Gospel : Luke 9:28-36
Was this Mount Hermon (9,000 ft)? Mount Tabor? Wherever it was, it was a mountain-top experience for Peter (2 Peter 1:16-18), James and John (John 1:14). Moses and Elijah appeared: Moses for the Law, and Elijah for the Prophets..
1. THEY SAW MOSES ON THE MOUNT
a. Moses and the Giving of the Law..
Then, Moses had been up Mount Sinai to receive the Tables of the Law carved in letters of fire by the hand of God (Exodus 20); to receive instructions for the Tabernacle and the Priesthood (Exodus 24-31); and to witness the proclamation of the Name of YHWH (Exodus 34). When he came down again, his face shone with a heavenly glow..
b. Jesus and the Fulfilling of the Law..
Now, Moses, the Prophet of the Exodus, was talking to Christ of His "Exodus" (9:31, Gk text) T His fulfilment of the Passover at Jerusalem. "Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast" (1 Corinthians 5:7-8)..
2. THEY SAW ELIJAH ON THE MOUNT
a. Elijah and the Priests of Baal..
Then, Elijah had been up Mount Carmel to see the LORD vindicate Himself against the 450 false priests and prophets of Baal, and the 400 of Asherah (1 Kings 18:19). For 3½ years Elijah had stood alone against all of them. But soon their time was up, as Elijah brought down fire from heaven to end the doubt, and rain from heaven to end the drought..
b. Jesus and the Priests of Israel..
Now, Elijah, the vanquisher of the Priests of Baal, was talking to Christ of His conflict with the High Priests of the Temple (who should have known better) and all the forces of evil..
3. THEY SAW JESUS ON THE MOUNT
a. God the Father and the Deity of Christ..
Now, Peter James and John heard again the Voice which had been first heard at Jesus' Baptism, quoting Isaiah 42:1 and Psalm 2:7. Now God was proclaiming the Deity of Christ. "Thou art my beloved Son: this day have I begotten thee"; meaning the Resurrection Day, Acts 13:33. The Davidic Kings were formally "adopted" by God at their coronation; but Jesus is the Eternal Son of the Eternal Father, begotten before the foundation of the world. Jesus is God Incarnate; Immanuel, God-with-us. In him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9)..
b. God the Father and the Duty of Christians..
Now God was proclaiming the duty of Christians (listen to Him). We do well to read God's Word daily, and make our prayers to Our Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord..
Then the vision and the voice went: they could see Jesus alone. That can be our motto : Jesus alone, the all-sufficient Saviour..
In Him,
Ben
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Revd Ben Crick, BA CF
232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK)
