What Old Testament connections can be made with Moses and Elijah's appearance? Setting the Scene Luke 9:33 places us on the mount of Transfiguration. Jesus is revealed in glory, and two towering Old Testament figures—Moses and Elijah—stand beside Him. Their presence is far more than a dramatic cameo; it weaves together threads from Israel’s history that point directly to Christ. Why Moses? • Lawgiver and deliverer • Saw God’s glory on Mount Sinai (Exodus 33:18–23; 34:29) • Spoke of a coming prophet like himself: “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to him.” (Deuteronomy 18:15) • Led Israel’s exodus; Luke 9:31 notes Jesus’ coming “departure” (literally “exodus”) at Jerusalem. Why Elijah? • Foremost miracle-working prophet, confronting idolatry and calling the people back to covenant faithfulness • Expected forerunner of Messiah: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.” (Malachi 4:5–6) • Encountered God’s still, small voice on Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:11-12) • Taken to heaven without dying (2 Kings 2:11), foreshadowing victory over death. Shared Mountain Encounters • Moses: Sinai/Horeb (Exodus 24:16-17) • Elijah: Horeb (1 Kings 19:8-12) • Jesus: “went up on the mountain to pray” (Luke 9:28-29). Mountains become meeting places where God’s glory is unveiled and His plans are disclosed. Echoes of Glory and Cloud • Moses’ face shone after speaking with the LORD (Exodus 34:29). • Elijah saw fire and whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11). • At the Transfiguration “His face changed, and His clothes became radiant white” (Luke 9:29). • “A cloud appeared and overshadowed them” (Luke 9:34), recalling the Shekinah cloud over Sinai (Exodus 24:16) and the Temple (Exodus 40:34; 1 Kings 8:10-11). Looking to the “Exodus” of Jesus • Luke 9:31: Moses and Elijah “spoke about His departure (ἔξοδον) which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.” • Moses led Israel out of bondage; Jesus leads sinners out of slavery to sin. • Elijah’s ascent hints at resurrection life; Jesus will conquer death openly. Law and Prophets United in Christ • Moses represents the Law; Elijah represents the Prophets—together the entirety of Scripture’s witness (Luke 24:27). • Their conversation with Jesus underlines that the Law and the Prophets find fulfillment in Him (Matthew 5:17). Assurance of Messianic Fulfillment • Presence of Elijah fulfills Malachi 4. • Voice from the cloud—“This is My Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him!” (Luke 9:35)—echoes Deuteronomy 18:15’s command to heed the coming Prophet. • Peter’s impulse to build three shelters shows he missed the point: Jesus is supreme; Moses and Elijah testify to Him. Takeaway Themes • Continuity: the same God who spoke on Sinai and Horeb now speaks through His Son. • Fulfillment: every promise of Law and Prophets converges on Christ’s redemptive mission. • Glory revealed: what Moses glimpsed and Elijah anticipated is fully displayed in Jesus, the radiance of God’s glory. |
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