Did you know that Moses and Elijah actually spoke with Jesus Christ when Jesus walked on this earth almost 2000 years ago? What on earth were they talking about anyway? Is it possible that Moses and Elijah possessed inside information about the upcoming death of Jesus Christ at Jerusalem? Yes, they did, and I am not making this stuff up folks. It has been RECORDED in the Bible for a reason! That’s right, I am talking about the very same Moses from the Old Testament, the one who received the Ten Commandments from God. (Exodus 19-20) I am talking about that famous man named Elijah, the one who was caught up in a whirlwind into Heaven! (2 Kings 2:1-12) They actually spoke with the REAL Jesus Christ, who was crucified on the cross for our sins!
It is recorded in the Bible and here is Luke’s account of that meeting:
And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he (Jesus) took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was WHITE and GLISTERING. And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were MOSES and ELIAS (ELIJAH) : Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he (Jesus) should accomplish at JERUSALEM. But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw HIS GLORY, and the two men that stood with him. And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for MOSES, and one for ELIAS (ELIJAH) : not knowing what he said. While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is MY BELOVED SON: HEAR HIM. And when the voice was past, JESUS WAS FOUND ALONE. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen. (Luke 9:28-36)
This was a most incredible event which took place upon that mountain top. Jesus took three of his closest followers with Him that day, and He knew full well what was going to happen when they got up there. There were three of his followers present to establish what happened there as truth, the truth of God’s word (Deuteronomy 17:6, 19:15, Matthew 18:16, 2 Corinthians 13:1).
In this passage of scripture we learned that the countenance of Jesus Christ was dramatically changed because the glory of God was shining upon Him. Matthew declared in his account that the face of Jesus “did shine as the sun” and His clothing “was white as the light” (Matthew 17:2). This must have been an awesome experience for these three disciples of Christ, and it became even more exciting when Moses and Elijah arrived on the scene and started conversing with Jesus the Christ (Messiah). We do not know how they were able to discern that it was Moses and Elijah who were talking with Jesus, considering the fact that they walked the earth long before Peter, James and John were ever born. The one thing that you need to see here is that Moses and Elijah were ALIVE and talking! The only thing that matters is that the scriptures recorded this meeting for a reason and it is the Bible truth.
Moses and Elijah were two very well known people in the history of the children of Israel. It was Moses who was called by the Lord to bring God’s people out from the bondage of Egypt (Exodus 7:16) and it was Moses who received the Ten Commandments fom the Lord (Exodus 20). We can remember the story in the Bible where the prophet Elijah confronted the 450 false prophets of Baal, and where he called upon the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and the Lord proved Himself to be the true God before them all. (1 Kings 18:21-40) I want you to see that Moses and Elijah were known to the children of Israel through their very own scriptures.
So here are these two pillars of the faith having a conversation with Jesus on the top of a mountain. What were they talking about? They were talking about the upcoming, and prophesied death of Jesus Christ at Jerusalem, which we know took place upon the cross. They knew that Jesus was going to be KILLED very shortly, so the death of Jesus Christ was not an unexpected event, but it was written about by the prophet Isaiah, 700 years before it actually happened! (Read Isaiah 53:1-12.) Everything that has been written in the Old Testament, including all of the prophecies, were FULFILLED by the person of Jesus Christ.
Peter in his own excitement sought to make three tabernacles (tents) for each of them (Moses, Elijah, and Jesus), but the Father spoke from heaven saying This is my beloved Son: hear him. Moses and Elijah were not equal to Jesus Christ, who was the uncreated and eternal Son of God, and the Father wanted his disciples to know that. Yes it is true that the Lord used Moses and Elijah for His own glory but ultimately they were simply created human beings like each and every one of us. Moses and Elijah were sinners in need of a Saviour just like each and every one of us.
The Bible tells us that the apostle John was another disciple who sought to give glory to another created being who happened to be an angel, but the angel stopped John from doing it as is recorded below:
And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am THY FELLOWSERVANT, and of THY BRETHREN that have the TESTIMONY OF JESUS: WORSHIP GOD: for the TESTIMONY OF JESUS is the SPIRIT OF PROPHECY. (Revelation 19:10)
The angel of God was basically telling John that the whole prophetic word was pointing to Jesus Christ. The angel told John that he was merely his fellow servant. The true servant of God will always point you to Jesus, and they will recognize that they are nothing without him.
The apostle Peter did something similar to what the angel did to John when he rebuked Cornelius for paying homage to him as it is recorded in the scriptures:
And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and WORSHIPPED him. But Peter took him up, saying, STAND UP; I myself also am a man. (Acts 10:25-26)
So the lesson for today is that we need to worship God and Him alone. The scriptures show us that the Old Testament prophets pointed to Jesus Christ. There is only ONE plan of salvation for both Jew and Gentile. The word that the Father gave to the disciples on that mountaintop still stands true and they are meant for every single one of us: This is my beloved Son: hear him.
The words of Jesus Christ still stand true today. The Father calls us to listen to the Son through His word. The apostle Peter exalted the word of God above his experience on that mountaintop, referring to the scriptures as a “more sure word of prophecy.”
For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the POWER and COMING of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from GOD the Father honour and glory, when there came such a VOICE to him from the excellent glory, This is my BELOVED SON, in whom I am well pleased. And THIS VOICE which CAME FROM HEAVEN we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a MORE SURE WORD of PROPHECY; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that NO PROPHECY of the SCRIPTURE is of any private interpretation. For the PROPHECY came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were MOVED by the HOLY GHOST. (2 Peter 1:16-21)
The question for today is this: Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour? Do you worship Him and Him alone? Do you worship false “gods” such as the ones that Elijah put to shame when he called upon the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?
There is neither JEW nor GREEK (Gentile), there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And IF ye be CHRIST’S, then are ye ABRAHAM’S SEED, and HEIRS according to the PROMISE. (Galatians 3:28-29)
But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that GOD hath RAISED HIM from the DEAD, thou shalt be SAVED. For WITH THE HEART man BELIEVETH unto righteousness; and with the MOUTH confession is made unto SALVATION. For THE SCRIPTURE SAITH, Whosoever BELIEVETH ON HIM shall NOT be ashamed. For there is NO DIFFERENCE between the JEW and the GREEK (Gentile): for the same LORD over all is RICH unto ALL that CALL UPON HIM. For WHOSOEVER shall CALL UPON the NAME of THE LORD shall be SAVED. (Romans 10:8-13)
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