The above words of Jesus were addressed “to all” in a huge crowd. Who would it be who would “not taste death until they may see the kingdom of God”? And what would those people actually “see”?
But it came to be, about eight days after these words, taking with him Peter and John and James, he moved up into the mountain to pray. And, in his praying, the appearance of his face came to be other, and his clothing dazzling white. And, (look and see!), two males were speaking together with him, who were Moses and Elijah, who, seen in glory, were stating his departure [exodus], which he was about to fulfil in Jerusalem.
The ones who saw this were “Peter and John and James.” Apart from seeing that Jesus’ “face came to be other” and “his clothing dazzling white”, the fact that “Moses and Elijah” were there was shocking.
“Moses” had died around BC 1350 after bringing the people of Israel out from slavery in Egypt – a massive salvation known as the Exodus. “Elijah”, on the other hand, had been transported to heaven around BC 850 after attempting to save the people of Israel from their devotion to Baal worship. Both had had partial success. By AD 29 that became utter failure.
Will Jesus in “his exodus, which he was about to fulfil in Jerusalem” achieve in full what “Moses and Elijah” achieved in part? Will some see “the kingdom of God” in “his [Jesus'] exodus” and what followed that?
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| But Peter and the ones with him were weighed down in sleep, but, fully awake, they saw his glory and the two males, the ones standing together with him. And it came separating from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here and we may make three dwellings, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he stated.
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It seems that Peter may have had in mind a “kingdom of God” based on good “here” – and residence “here.” Can this ever be true, for ever?
But, with he himself stating these things, a cloud came to be and overshadowed them, but they were afraid in their entering into the cloud. And a voice came to be out of the cloud, stating, “This is my Son, my Chosen One. Hear him!” And, with the voice coming to be, Jesus was found alone. And they themselves kept silent and declared to no one in those same days anything of what they had seen.
This “voice” endorsed Jesus’ identity – “This is my Son, my chosen.” It included a command which also applies to every reader or other hearer of Luke’s research report – “Hear him!” No one else.
But it came to be, on the next day, they having come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. And (look and see!), a man from the crowd cried out, stating, “Teacher, I beg you to look upon my son, for he is my only child, and (look and see!), a spirit takes him, and suddenly shouts, and convulses him with foolishness and scarcely ever goes away from him, smashing him. And I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they were not able.”
This only-child, pro-actively and without realizing it, continually sought his own destruction. Is he also a picture of humanity? Humanity with a father him begging Jesus to “look upon” his child’s misery and to rid him of such a heedless and destructive spirit.
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| But Jesus, responding, said, “O generation - faithless and turned away. Until when will I be with you and will endure you? Bring here your son!” But even as he himself was coming near, the mini-god broke him and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and cured the boy, and gave him back to his father. But all were astonished at the greatness of God.
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| Jesus asked a rhetorical question of the “generation” - of all in that place. “Until when will I be with you and endure you?” What do you think? How far will Jesus go to help them (the “you” is plural)? How far so as to release human beings - children of God - into peace with God? As far as his own awful, shameful “exodus”? Could that “exodus”, that cross, be seen to be “the kingdom of heaven” displaying what God is really like? |
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