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Jesus pressed up the path with eager steps. Suddenly two men appeared just ahead of him. He quickened his steps, filling the air with delighted laughter as he gathered both in a tight hug.
“Moses! Elijah! My friends, my friends. Father told me you would come! Let’s sit under these trees and catch up on news.”
“It’s so good to see you, Jesus.” Moses grinned. “Adonai is so excited. He says the most important event of human history is about to take place and you will explain it all to us.”
“Father is right. The time has come to reveal our purpose in creation. Soon the whole world will know who I am and why I’m here.”
“God talks about you all the time. He’s really proud of your work. But he said something about how humans are in for a big shock. What does he mean?” asked Moses.
“He means as soon as humanity understands my purpose for coming, each must choose which god they will serve.”
“You mean like when I challenged the Baal priests with those sacrifices?” Elijah asked.
“Yes, something like that.” Jesus replied.
Elijah laughed. “Ha! Getting the bull ready for sacrifice was easy. I knew only God could send fire from heaven because he’s the one true God. Then, when he told me to soak it with water, I wondered if I’d really heard his voice. But, by the twelfth bucket, I was thinking, wow, I know fire will come down from heaven, because I know the Almighty; this is going to be some fire! I can hardly wait to see his power.”
“It’s a funny thing,” Moses mused. “We certainly saw a lot of Adonai’s power, too, through the plagues, the parting of the Red Sea and all. But after awhile, that wasn’t enough for me any more. I learned to trust God because of his power, but I wanted to know the God behind the power. So, I begged to see his glory. He said I couldn’t see it and live.”
“I remember your prayer, Moses.” Jesus said. “Father and I often discussed when that prayer would be answered.”
Moses stared at Jesus as comprehension dawned. “You’re God’s glory. You, Jesus!” Tears sprang up and rolled down into his beard. “After all these years, God answers my prayer, sending me here to see you.”
Elijah sat in deep thought, stroking his beard. Fire, glory, sacrifice, love. Somehow they all tied together, but how?
“You’re the ultimate sacrifice,” he whispered to Jesus. Sad tears rolled down his cheeks.
“Must it be so, my Lord?”
“It must be so."
Moses looked up, shocked. “The lamb that sheltered Israel when the death angel swept through Egypt represented you? You’ll be sacrificed to save humanity from final death?”
“Yes, Moses. Father and I planned this long before we created our first fish. Friends, friends, don’t be sad!” Jesus held out his hands as though to gather them to himself. “This is a time of joy. Our goal of uniting humanity and God is at hand. Rejoice with me. Trust me, the pain of coming death is nothing compared to what Father and I will gain.”
“Elijah!” Moses exclaimed. “You got to go to heaven without dying. Maybe that’s another aspect of humanity’s history."
Elijah turned eagerly to Jesus. “You’ll rise again! You’ll conquer death. No wonder you can hardly wait to get the job done.”
Jesus sat grinning from ear to ear. How much fun to travel with humanity and watch individuals prevail over unseen enemies, especially fear and doubt. And now his time had arrived, visiting the earth he’d created, to set humanity’s future forever.
“Yes, my friends. That’s the plan. Isn’t it great?”
Just then a voice boomed out, enveloping the trio, “This is my beloved Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased!”
The three rose and embraced fiercely; then Jesus stood alone. With quiet confidence, he descended the mountain, soon to ascend another; destined to conquer death with death, and sealing that conquest in resurrection.
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