As I begin my study of Matthew 17, one question is consuming my mind:
Why Moses and Elijah?
Why not Elisha?
Why not David, Abraham, or Jacob?
Why these two men standing beside Jesus in glory?
And the answer is more beautiful than I originally expected.
Moses—one of the most significant figures in the Bible's earliest books—represented the Law.
Elijah—the bold prophet through whom God displayed His power—represented the Prophets.
Interestingly, both men had their own mountaintop encounters with God in the Old Testament.
And now, centuries later, they stand on another mountain—not just meeting with God, but
standing beside Him in the person of Jesus Christ.
Together, they symbolize the entirety of the Old Testament.
And there they stand on the mountain, speaking with Jesus.
The Man everything was pointing to.
The Law pointed to Him.
The Prophets pointed to Him.
The sacrifices pointed to Him.
The promises pointed to Him.
But there’s another fascinating detail many people miss.
Jesus doesn’t take all twelve disciples up the mountain.
He takes Peter, James, and John.
Three witnesses.
That number matters because under Jewish law:
“Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.” — Deuteronomy 19:15
The Transfiguration wasn’t merely a private spiritual experience.
It was witnessed.
Verified.
Confirmed.
Years later, Peter would point back to this moment and write:
“We were eyewitnesses of His majesty.” — 2 Peter 1:16
Then, as Moses and Elijah stand beside Christ, a voice comes from heaven:
“This is My beloved Son… listen to Him.” — Matthew 17:5
Notice what the Father doesn’t say.
He doesn’t tell them to listen to Moses.
He doesn’t tell them to listen to Elijah.
He tells them to listen to Jesus.
Not because Moses and Elijah were unimportant.
But because Jesus is greater.
He is the fulfillment of everything they wrote, taught, and anticipated.
And when the cloud lifts, Matthew tells us:
“They saw no one but Jesus only.” — Matthew 17:8
I think that’s the entire point of the Transfiguration.
When everything else fades away—
the Law,
the Prophets,
the shadows,
the signs—
only Jesus remains.
Because from Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is telling one unified story.
And every page ultimately points to Him.
Praise be to God 🙌
— Drew
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