Reading Luke 22.43-44, it came to my mind that I actually read similar episode in other Gospels.
This was happened on the Mount of Olives (verse 39), the same Mount where transfiguration of Christ is described in other Gospels. Appearance of Moses and Elijah to Christ during His prayer is not presented in all accounts, and transfiguration of Christ described differently from one account to another.
In all three accounts of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, transfiguration of Christ was described twice and differently from one another.
~ In Matthew account, Jesus took Peter, James, and John and went on the mountain to pray (the mountain probably was the Mount of Olives).
"And He was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light, and Moses and Elijah appeared to them talking with Him." (Matthew 17.1-9).
In another account of Matthew Jesus again prayed in "a place called Gethsemane," which is also called as the Mount of Olives, and He took Peter, John, and James with Him. In this account of Matthew no any appearance of an angel or angels is recorded and no any transfigurations described (Matthew 26.36.39-44).
~ In Mark also indicated that Jesus took three of His disciples (Peter, James, and John) and went to "a place called Gethsemane" the Mount of Olives to pray, and Moses and Elijah appeared to Him, "and His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on Earth can whiter them." (Mark 9.2-9).
In another account of Mark Jesus also went to Gethsemane and took Peter, James and John, but no any transfigurations is described in this account (Mark 14.32-42).
~ In one account of Luke Jesus took Peter, John, and James, and went on the mountain (most likely Gethsemane - Mount of Olives) to pray. Moses and Elijah appeared to Him, "And while He was praying, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming." (Luke 9.28-38).
In another account of Luke (Luke 22.43-44) he wrote that Jesus went on the Mount of Olives with His disciples to pray, but disciples are not indicated by their names.
An angel appeared to Jesus during His prayer and strengthening Him, but no name of the angel and who he was not given.
Considering Moses and Elijah as the angels of the Lord, in account of Luke 22.43 only one angel is mentioned, and transfiguration of Christ recorded differently from other accounts, "And being in agony He was praying very fervently, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling down upon the ground." (Luke 22.44).
So, here is a question, "How many transfigurations Jesus actually had?" It seems only to answers can be given. First, perhaps all writers describing the same transfiguration of Christ, as they remember it.
Second, Jesus may have two different transfigurations, but problem is that these transfigurations are described very much at the same place, with the same disciples, and shortly before Jesus' arrest, so it still looks like that they are describing the same single event.
Concerning Jesus' general physical appearance, description of Isaiah perhaps the most vivid one: "He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him." (Isaiah 53.2).
This was happened on the Mount of Olives (verse 39), the same Mount where transfiguration of Christ is described in other Gospels. Appearance of Moses and Elijah to Christ during His prayer is not presented in all accounts, and transfiguration of Christ described differently from one account to another.
In all three accounts of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, transfiguration of Christ was described twice and differently from one another.
~ In Matthew account, Jesus took Peter, James, and John and went on the mountain to pray (the mountain probably was the Mount of Olives).
"And He was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His garments became as white as light, and Moses and Elijah appeared to them talking with Him." (Matthew 17.1-9).
In another account of Matthew Jesus again prayed in "a place called Gethsemane," which is also called as the Mount of Olives, and He took Peter, John, and James with Him. In this account of Matthew no any appearance of an angel or angels is recorded and no any transfigurations described (Matthew 26.36.39-44).
~ In Mark also indicated that Jesus took three of His disciples (Peter, James, and John) and went to "a place called Gethsemane" the Mount of Olives to pray, and Moses and Elijah appeared to Him, "and His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on Earth can whiter them." (Mark 9.2-9).
In another account of Mark Jesus also went to Gethsemane and took Peter, James and John, but no any transfigurations is described in this account (Mark 14.32-42).
~ In one account of Luke Jesus took Peter, John, and James, and went on the mountain (most likely Gethsemane - Mount of Olives) to pray. Moses and Elijah appeared to Him, "And while He was praying, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming." (Luke 9.28-38).
In another account of Luke (Luke 22.43-44) he wrote that Jesus went on the Mount of Olives with His disciples to pray, but disciples are not indicated by their names.
An angel appeared to Jesus during His prayer and strengthening Him, but no name of the angel and who he was not given.
Considering Moses and Elijah as the angels of the Lord, in account of Luke 22.43 only one angel is mentioned, and transfiguration of Christ recorded differently from other accounts, "And being in agony He was praying very fervently, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling down upon the ground." (Luke 22.44).
So, here is a question, "How many transfigurations Jesus actually had?" It seems only to answers can be given. First, perhaps all writers describing the same transfiguration of Christ, as they remember it.
Second, Jesus may have two different transfigurations, but problem is that these transfigurations are described very much at the same place, with the same disciples, and shortly before Jesus' arrest, so it still looks like that they are describing the same single event.
Concerning Jesus' general physical appearance, description of Isaiah perhaps the most vivid one: "He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him." (Isaiah 53.2).
