Did Jesus Practice Necromancy?
On the Feast of the Transfiguration, the answer is resoundingly NO! But Jesus indeed was having an adult conversation with two dead guys, Moses and Elijah, as witnessed by three of the apostles and recorded in three gospels. The Church has celebrated this momentous occasion since the 3rd or 4th century. The transfiguration not only announced who Jesus was by the Father's own voice, but set the stage for the next part of the plan of salvation. With Elijah and Moses, he spoke of the work that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. Don't you wish you were a fly in the wall in that conversation?
I find it interesting that Moses and Elijah were fully alive and conversant and obviously "in the know" regarding Jesus and his work on earth. I think it is very unlikely that they were the only two people ever in heaven to be made aware of events on earth while the rest of those in heaven maintained a blissful naivete regarding events on earth. So Peter, James and John saw "dead" people who were fully alive and able to hear and be involved in God's plans on earth.
What I find surprising is that Peter, usually being rather quick to speak, didn't chide Jesus for going against the scriptural prohibition on consulting with dead spirits (necromancy). (Deuteronomy 18:10-12; 1 Samuel 28:3-20; 2 Chronicles 10:13, 14; Isaiah 8:19-22) Certainly those verses don't apply here. Neither do they apply when we pray (ask) to people in heaven, who are alive and "in the know" to intercede for us.
"He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You therefore do greatly err."
3 Comments:
Useful insights Russ! One small clarification - Moses and Elijah were not yet in heaven at that point, but in a place of limbo for the righteous (sometimes referred to as "Abraham's bosom"). That does not detract at all from your example.
Now I know what necromancy is!! Thanks Russ---
Excellent point George! Yes you are right
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