As we looked through the book of Hebrews, it became radically clear that the central message of the Bible is Jesus and His superiority over all the religious symbols of Judaism and all  religions for that matter. That book begins with extolling the superiority of Jesus over the Angels, the Prophets, Abraham, Moses, the Aaronic Priesthood, the Sanctuary, and all of its sacrifices. The superiority of Christ is the basis upon which the writer of the book of Hebrews encourages his readers to “pay close attention” to Jesus. The idea of the superiority of Jesus is flushed out in nearly ever passage of the Bible and as we study the sayings of Jesus over the spring and summer, we want to discover some of them. Today I want to go back to Luke Chapter 9 and take a look at the Transfiguration. This passage also makes it clear that Jesus is greater and better than other religious figures. Luke 9:29-30 says, “And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah.”

Jesus took Peter, James and John up the mountain and when they awoke from their nap they saw Jesus in all His glory speaking to Moses and Elijah. Mark tells us that “…his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them” (Mark 9:3). Matthew tells us “And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light” (Matthew 17:2). We don’t know how the disciples recognized Moses and Elijah but they obviously did. We might glean from that how none of our personal identities will ever be lost and that we’ll be recognized by everyone in heaven. But that’s beside the point. The point seems obvious to me: Jesus is superior to the Law and the Prophets.

Of the three persons in that scene, only Jesus shone with God’s glory. Moses, the lawgiver, had once had a shiny face when he left the presence of God on Mount Sinai but if he had that now it would have only been the reflection of the glorious light of the one that stood with him. Moses didn’t shine in Jesus’ presence, but Jesus shined in Moses presence. We think that Joshua wrote the last part of the book of Deuteronomy because it speaks of Moses in the third person implying someone other than Moses wrote it. In Deuteronomy 34:10 we read about Moses, “And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face.” But Jesus is greater than Moses and the writer of Hebrews confirmed this very thing in Hebrews 3:3, “For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses.” Where should our eyes be as we walk along the trail of life? But Moses himself was aware of this when the children of Israel at Mount Sinai were too afraid to hear God speak, Moses took the mediatorial role and listened to God for them. But he said to them in Deuteronomy 18:15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers – it is to him you shall listen.” Where should our ears be tuned?