Background

 Luke chapter 9 verses 28 to 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 splendour, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfilment 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 covered 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 did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.

We have looked at glory in relation to the transfiguration (see ‘Transfiguration and Glory’). Here we consider why Moses and Elijah are present and what significance this has. Was this actually Moses and Elijah? If so, how were they recognised? It seems that Jesus told Peter and the others who they were (Luke chapter 9 verses 32, 33).

Having led the people out of Egypt, Moses went up Mount Sinai and had an encounter with God (Exodus chapter 19 verses 1 to 8). This was where he learned about how the new nation (humanity) was to live, including receiving the ten commandments. As with Jesus, he took three named companions with him (Exodus chapter 24 verse 1). They see an expression of glory (verses 9 to 11). Here there is a ‘pavement of sapphire’ similar to that seen by John recorded in the book of Revelation (chapter 4). He hears God speaking from a cloud (Exodus chapter 24 verses 15,16). Clouds have a significance throughout the bible and represent the place where man meets God. The centre of the tabernacle and temple where the priests met God were filled with the clouds of incense that represented the covering of sin from sacrifice. It is the sacrifice of Jesus that covers sin and reconnects us into a relationship with God that is in focus here, not the sprouting of wings and floating on a cloud in the sky. Another similarity is that his face shone (Exodus chapter 34 verses 29,30), the glory from the encounter stayed with Moses.

Numbers also seem to have some significance in tying the events together. Luke refers to ‘about eight days’ linking the transfiguration to the discussion of who Jesus is and his subsequent comments (Luke chapter 9 verses 20 to 28). In his version of the event Mark states 6 days (Mark chapter 9 verse 2). Luke would have read Mark, but had a reason to use 8 days. This could have been that when the people held the Feast of Booths each year, on the 8th day they had a ‘holy gathering’ to commemorate the Exodus (Leviticus chapter 23 verses 33 to 44). This ties in with Peter’s thinking behind his suggestion of erecting some booths at the scene (Luke chapter 9 verse 33).

Another number with significance to this event is 40. Moses was on the mountain 40 days (Exodus chapter 24 verse 18). At the first encounter Jesus had with the Father and Holy Spirit he took 40 days (Luke chapter 4 verses 1,2). Here the focus of discussion is his death, resurrection and ascension (chapter 9 verse 31). The period between Jesus’ resurrection and ascension was 40 days (Acts chapter 1 verses 3,9).

There is also the remarkable episode where Moses intercedes on behalf of the people that echoes Jesus’ action to intercede on behalf of all humanity. Because of the people’s rebellion against God and intent to follow other gods, illustrated by the golden calf idol (Exodus chapter 32 verses 9,10), God threatens to abandon them, back into slavery. Moses intercedes and pleads for God’s presence (chapter 33 verses 1,12, 15, 21 to 23).

Jesus talks to Moses about his departure (Luke chapter 9 verse 31), his death, resurrection and ascension. This word departure has the same meaning as ‘exodus’.

Elijah has an encounter with God at a time where he had lost hope and was fleeing from Jezebel’s death threats (1 Kings chapter 19 verses 1 to 8). He goes to the mountain at Horeb (probably another name for the same mountain as Moses’ encounter, Mount Sinai). His journey takes 40 days. He sees glory expressed in wind, earthquake and fire and then hears God speak (verses 11 to 13). He is commissioned with his next task (verses 15 to 18).

There are strange circumstances recorded in the Old Testament in relation to both the death of Moses and Elijah. There is mystery surrounding the burial place of Moses (Deuteronomy chapter 34 verse 6) and Elijah who was carried away in a whirlwind. There was no body to be found, early promises of resurrection life.

The collective expression for God’s revelation in the Old Testament was ‘the Law and the prophets’ (Luke chapter 16 verse 16; 24 verses 27,44). The last words in Malachi, the last book in the Old Testament, refer to Moses and Elijah, the foundation for Jesus to build upon. It is not that Moses brings the Law and Elijah is the prophet. Moses was a great prophet (Deuteronomy chapter 18 verse 15). The Law was prophetic. Moses was the proto-type for the prophetic ministry. Elijah represents all the prophets who speak to the king bringing God’s word on how they should rule. They represent two witnesses to God’s enduring wish to live in relationship with his people, a new humanity. As witnesses they had encounters with God, christophanies, that they were able to recall.

Two Witnesses

Two witnesses were important to uphold the Law. In Elijah’s time this was used corruptly. Ahab coveted Naboth’s vineyard and so Jezebel found two ‘worthless men’ to trump up false charges against Naboth and he was killed (1 Kings chapter 21) enabling Ahab to seize his land. Ahab and Jezebel fell under God’s judgment.

Moses and Elijah were two worthy witnesses. There were two witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection and another two for his ascension (Luke chapter 24 verse 4; Acts chapter 1 verses 9 to 11). Jesus called for his disciples to be his witnesses (Acts chapter 1 verse 8).

Moses and Elijah remain as examples for the overcoming prophetic remnant in the book of Revelation. The two witnesses in the vision of chapter 11 are evidently people with a prophetic ministry like Moses and Elijah (verse 6). They follow Jesus through death into resurrection. The Greek word for witness is ‘martus’, a martyr.

Being witnesses is also linked in the passage to the illustrations of two olive trees and lamp-stands (Revelation chapter 11 verse 4; Zachariah chapter 4 verses 3,11,14), the olive trees providing the oil for the light of the lamp-stand. Zachariah uses this imagery to show how the new temple was to be completed, by the Holy Spirit (verses 4 to 8).

Escaping Hades

What was Jesus talking about with Moses and Elijah? Jesus already knew that he had to go to Jerusalem, how he would be treated and how he would be killed (Luke chapter 9 verses 22,23). There may have been some of the details to discuss. For example, the timing fitted exactly with the sacrifice during the Passover festival. However, it was likely that the focus was on what happened next. The passage refers to his departure. What happens between his death and resurrection and what was essential to communicate in the short time before his ascension.

The rest of humanity to that time, including Moses and Elijah, had died, their physical bodies worn out beyond usefulness, and were trapped in Hades. Their spirit had gone to be with God leaving their souls. Jesus would go to this place and metaphorically unlock the exit gate, to be the first escapee, and be resurrected, opening the way for everyone else to follow (Acts chapter 2 verse 27 to 32; Revelation chapter 1 verse 18).

Before these discussions, Jesus talked about Hades as being asleep (Luke chapter 8 verses 52 to 55), when he raised people back to life, bringing back their spirit from God and connecting with their soul in their bodies. After this encounter with Moses and Elijah, he expressed more about Hades including a story that indicated the lack of ability for humanity to do anything meaningful there in contrast to what they can do whilst alive (Luke chapter 16 verses 19 to 31), the importance of taking opportunities, which have eternal significance, now.