Encounters with Jesus - Pt 13

Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”— not knowing what he said. As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” (Luke 9:28-35 ESV).

The next encounter comes as Jesus is transfigured with Peter, James, and John watching. This took place a few days after Peter made his daring confession that Jesus was the Son of God. He, along with James and John, were given a brief glimpse of Jesus' eternal glory. There on a mountain top the brilliant, blinding glory that accompanied God's revelation of himself in the Old Testament shone out from Jesus. He was joined by Moses and Elijah and as he spoke with them a dense cloud hid them, and a voice spoke from within the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him” (v. 35). Then the cloud dispersed and the disciples saw only Jesus. It is interesting to note that we are not told why Jesus took the three disciples up the mountain to witness this miraculous event. Peter's thoughtless suggestion that they build shelters for Jesus, Moses and Elijah is instructive. Somehow he still didn’t understand the full nature of Jesus. He was not an equal of Moses or Elijah. None of the disciples understood the significance of Peter's confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Peter's suggestion ranked Jesus as equal with Moses and Elijah. But the voice of God says, “This is my Son” (v. 35). The impact is that they are no longer to look to Moses (the representative of the Law) or Elijah (the representative of the voice of God through prophecy). They now have the Son of God to listen to. He is God! All that the Law has ever told us finds its fulfillment in Him. All that the Prophets ever told us finds its fulfillment in Jesus. All that they ever told us in symbol, in shadow, in expectation, is now in the Son out in the open. Then the cloud lifts. Jesus stands alone. The whole significance of the Law and the Prophets is all in this one man, Jesus, the Son whom God loves. In him all the treasures of the wisdom and the knowledge of God are revealed. Now we have the unveiled way, the truth, and the life… follow Him!