on July 11, 2013
Luke 9:28-36 – About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters–one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.) While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen.
Eight days after Jesus raised the all-important question, “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet forfeit his very self?” and, after he declared, “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words…,” Jesus took three of His disciples on a mountain trip to pray. Something extraordinary happened as Jesus was praying. We call it the TRANSFIGURATION! That is, there was an amazing transformation that took place right before the eyes of these three disciples. His face changed, His clothing changed and Moses and Elijah appeared in splendor and glory, talking with Him! What a trio of History shaping personalities! Moses the Lawgiver! Elijah the Prophet! And, Jesus the Christ, the Son of God! Who wouldn’t want to hear what these three had to talk about together? Luke tells us that they spoke about Jesus’ exodus from this earth, to be fulfilled in Jerusalem. Would that conversation have included the events that would fulfill prophecy and transition from the Old Covenant to the New? Whatever they related together, it was rich, amazing and glorious!
So, here we see Jesus, identified with the spiritual greatness of Moses and Elijah! Peter, John and James had been dozing off, but this incredible moment brought them to full attention! They beheld the glory of Jesus and His harmonious relationship with Moses and Elijah. Much like most of us who’ve had a mountaintop experience, Peter wanted to prolong this camp meeting. He suggested that they build three temporary shelters, one for Jesus, one for each of the others. Luke lets us know that this idea was really not appropriate. More significantly, even while Peter was offering his suggestion, they were enveloped in a cloud. In the midst of the cloud a voice, that could only have been God’s voice, said, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to Him.” Moses had led the Israelites out of bondage into freedom and recorded the very words and commands of God. Elijah had boldly preached and demonstrated the mighty power of God, standing against the godlessness of his generation. Both men were Israel’s heroes. But the voice told them to listen to JESUS!
Interestingly, when the voice had spoken, Moses and Elijah had vanished and Jesus was ALONE! The Law of God is awesome, and Moses has an important place in God’s plan and our remembrance. Prophecy is an amazing and powerful revelation of God’s purposes, and Elijah deserves our recognition as one of God’s greatest vessels of prophecy. But, Jesus stands ALONE! Greater than Moses! Greater than Elijah! He did not just bring a Word FROM God, He IS the WORD OF God – in the flesh! And this Word speaks like no other! This Word WAS God! And the voice said, “Listen to Him!” This Word did not come to DESTROY the Law and the Prophets, He came to FULFILL them! Jesus was the fulfillment of all that Moses and Elijah had proclaimed! Listen to Jesus! Pay attention to His words and put them into practice, and you too will fulfill all the law and prophets! Christ alone! He’s all we need!
Thursday: Meet together with at least 1 or 2 other believers to enter the Throne Room of Grace.
Friday: Pray for the Good News families of the week: Sara Fellows, Dave & Ilene Fetzner, Betty George.
Saturday: Recognize the glory of Jesus in comparison with Moses and Elijah.
Sunday: Worship the One who is greater than Moses and Elijah – Him who fulfills the Law and Prophets.
Monday: Give thanks for Jesus who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
Tuesday: Look to Christ Jesus alone and remember that all things were created by Him and for Him!
Wednesday: Give praise to God who was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Christ Jesus!
Prayer Challenge: Ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully give thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:9-14)