In Luke’s account of the transfiguration, we read, “Behold, there talked with Him two men, which were Moses and Elias: who appeared in glory, and spake of His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem” (Luke 9:30-3130And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: 31Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. (Luke 9:30‑31)). Could anything be more wonderful? They are talking with the Lord about His death. How striking a theme on that mount of glory! These two men are conversing with Jesus as to His death, while they at the moment see Him glorified. Marvelous mystery! He told them, as He had told His disciples a few days before, that He must die, because there is no way for you and me into God’s presence except through His death. There is no life for you and me except by death — the death of One upon whom death had no claim. And Moses and Elias were talking with Him about His death.
Redemption Through Death
What is the song of Revelation? “Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof; for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood” (Rev. 5:99And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; (Revelation 5:9)). Eternal song of praise of the redeemed! The love of Christ will evoke it, for although He said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:1313Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)), yet Christ laid down His life for us when we were not His friends, but were opposed to Him, and when we did not love Him. It is by His death that our redemption is accomplished. It is by His death that sin is put away. It is by His death that Satan’s power is broken, and by which you and I are brought to God.
And now at this moment we are told that Peter, James and John wake up, for “they were heavy with sleep, and when they were awake they saw His glory, and the two men that stood with Him” (vs. 32). There will be recognition in the Father’s house. The disciples knew Moses, and they knew Elias. I do not think when, by-and-by, we pass into eternity, that we shall fail to recognize each other, for recognition after resurrection is clearly seen here. The relationships of life are for time, but individuality is clearly maintained into eternity, and a very blessed thing for us that it is so. Peter, ever impetuous, and stirred by this marvelous vision, yet not knowing what He said, exclaims, “Master, it is good for us to be here.” That was quite true. It was a very nice thing for him to see the glory of the Lord.
The Cloud Enclosed Them
Peter’s heart began to get warm. He saw the Messiah, the lawgiver, and the reformer together, and he was charmed. In Moses he had the lawgiver; by his side was Elias, the prophet and reformer; and, above all, now he sees the Messiah, and to his Jewish mind the scene was so beautiful that he wanted to perpetuate it. He spoke out first as they were retreating out of sight. Matthew and Mark do not note this circumstance, but Luke records when Peter said these foolish words: “It came to pass as they departed from Him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for Thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said” (vs. 33). And what had he said? He had put the Son of God, the Messiah, Moses the lawgiver, and Elias the reformer on a level; He had equalized them. He thought this scene should be perpetuated, and to retain them he would give each a tabernacle. But “while he thus spake there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.” Peter, James and John were afraid. And what was the cloud? The Shekinah — the glory of God. The cloud that had tabernacled with Israel in the days of the wilderness reappeared to guard the Person of the Son of God. That cloud spoke of the immediate presence of the Father and was, in fact, the expression of the Father’s house, and into it Moses and Elias go. Thank God, that is where you and I, fellow-Christian, are going, and we need not be afraid to go there. If you have the Father’s thoughts about the Son, all is right. Moses and Elias had got the thoughts of the Father about the Son. Poor Peter! “Let us make three tabernacles; one for Thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias” was his estimation of the comparative value of his Master. You will understand that the Father could not brook this insult to His Son. And immediately there comes out of the cloud this voice, “This is My beloved Son; hear Him” (vs. 35). Ah! hear Him! Not, “Hear Moses.” No; his day is gone by. Nor Elijah? No; his day is also gone by. Hear Jesus, and Jesus only. This is Jesus’ day.
W. T. P. Wolston (adapted)