If any three men on earth were personally invited to an assembly of the righteous, it was Peter, James, and John. Before them, during an exhausting night of prayer on a mountain with Jesus, appeared Moses and Elijah with the transfigured Christ (Matthew 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-10; Luke 9:28-36).
But this divine marvel did not cease there. Suddenly, the Father spoke from heaven: “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him” (Mt.17:5). If Peter, James, and John had still been on their feet by then, we know that at the sound of the Father’s voice, they fell face down to the ground, terrified.
The Father was establishing Jesus’ teachings as that which supersedes the Law (Moses), and the Prophets (Elijah).
Moses and Elijah were indeed ordinary men, but they had extraordinary faith. God used them to do great things because they had the kind of faith with which God could do great things.
On occasions, both doubted their own ability to stand up to the evil before them, but neither ever doubted God’s ability in anything. Though surrounded by the ravages of idolatry, they had no God but One.
These two men were standing that night with the very reason for their ministries—Jesus, Saviour of the world! Jesus was the Prophet that Moses had said that God would raise up (Deut.18:15), and Jesus would soon tell the disciples that John the Baptiser was he who had come in the power and spirit of Elijah.
Imagine walking into a room where Jesus, Moses, Elijah, and John the Baptiser are talking together. How would you react? Would you feel confident that you could go over to them and stand as an equal?
As much as we acknowledge our obvious shortcomings, we must remember that we walk with the same God, are saved by the same Saviour, and are indwelled by the same Holy Spirit.
We may never do the great things that they did, but we are, by the grace and power of the same God, standing with them in the assembly of the righteous.
Praise God!
John Staiger
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