How does Luke 9:31 reveal Jesus' purpose in Jerusalem? Setting the Scene on the Mount • Moses and Elijah—representing Law and Prophets—appear “in glory” (Luke 9:31). • Their focus is not on past victories but on Jesus’ future. • The heavenly conversation centers on “His departure, which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.” The Key Term: “Departure” • Greek: exodos—same word used for Israel’s deliverance from Egypt. • Signals a redemptive, liberating event, not merely a physical exit. • Points to Jesus as the greater Moses, leading a new covenant exodus (cf. Hebrews 3:1–6). Jerusalem: The Appointed Destination • Jesus’ journey is intentional: “it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside Jerusalem” (Luke 13:33). • Prophetic timetable aligned with Passover (Exodus 12; Luke 22:15–16). • Divine necessity underscored earlier: “The Son of Man must suffer… be killed, and be raised” (Luke 9:22). Fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets • Moses (Law) and Elijah (Prophets) confirm that Jesus’ passion fulfills Scripture (cf. Isaiah 53; Psalm 22). • Their presence authenticates that the cross is not a tragic detour but God’s ordained plan (Acts 2:23). • Luke links prophecy to fulfillment again in 24:26–27. The Cross at the Center • “Departure” includes suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension—one unified mission (Luke 9:31; 24:51). • At Jerusalem, Jesus becomes “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). • His blood secures an eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:12). Implications for Believers Today • Certainty: God’s plan is precise; every prophecy finds literal completion in Christ. • Redemption: Jesus’ exodus frees us from sin’s bondage, leading to a new covenant relationship (Hebrews 10:14–17). • Mission: As Moses led Israel out, Jesus commissions us to proclaim this deliverance to the nations (Luke 24:46–48). |
    |