Christmas is coming, and we are celebrating Advent by reading the gospel of Luke. Today, let’s see what Luke 9 tells us.
In this chapter, Peter, James and John followed Jesus up the mountain and saw him transfigured before their eyes. His face gleamed and his body glowed with his original heavenly glory. Did you know that Luke used the same Greek verb to describe the cloud descending on Jesus at the Transfiguration as he used to describe the Spirit descending on Mary when she conceived Jesus in chapter 1:35?
Moses and Elijah suddenly appeared in that cloud, talking with Jesus. Yes, Moses represented the Law, and Elijah represented all the prophets, but these two men shared something else in common with Jesus. Both Moses and Elijah departed this earth in miraculous ways. The Lord led Moses up a high mountain to see the Promised Land from afar before he died; no one ever saw him again. The Lord carried Elijah away in a heavenly chariot.
Have you ever wondered what the three men talked about? Luke’s gospel is the only one that records the topic of that conversation! They spoke about Jesus’ departure from Jerusalem, his upcoming death. As Jesus neared the cross, Moses and Elijah could assure Jesus that the Father had been faithful to them as they departed this world, and the Father would do the same for the Son.
From birth to death, the Father watches over his children. One of my favorite promises in scripture is in Isaiah 46:3-4. There the Lord says, “I carried you before you were born. I will be your God throughout your lifetime, until your hair is white with age.” No matter what difficulty lies ahead of you today, that promise is for you as well!
