What does Luke 9:30 reveal about Jesus' fulfillment of the Law and Prophets? The Transfiguration Snapshot Luke 9:30: “And behold, two men were talking with Jesus, who were Moses and Elijah.” Why Moses and Elijah Matter • Moses = the Law. God gave His commandments to Israel through him (Exodus 24:12). • Elijah = the Prophets. He is the prototypical prophetic reformer who called Israel back to covenant faithfulness (1 Kings 18:36-37). • Bringing these two together beside Jesus visually unites every word God had previously spoken—Law and Prophets—in the person of Christ. Jesus as the Culmination • Matthew 5:17: Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.” Luke 9:30 puts that claim on display. • Hebrews 1:1-2: God “spoke to our fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son.” The scene shifts authority from past spokesmen to the final Word—Jesus. • Luke 9:31 adds that Moses and Elijah “appeared in glory and spoke of His departure, which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.” Their very conversation confirms that the cross and resurrection complete their own messages. Evidence of Fulfillment in the Scene • Continuity: Moses and Elijah are alive and conscious, linking Old Covenant revelation directly to Christ’s mission. • Supersession: They stand, but Jesus shines (v. 29). The Law and Prophets are honored, yet Jesus is glorified above them. • Confirmation: The Father’s voice (v. 35) follows their appearance: “This is My Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him!” Final authority shifts to the Son. How the Law Is Fulfilled • Perfect Obedience: Jesus lived the flawless righteousness the Law demanded (1 Peter 2:22). • Ultimate Sacrifice: The Law’s sacrificial system pointed to His atoning death (Hebrews 10:1-10). • Covenant Mediator: Like Moses, Jesus mediates a covenant—yet “a better covenant” (Hebrews 8:6). How the Prophets Are Fulfilled • Messianic Promises: Elijah’s prophetic tradition anticipated a coming Savior (Isaiah 53; Micah 5:2). • Restoration Hope: Prophets foretold a renewed people and Spirit-filled kingdom (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:25-27); Jesus inaugurates this by His blood and resurrection. • Future Glory: Prophets spoke of the Lord’s day when glory would cover the earth; the transfiguration previews that glory in Jesus. Take-Home Implications • Confidence: Every word God spoke through Moses and the prophets finds its “Yes” in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20). • Clarity: We read the Old Testament through a Christ-centered lens (Luke 24:27). • Commitment: “Listen to Him” means the church submits to Jesus as the final interpreter and fulfiller of all Scripture. |
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