While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5, NIV)
Throughout the Old Testament prophets, we read promises of a coming restoration that would be accomplished by God through a messianic king. The restored kingdom was the hope of Israel, and John the Baptizer (Matthew 3:1–2), Jesus (Matthew 4:17), and the apostles (Matthew 10:7) all preached that it was near. In today’s reading, Jesus spoke about just how near the kingdom was:
“And he said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.'” (Mark 9:1, NIV)
We get a powerful glimpse of this coming in power in the event that comes next in Mark 9, the Transfiguration.
In the Transfiguration, we see an event foreshadowed centuries earlier in the book of Exodus. In this event, Jesus was visibly transformed so that his pre-incarnate glory was revealed. This was a visible reminder that he was bringing the restoration promised for centuries through the prophets. God had announced Jesus’ identity at his baptism when his ministry began, and he affirmed his identity here as his ministry was nearing its climax.
“Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: ‘This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!'” (Matthew 9:7, NIV)
Jesus’ Transfiguration: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”
The transfiguration parallels the Exodus 24 confirmation of the covenant following Moses’ receiving the law from God on Mount Sinai. As Moses had ascended with Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, Jesus ascended with Peter, James, and John.
In Exodus, they saw the glory of God.
“Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli, as bright blue as the sky. But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank.” (Exodus 24:9–11, NIV)
In the Gospels, they saw the glory of Jesus.
“There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.” (Matthew 17:2–3, NIV)
Jesus was transfigured—transformed so that his glory was physically on display—and he was joined by these renowned figures. Let’s look at this sentence again:
“Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.” (Matthew 17:3, NIV)
Jesus was a prophet like Moses (see Deuteronomy 18:17–18). His herald, John the Baptizer, was a prophet like Elijah (see Malachi 4:5–6). We see Moses and Elijah joined in a description of the future at the end of the Old Testament (Malachi 4:4–5). Likewise, it is Moses and Elijah whose ministries form the backdrop of the “two witnesses” we read about in Revelation 11.
Jesus’ Transfiguration: “Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.”
In both events, God spoke on a seventh day.
“After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them.” (Mark 9:2, NIV)
“When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from within the cloud.” (Exodus 24:15–16, NIV)
Then, when Moses came down from the mountain, he found God’s people in discord, engaging in idol worship. When Jesus came down the mountain, he found his disciples in discord, arguing with the teachers of the law.
“As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.” (Mark 9:15, NIV)
Likewise, after Moses came down from receiving the new stone tablets, his appearance was transformed so that people reacted to his presence.
“When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him.” (Exodus 34:29–30, NIV)
“Likewise, after Moses came down from receiving the new stone tablets, his appearance was transformed so that people reacted to his presence.”
Moses and Elijah were a picture of the law and the prophets in God’s story. The old covenant was expressed and kept through these until the coming of Christ with his new covenant and new kingdom. Upon seeing them,
“Peter said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’” (Mark 9:5, NIV)
Yet before he could even begin putting up shelters, God spoke and Moses and Elijah disappeared. God’s words made the implication unmistakable:
“Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: ‘This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!’ Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.” (Mark 9:7–8, NIV)
No longer were the law and the prophets the authority. There was no need to build a shelter for Moses and Elijah because they weren’t there to stay. They were there to affirm the fulfillment of what they had taught and foresaw—the great restoration of humanity to God for all eternity through the new covenant of salvation accomplished by the glorified King Jesus.
Excerpted from Tina Wilson’s 365-day chronological Bible study Step into Scripture: A Daily Journey to Understanding Your Bible.