April 3, 2012 More Than A Prophet

How Did They Know?

Mark 9:4-5 And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus. 5 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters — one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

YOU likely have questions about biblical events. For example, in this passage, you might say, “How did the disciples know it was Moses and Elijah with Jesus? There weren’t any pictures of them.”
That’s a good question, so here’s a good answer. The disciples knew Moses’ and Elijah’s identity in the same way they knew God’s words and purpose for their lives. The Spirit of God came in power to these prophets to inspire (cause them to know) them to inerrantly (without error) proclaim and write the truth of God.
The Spirit of God moved over the disciples that day to reveal Moses’ and Elijah’s identity. God, the Father, desired to make a specific point to James, John and Peter. He needed them to know some things. And he used Elijah and Moses to show them.
Perhaps what he wanted to show them was Jesus’ glory contrasted to these great prophets. Jesus had come to complete the Law of Moses. And there are many comparisons with Elijah’s and Jesus’ ministry—Elijah’s survival in a wilderness, an unending supply of food for a widow, and Elijah’s resurrection of her son.
Moses and Elijah were grand and glorious prophets of the LORD, but they were not and are not the Son of God. God, the Father, has to make it clear to James, Peter and John that Jesus is more than a prophet. And so he does.


Pause and consider that none can compare to the Christ.