“And as [Jesus] 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.” (Luke 9:29-31)
During his earthly ministry, Jesus looked like an ordinary man. He had temporarily given up the glory which He had with the Father from eternity. But on one occasion, his divine identity was clear.
The Bible books of Matthew, Mark and Luke record how Jesus was on a mountain with three of his disciples. There, “He was transfigured before them” (Matthew 17:2). He suddenly shone like the sun, and two men were talking with Him. These men were Moses and Elijah — the representatives of the Law and the Prophets. They talked with Jesus about his coming death, and then disappeared again in a cloud.
This story underlines that Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of both the Old Testament law and all its prophetic messages. Everything Moses and Elijah (and their prophetic colleagues) have said, was preparing the way for the Messiah, Jesus. He has perfectly obeyed the law, and He offers sinners a way back to God — both in Elijah’s day and nowadays. Some people thought that Jesus was Elijah who had returned from the dead (Mark 6:15), but He is infinitely more. Elijah was a man “with a nature like ours” (James 5:17). Jesus is God’s Son, his Chosen One, to whom we should listen (Luke 9:35).
Do you really listen what Jesus has to say to you in the Bible?