The purpose of our existence is to go to Heaven, that we should be given God's grace because of our faith. And our faith is to believe in Jesus Christ, as the standard raised on high, to turn back to God and follow, and to believe the good news of the Kingdom as He told it to us.
This is the reason why Jesus revealed his identity at the Transfiguration, shining with the holy brightness of heavenly glory and walking together with Moses and Elijah: to show his disciples that they should not be scandalized, nor have their faith shaken when He was put to death on the cross.
He was showing them that He is not merely an ordinary human, but that He has the favor, acceptance, and authority of God to do and say what He does, just as Moses has the Law of the Lord and Elijah has the Holy Spirit. This is his authorization to claim to be the Messiah, just as when the Spirit's dove descended on him when He was baptized and the Voice proclaimed, "This is my beloved Son."
The witnesses to this Transfiguration would remember, but only when they heard how He had been raised from the tomb. When the witnesses who had seen the resurrection came to the disciples with the good news, Peter and John ran to see for themselves. Peter must have been imagining the scene, how it was reported that two shining figures came for Him, and He emerged also glowing so intensely that He illuminated the sky, so that it was hard to look at Him. Then he knew what the point had been, why Jesus had shown Himself transformed.
Later Peter would be able to write down what had happened at the tomb, clearly describing both the scene and the event, because he knew how he had looked. Peter had not been there the second time, but he had indeed seen it the first time. So, yes, he could claim to be an eyewitness. "These things I saw with my own eyes! You must believe!"
He was retelling what the witnesses to the resurrection had come to tell him, knowing that their description matched surprisingly well what he had seen before. He told what they saw, as he now also saw it in his mind's eye. And he told it with urgency, "You must believe me, I really saw Him do this! He is not just a man. And He is not dead. He has risen, as he promised!"
(Mark 16, Matthew 28, Luke 24, John 20, Peter 12)
"May Adonai bless you and protect you! May Adonai deal kindly and graciously with you! May Adonai lift up his countenance upon you and grant you peace!" (Torah, Numbers 6:24-26) And Jesus said, "Allow the little children to come unto me. Forbid them not, for of such is the Kingdom of God. Truly, I say unto you, unless you receive the Kingdom of God as a little child does, you shall not enter therein." (New Testament, Mark 10:14-16)
Sojourning at an Oasis Paradise
My purpose for living this life, and for writing this blog, is to understand the faith that links us to God. I wish to explore and discuss the reality at the heart of all of the world's religions. This is an immense task, but I know that God also has faith in us, trusting that we do desire the truth, as well as freedom, love and wisdom. Thus, as always, He meets us halfway. Even as God has given us individual souls, so we must each of us trace out an individual pathway to God. Whether we reside in the cities of orthodox religion, or wend our solitary ways through the barren wastelands, God watches over us and offers us guidance and sustenance for the journey.
Most of what you will see here is the result of extensive personal study, combined with some careful speculation. Occasionally, I may simply offer some Scripture or an inspirational text. I am a wide reader, and the connection of some topics and ideas to matters of faith and religion may not seem immediately obvious, but perhaps I may spell it out in the end... or maybe, you will decide that it was just a tangent. Anyway, I hope that you will find my meanderings to be spiritually enlightening, intellectually stimulating, or at least somewhat entertaining.
Most of what you will see here is the result of extensive personal study, combined with some careful speculation. Occasionally, I may simply offer some Scripture or an inspirational text. I am a wide reader, and the connection of some topics and ideas to matters of faith and religion may not seem immediately obvious, but perhaps I may spell it out in the end... or maybe, you will decide that it was just a tangent. Anyway, I hope that you will find my meanderings to be spiritually enlightening, intellectually stimulating, or at least somewhat entertaining.
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And then it happened that Jesus appeared to all twelve of them,showing how those who doubted the reports should believe their own eyes. Then He went onward to Galilee, teaching, until the time came for his assumption into Heaven, before a whole crowd of witnesses.
ReplyDeleteAnd then Paul would see him, shining so brightly as to temporarily blind him. This same appearance again, which he attested before James and the disciples in Jerusalem to convince them his vision was real.
These are really witnesses, not fakers wanting to get in on the story. This story would get most of them killed.