Bendouin

Bendouin

‎Here is a camp of Bedouin Arabs with their tents. Childhood and youth and old age are here. Beyond are the desolate mountains, fit surroundings for such a group of ignorant, superstitious and degraded people. These children of nature have been living in tents for thousands of years. No wonder that with such creatures as these below on the plain, the dream and desire of Peter, on the mountain, should not be gratified by his Master.

Peter, amidst the glory of the transfiguration, desired to remain on the heights. He would have three tabernacles built—one for Jesus, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. He would spend the rest of his life in the rapture of this royal fellowship, amidst the splendor of this celestial epiphany; but it was like Christ to go down into the plain where the people needed His presence, for it was as they came down from this mountain of transfiguration that they came to the multitude. “And when they were come to the multitude there came to Him a certain man, kneeling down to Him, and saying, Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a lunatic, and sore vexed; for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water; and I brought him to Thy disciples, and they could not cure him. Then Jesus answered and said: O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you? Bring him hither to Me. And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.”