A reader writes:
At the transfiguration it says that Jesus was talking with Moses and Elijah. Moses and Elijah have been deceased for a considerable amount of time. There are no portraits of either man anywhere. Jesus is still alive, so the Holy Spirit has not descended on the Apostles yet. So, How was Peter able to recognize that Jesus was talking to Moses and Elijah?
We really can’t do more than speculate on this one since Scripture doesn’t give us the answer, but I can envision a number of possibilities:
1) They heard the figures identified by a heavenly voice; it just doesn’t record this fact in Scripture.
2) The just knew–like in a dream–who the figures were. The fact that the Holy Spirit had not been generally given as he was on Pentecost is not really an issue for this since God can make exceptions if he wants and the Holy Spirit is said to have been active even in the Old Testament prophets; he simply had not bee poured out in the way that he was on Pentecost.
3) They may have had symbols associated with them that identified them. For example, in the icon above Moses is shown holding the Ten Commandments. I know if I saw a vision and there was an old guy with a beard talking to Jesus and he (the old guy) was holding the Ten Commandments, I’d think of him as Moses. Maybe Elijah’s mantle gave him away or (hypothetically) maybe he seemed to descend in a whirlwind or something like that.
4) It says that they conversed with Jesus, so maybe it was made clear from what they said. Perhaps Jesus referred to them by name or perhaps Moses and Elijah made references to things they had done during their earthly lives (e.g., "Back in my day the people were really ornery, too! Why I hadn’t even gotten off the holy mountain before they’d gone and made a golden calf for theyselves!").
Or maybe it was a combinatoin of these. We really can’t say, though personally I’m partial to the just knowing it like in a dream theory, followed by the conversation and symbol theories.
Hey…waitaminnit…Moses wasn’t allowed to enter the Promised land. What’s he doing there?
Moses was in Abraham’s Bosom,(I think that is what they call it) waiting for Our Lord to redeem us. Elias, on the other hand, never died. He was taken up in a firey chariot. And many theologans, including myself are in the opinion that he is in the Terrestial Paradise (adam and eves old home) with Enoc, waiting till the end of the world, to set things right before the Second Coming. But as for Peter, how can you be more amazed about that than the fact he recognized Jesus as God? Our Lord said the Father had revealed it to him. Woudn’t you think it was a grace too that He recognized Elias and Moses. And ofcourse, conversation is a possibility. Blessed Anne Catherine said many of the episodes we see in the Gospel that seem simple yet important, where followed by events that explained them. Example, the Last Supper, after the Meal, Our Lord taught them the Consegrating Words and the formulas.
Phenomenal right?!
It is also worth pointing out that the Holy Spirit did come upon some people before the formal descent at Pentecost, for instance Elizabeth and Zechariah. Just like in the case of the Immaculate Conception and the salvation of Abraham, Elijah, and Moses, this was possible in anticipation of Christ’s sacrifice and ascension, and by virture of the eternal presentation of Christ’s sacrifice before the Father.
I like the dream explanation too. It seems to fit with Peter’s confused response to the vision as well.
I like no. 3. It means they were wearing nametags. A big badge saying “Hi! I’m Elijah!” pinned to his robes.
#2 seems right to me. When I think about how the soul is the pure essence of one’s person, I think it would radiate that individual’s person-ness and everyone in the glorified state would be immediately recognizable to anyone else — even if they never met before.
I think it’s reasonable to assume that a lot of the gaps were filled in for the the Disciples by our Lord during the long stretches of time they were together; walking from place to place, or whatever …
I can imaging Peter, James and John asking our Lord about the mysterious visitors and our Lord explaining (mystigogia) who they were and what the significance was.
Luke says Mary “pondered all these things in her heart” and I think the Disciples must have as well. And many of these mysteries became more clear to the Disciples after the Resurrection.
Isn’t this what we mean by Tradition with a big “T” that many aspects of our faith which may not be spelled out neatly (e.g. the Trinity, the Dual Natures) were entrusted to the Apostles over the course of time in ways which are alluded to in Scripture?
Egypt is in NORTH Africa.
Moses would not have employed a SOUTHERN accent, or usages like “theyselves.”
Thank you.
And now…
A 6’2″ 180lb leader of my people Israel…
He led them through the Red Sea to freedom and to the promised land….
Giver of the 10 Commandments….
Mmmmmmmmooooooooseeees!!!
Ya’ll ready for this!
Some verbal exchanges are memorable and suitable for the Scriptural canon:
“Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
“How can a man be born when he is old?”
Some verbal exchanges, however, are not:
“Peter, James, John… I’d like you to meet some good old friends of mine…. Moses and Elijah.”
“Pleased to meet you.”
I imagine Moses’ opening comments on the lack of technological development might be “1,500 years later and people still use donkeys to travel?” (using his Eddie Murphy voice of course)
I’m more inclined to theory 2 but 4 seems probable.
Nick: That dialogue was priceless!
I’m more inclined to theory 2 but 4 seems probable. Nick: That dialogue was priceless!
man, why do i always double-post?
Francis DS
The Epistle of Jude alludes to the Apocryphal Book of the Assumption of Moses. In this tradition (small t) Moses has assumed into heaven just like Elijah. Therefore, that’s why I believe he could have appeared with Elijah at the Transfiguration. Also, that’s why I believe he was assumed just like Elijah and Enoch.
I think that they had Holy cards.
Seriously though, I would agee that the disciples were inspired, in Matthew Chapter 16 even though the Holy Spirit had not yet desended,Peter was inspired in his response to Jesus.
—
Jesus said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father
I said that already!
I am going to cry!
oh, sorry.
But then again, maybe they were recognized by the words they said. The resurrected Lord was not recognized at first on serveral occations, but only after He did or said something was he recognized. (the breaking of bread, telling them to cast their nets and the nets were full).