruntled, aggrieved, sullen, upset, wounded, affronted, vexed, ruffled, and/or left out?
Did Peter, James, and John join in the conversation between Jesus, Moses, and Elijah? Or did they just sit there listening like puppies?
How tall was the mountain?
Was it Mount Tabor (1,886′)?
If it was Mount Tabor, what were the trail conditions like 2,000 years ago? Today the Summit Trail on Mount Tabor in Galilee is a 2 km loop. It’s considered an easy hike, suitable for all audiences, and offers views of the surrounding area and the Sea of Galilee.
And finally, how did Moses and Elijah get there? My good friend thinks it was time travel! I’ve always imagined that they came from heaven, but now I am open to the idea that they came directly from their respective time periods (via time travel). And if that’s the case, then it sheds more light on what the author of Hebrews says about Moses in chapter eleven, verse twenty-six (“Moses considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt”). Perhaps Moses considered the reproach of Christ because he had talked about the reproach of Christ with Jesus and Elijah on top of Mount Tabor.
And speaking of Elijah…
:::
Interview With Widow From Zarephath
Interviewer: Where are you from?
Widow: Zarephath.
Interviewer: Tell me what happened.
Widow: I was gathering sticks to make a fire to cook one last meager meal for my son and myself before we died of starvation, and this rando guy shows up demanding that I feed him.
Interviewer: Did you feed the rando guy?
Widow: I explained our situation to the rando, but he said, “Don’t be afraid, do as I say. First make me some food, and then make some food for you and your son.”
Interviewer: What did you do!?
Widow: I did what the rando guy said.
Interviewer: You did what the rando said!?
Widow: Yup.
Interviewer: Really!!??!!??
Widow: Yup.
Interviewer: How’d that work out for you?
Widow: Great!
Interviewer: How so?
Widow: The rando guy said that we would magically – all of a sudden – have plenty of food …and we did!
Interviewer: Really!!??
Widow: Yup.
Interviewer: Hmmm…
Widow: And you know what else?
Interviewer: What?
Widow: After this magical mondo food event, my son became ill, and his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him. And I verbally assaulted the rando guy!
Interviewer: You verbally assaulted the rando guy!?
Widow: Yup.
Interviewer: What did you say?
Widow: I said, “What have you against me! You have come here to bring my sin to remembrance and shame me and condemn me and judge me and punish me by killing my son!”
Interviewer: Wow! You really said that to the rando guy?!
Widow: I did.
Interviewer: And what did the rando guy say?
Widow: He said, “Give me your son.”
Interviewer: Really!? Your son’s killer had the audacity to ask for the body of your son!?
Widow: Yeah.
Interviewer: What did you do???
Widow: I gave him the body of my son.
Interviewer: Really!!!???/!!!!
Widow: Yup.
Interviewer: Wow! I find this hard to believe.
Widow: Believe it Jack!
Interviewer: Then what happened?
Widow: The rando guy called up his Boss and said, “Have You brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by killing her son!?!? …Please let this child’s life come into him again!” And the rando guy’s Boss did what the rando guy asked! And my son came back to life!
Interviewer: I don’t believe you. This story is nuts!
Widow: Believe it Jack!
0 Comments