Reply: The Lord, having previously instructed His disciples to disregard earthly passions and steadfastly endure trials, recognized their uncertain and wavering thoughts. To guide them clearly, He chose to articulate His intentions directly, encouraging their perseverance with the promise of an extended life, urging them to serve Him wholeheartedly unto death. He observed their lack of firmness, noting their vulnerability, as they were swayed like reeds in the wind. Even without hardship, betrayal lurked in the heart of Judas Iscariot, who, drawn by greed, turned away from the Savior, ultimately falling into ruin. Similarly, the chief apostle, intimidated by the servant of the high priest, denied Christ three times, though he was soon restored by tears of repentance.
In summary, as he approached the agony of the cross, fear overwhelmed them, causing them all to flee. God allowed a multitude of demons to scatter at His command, teaching the disciples not to place their trust in themselves. Nevertheless, He did not let them perish until they had proclaimed the Gospel about Him. This is why He instructed those who apprehended Him, ‘If you seek Me, let them go.’ Aware of their impending flight and confusion, He strengthened them with promises of the future, gradually revealing insights that, at the time, they could hardly grasp. They became so engrossed in worldly matters that they nearly fell into despair.
Six days later, He took Peter, John, and James to a high mountain and was transfigured before them: ‘...and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became white as light,’ as noted by the evangelist Matthew. In this moment, they beheld the Son of Man in His glory, fulfilling His promise to them before they tasted death. He revealed His divine nature to them, showing the profound reality of His Godhead. They fell to the ground, unable to endure the vision, teaching them that if Christ had fully revealed Himself as He is, their mortal frames would not withstand the radiance. Just as wax melts when exposed to fire, so too would they have been consumed.
To illustrate His dominion over both the earthly and the unseen realms, He brought forth Moses and Elijah, esteemed leaders among the righteous. Their conversation with Him demonstrated His authority over not only the living but also the dead. He raised the deceased, long since turned to dust, before Him, showcasing His power to give life. This occurred prior to His Passion and Resurrection, illustrating that His sovereignty stemmed not from patience or valor but from His eternal essence as the source of life.
Thus, He displayed mastery over all, including those who ended their lives in various ways: Moses experienced a natural death, while Elijah was taken up to heaven by chariots of fire. Consequently, the former was raised from the realm of the dead, while the latter was swiftly summoned from heaven's embrace, presenting them to Himself. As He spoke to them, ‘behold, a cloud of light overshadowed them, and a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son ... to Him, listen,”’ as recounted by Matthew. The Father’s voice resonated through the cloud, causing the prominent figures to disperse and the disciples to fall, shielding their eyes from the overwhelming glory.
For the only Son to manifest His greatness in the flesh, as the cherished, beloved Son in communion with His Father of the same essence, it was appropriate that some ministers at the divine throne should keep their distance while others stood in reverent silence before it. Therefore, the disciples did not taste death until they witnessed the Son of Man in His glory, not in His full essence but as much as they could endure. Only three witnesses were chosen to behold this vision, standing among the ranks of saints. The Lord proclaimed, ‘There are some of those standing here— not all—who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.’ After a brief glimpse, they soon departed this life: John and the other Apostles and Prophets passed on, except for Enoch and Elijah, who remain alive in the flesh but will eventually meet death as well.
THEOSIS