Why when the glory of the Father was made manifest in Jesus did Moses and Elijah also come? Why not Abraham and David? They had much better messages of hope and life than Moses of the Law and Elijah of the Prophets.
Actually it is the point. There’s a reason that it was Moses and Elijah. Moses was the one through whom the Law came. And Elijah was the one who represented the prophets, and would come “in spirit” prior to the Messiah.
What was happening here was that God was confirming that the Law and the Prophets both submitted to Jesus. They were not in conflict with the Messiah and the faith that comes through him, but they actually were testimonies to him.
“If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me” (John 5:46).
“Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled” (Luke 24:44).
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17-18).
The transfiguration is about revealing the full glory of Jesus, but also to send the message that Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law and the prophets.
So why wasn’t David included in the party? Because Jesus said that the Psalms were to be fulfilled as well?
The reason is because the prophetic fulfillment found in the Psalms was about his death and resurrection (Psalm 22 and Psalm 16). This was yet to come. And the disciples still weren’t getting that quite yet.
In fact as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus spoke of his resurrection and they couldn’t figure out what he meant by “rising from the dead” (Mark 9:10). In their mind the crucifixion of resurrection were still unthinkable.
It was only afterwards that they got it. After Jesus was crucified and rose again. And we see that in how they quoted the Psalms in the book of Acts.
- Betrayal of Judas – Acts 1:20a; Psalm 69:25
- Replacement of Judas – Acts 1:20b and Psalm 109:8b
- Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection fulfill the Scriptures of Psalm 16:8-11
- Jesus is Messiah and King of the new Kingdom – Acts 2:34-35 quoting Psalm 110:1-
- Jesus would be rejected and then become the cornerstone – Acts 4:11 referencing Psalm 118:22
- The rulers would range against the things of God – Acts 4:27 fulfilling Acts 2
Or even more clearly in Acts 3:
17 “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, 20 that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21 whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago. 22 Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. 23 And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ 24 And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. 25 You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ 26 God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”
The transfiguration was about Jesus’ glory. Without question. And it was the glory Jesus had prior to the foundation of the world (John 17:5).
But there was a second message here two. All of the prophets and law pointed to the the Messiah and that Messiah was Jesus. It’s why God came next and told the disciples they must listen to him.
“And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him” (Mark 9:7).
Who do we listen to? Who do we obey?
God Almighty makes it clear.
It’s Jesus.
The Text – Mark 9:2-13
2 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one[a] on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” 8 And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.
9 And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. 11 And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 12 And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? 13 But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”