SPAKE OF HIS DECEASE
Luke 9:28 And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. 29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. 30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias 31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
This is a most magnificent occasion, as it reveals the transference of the dispensation of God from the lesser glory of the law and the prophets unto “the glory that excelleth” of the Supreme Lord, for the final and everlasting stage of His kingdom. Luke 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. John 1:45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
Revelation 1:1 ¶ The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: 3 ¶ Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.
Both the “elders” of the Old Testament and the believers of the New Covenant walked and lived by faith. But those of the old economy were not to receive their eternal reward without those of the new! Hebrews 11:2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
And both Moses and Elijah had been brought to Mount Horeb, “the mount of God” to enter into a more perfect understanding of the Person of God. Exodus 33:18 And he (Moses) said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. 19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. 20 And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. 21 And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: 22 And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: 23 And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.
2 Corinthians 3:10 For even that which was made glorious (Old Testament splendor) had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. 11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. 12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: 13 And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: 14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. 15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. 16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
Yet the New Testament believer is given to see the Person of God more perfectly by the revelation of the Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
For seeing his glory brings forth salvation. John 2:11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him. And seeing his glory is essential for progressing on in sanctification. 2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. That is, from a lesser degree of glory into a higher degree.
And literally seeing the Lord Jesus in his final exalted state of glory shall be that which exalts the entire body of believers into their state of eternal glorification. Colossians 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
For here in this account of Christ’s transfiguration we are given a sample of those Old Testament believers, represented by Moses, of the law, and Elijah, of the prophets; along with the representation of all New Testament believers set forth by Peter, John and James, all being glorified at a time of Christ’s revealing his glory.
And also both Moses and Elijah were required by the situations of their deaths to reveal somewhat of the death, burial and ascension of the Lord Jesus. The scriptures reveal that God buried, and made obscure the location of the grave of Moses. Deuteronomy 34:5 So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. 6 And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day. And even though religionists like to have an image of a dead man hanging on a cross on a golden chain around their necks, and seek to make money by promoting tours to the supposed tomb of Christ’s burial, yet Jesus presents himself as “He that liveth!” Revelation 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
And as Elijah was transported into heaven in a supernatural way as Elisha watched, so the Lord Jesus was carried up in a cloud while the disciples beheld his ascension! 2 Kings 2:11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. Acts 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
And having witnessed their leaving, both Elisha and Jesus’ disciples received the Spirit! 2 Kings 2:9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. 10 And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so. 15 And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.
Acts 1:11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. 2:1 ¶ And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
So we can see that these two, representing the law and the prophets, were more qualified to speak with the Lord of his decease which he was to accomplish at Jerusalem! And it is those New Testament believers who, by the Spirit and the experience of the new birth, have worshipful sympathy towards our Lord for His great suffering and death for our sins! For we are permitted to enter into the “fellowship of his sufferings.”
Romans 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: …that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Colossians 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, (that is, in the spiritual resurrection of the new birth), seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Luke 13:35 Behold, your house (natural Israel and its religion) is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. And speak with heartfelt sympathy concerning his decease!
Brother Gene
