Jesus Was Also Encouraged

4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus.

This meeting on the mountaintop was an encouraging preview, but it was also an important conference. Jesus met there with Moses and Elijah. It had been centuries since both men walked the earth. Supernaturally, however, they met with Jesus on his mountain.

Mark only tells us they were talking with Jesus (4). But Luke tells us they appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus, which he was about to accomplish in Jerusalem (Luke 9:31). Moses led an exodus from Egypt, and died a mysterious death, while Elijah exited the earth in a whirlwind of fire. But Jesus would, after his death and resurrection, exit the earth by ascending back to the Father. And his departure—preceded by his death—would enable the greatest exodus when his love and blood rescued sinners.

So they talked to Jesus about his departure. And this was done as a way to encourage Jesus. Remember, Jesus became flesh and dwelt among us. One glimpse into his prayers in Gethsemane the night before the cross shows us how much the cross weighed on his mind. So, on that mountain, Moses and Elijah talked to Jesus about those coming events in Jerusalem. I won't call it a pep talk, but a reinforcement of the determined direction of Jesus' heart. As their words bolstered him, Jesus was strengthened for his journey.

Total Reinforcement of Jesus' Identity

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."

But it wasn't only Jesus' heart that was reinforced that day. His identity and mission were reinforced for his disciples as well.

First, Jesus' identity was reinforced when God responded to Peter's proposal. After seeing the transfigured Jesus talking with Moses and Elijah—and Peter somehow knew they were Moses and Elijah!—Peter suggested he and the other disciples could build three tabernacles, one for Jesus, Moses, and Elijah.

They could stay there on the mountain! Jesus was great. Moses was great. Elijah was great. Moses represented the law, and Elijah the prophets. And now Jesus was on their team. Wouldn't it be great to isolate, hunker down on that mountain, and build structures that enabled people to visit each?

Peter said this because he did not know what to say (6). Terror filled the disciples, so Peter blurted out the first thing that came to his mind.

But God responded by coming in the cloud. Every one of these characters—Jesus, Moses, Elijah, Peter, James, and John—were Israelites. Their ancestors had been led by God's presence in the form of a cloud, had watched the cloud of God's glory descend upon the temple, and had seen God's cloud depart from them when they were in error (Ezekiel 10). So now, when this cloud descends, they knew God was making himself known.

And then God spoke, "This is my beloved Son; listen to him" (7). Just as God had at Jesus' baptism, he confirms Jesus' identity as his only begotten Son. The disciples had thought Jesus was equal to Moses and Elijah, which is why they suggested tents for all three, so God corrected them by telling them to listen to Jesus. So this mountaintop moment served to confirm what the disciples had confessed about Jesus in Caesarea Philippi. He is the Christ, the Son of God.

Total Reinforcement of Jesus' Mission

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."

But, second, Jesus' mission was also reinforced on that mountain. We've already seen how Moses and Elijah spoke of the departure Jesus would accomplish in Jerusalem. Isn't that a wonderful word? Accomplish. They felt Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, followed by his ascension, was a glorious accomplishment. The disciples needed to know this because they weren't thinking this way. When Jesus spoke of his death, the last thing they thought was what an accomplishment!

This is why God said, "Listen to him " (7). The disciples had just recently argued with Jesus about his cross, so now the Father tells them to listen to what Jesus had said.

And when they came down the mountain, Jesus charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until he had risen from the dead (9). Jesus knew they still had the wrong idea about him, and so did the masses, so if they had gone out and told everyone about his power and glory, what they saw on that mountaintop, it would have been bananas. Jesus knew he had death to accomplish.

Even the disciples' question about Elijah reinforced Jesus' mission. They had all been taught that Elijah would come before the Christ to restore all things. This was primarily based on the last prophecy of the Old Testament, which said:

Malachi 4:5 (ESV) — 5 "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes."

In response to their question, Jesus told them Elijah does come first to restore all things (12). This likely means Elijah will somehow come before the second coming of Christ, perhaps as one of the two witnesses mentioned in Revelation 11.

Then he said, "But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him" (13). It is a fascinating phrase with a double meaning. First, the original Elijah was written about in 1-2 Kings. A wicked king and his wife, Ahab, and Jezebel, persecuted Elijah. But, second, John the Baptist had come in "the spirit and power of Elijah" (Luke 1:17). And a wicked king and his wife, Herod, and Herodias, had persecuted John until they beheaded him. And Matthew tells us that when Jesus said these words about Elijah's suffering, the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist (Matthew 17:13).

And Jesus also asked, "How is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt?" (12). The Old Testament Scriptures more often spoke of the future glory of the Christ's coming but did speak of his suffering as well. Jesus drew their attention to this reality. He reminded them of his mission.

Total Reinforcement Is Needed

You might think to yourself that the reinforcement of Jesus' identity and mission was necessary for the disciples at that time, but not believers in our time. You'd be wrong.

First, believers today desperately need to recall Jesus' identity as the only begotten Son. We tend to listen to too many voices that would compete with Christ. Instead, as the Father said, we must listen to him. We tend to forget the humble service of Christ as he incarnated for us. Instead, we need to imitate our Lord and serve the world around us. We tend to treat Jesus like another in a long line of teachers and prophets, dispensing great teachings and good morals to which we will adhere. Instead, we need to recognize he is the Last Adam who came to transfer us from death to life!

Second, believers today desperately need to recall Jesus' mission of the cross. We tend to think answers are found elsewhere, but the gospel of Jesus Christ is humanity's great need. The cross must always be exalted. It must always be preached. It is that which divides the hearts of humanity. It is that which produces true rescue.