AT ONE time while Jesus was staying in one of the villages at the foot
of Mount Hermon, in the far north of the land, he took with him three of
his disciples, Peter, James and John, and went up the mountain to pray.
It was in the afternoon, when they walked up the mountain, and when
night came on he was still in prayer. The three disciples were tired
from climbing the mountain and fell asleep for a little time. When they
awoke they were filled with wonder at the change which had come over
their Lord.
Although it was night, they saw the face of Jesus shining as brightly as
the sun at noon, with a dazzling glory so great that they could not bear
to look upon him. His clothes too were shining white and glittering. Not
only his face, but his hands, his feet and even his body beamed through
his garments with brightness.
They saw standing beside Jesus in his splendor two men who had lived
long before on the earth and were now living no more. How the disciples
knew them we are not told. Perhaps the knowledge flashed upon their
minds, given them by God; or it may have been that as they listened to
these two men, they learned from their words who they were. One was the
great prophet Moses, who led the Israelites out of Egypt and died on
Mount Nebo; the other was the prophet Elijah, who spoke bold words to
the wicked King Ahab and was taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire.
Both these men had passed from earth many hundred years before.
As the three disciples looked and listened, they could hear what these
two prophets of the old times were saying. They were talking to Jesus
about his death which was to take place at Jerusalem. So these two great
men of the past knew already what Jesus had tried to tell his disciples,
and what they were so slow to believe, that he was soon to die!
Peter was always eager to speak, and he spoke now, though he scarcely
understood what his own words meant.
[Illustration: Mount Hermon--the Mount of the Transfiguration]
"Master," he said, "this is a good place for us to stay in. If you are
willing, I will make here three tents; one for you, one for Moses and
one for Elijah."
He thought that the two prophets, Moses and Elijah, had come back to
stay upon the earth; and that if tents were made for them, they would
live upon that mountain.
While Peter was speaking a bright and glorious cloud came over them all,
over Jesus, over the two prophets and over the three disciples, who were
filled with fear as they found the cloud around them. And a greater
fear came upon them as they heard the voice of God out of the cloud
saying:
"This is my Son, the Beloved, in whom I delight. Listen to him!"
And as they heard these words, knowing that God had spoken them, they
fell down upon their faces in great terror. Jesus came to them and
touched them gently, saying:
"Rise up, and do not be afraid."
Then they looked up. The bright cloud had passed away, the two prophets
were no longer to be seen, and Jesus was standing alone over them, some
of the glory still remaining upon his face.
As they were walking down the mountain, Jesus said to his three
disciples, Peter, James and John:
"Tell no one what you have seen this night, until the Son of Man has
risen from the dead."
So, much as they wished to tell their fellow-disciples of this wonderful
sight, they obeyed their Master, and said not a word about it while
Jesus was still with them.
They said to Jesus, "How is it that the teachers of the law say that the
prophet Elijah must come before the Messiah-King appears?"
"Elijah does come," answered Jesus, "and he prepares the way for the
coming of the King. And I tell you that Elijah has already come, but the
people have not known him. They would not listen to him, and have done
to him as they pleased. And just as it was with him, so will it be with
the Son of Man. He shall also suffer at the hands of men."
Then the disciples understood that Jesus was speaking to them of John
the Baptist, who like Elijah had lived in the wilderness, wore a mantle
of skin, and fed on desert-food, and who, like Elijah, gave God's
message to the people, preparing the way for the coming of Jesus
Christ.
[Illustration: As Jesus and his three disciples came down to the village
at the foot of Mt. Hermon, a man eagerly besought him to cast an evil
spirit out of his son.]
The Boy with the Dumb Spirit