Both Moses and Jesus had a passion for their people. Both were used by God to liberate Israel; Moses from physical bondage and Jesus from spiritual captivity. Moses spoke directly with God, wrote His law and prophesied about the coming Messiah. Jesus is God, fulfilled the law given to Moses, and fulfilled that which was prophesied about Messiah.
In Mark 9 we are able to draw out further similarities between the two. We pick up our walk with Jesus at The Transfiguration.
1 The Glorious Figure.
"Now after 6 days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them."
Mark 9:2-3
There was another time when something like this happened in the history of Israel, we find it in the book of Exodus. After spending 40 full days fasting form food and water while communicating with God…
"Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him.” Exodus 34:29-30
2 The Shekinah Glory.
In exodus 40, Moses is commanded by God to set up the tabernacle (which would later be the blue prints for David’s Temple, built by his son Solomon, and Herod’s Temple which was destroyed in 70A.D. when Jerusalem was sacked by Emperor Titus.)
“Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.” Exodus 40:34
In Mark,
“Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi (honored teacher), it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles (tents), one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah." For he did not know what to answer; for they became terrified.” Mark 9:5-6
Matthews account tells us that while Peter was still speaking, before he could finish his sentence…
“Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!" Mark 9:7
Before, it surrounded the tabernacle and God gave instructions to Moses, now it had surrounded the disciples and God gave an instruction to them.
Final Thoughts:
Place yourself in Peter’s shoes. You are with Jesus and two of your colleagues on top of a mountain. After a long hike you lay down to rest and end up dozing off (Luke 9:32), and you wake up to the sound of three men communicating about the departure of your teacher. Jesus no longer looks like himself, instead He is gloriously radiant and His clothes are exceedingly white, you’re terrified. What do you do? You turn back to your history. After being told that the kingdom of God is coming in power, and then waking up in the presence of God’s kingdom, would you not also think of building a tabernacle? The same thing your ancestors did last time they were in God’s presence?
Application:
“’This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!’ “All at once they looked around and saw no one with them anymore, except Jesus alone. Mark 9:7-8
In every moment we are always one breath closer to eternity. And as we pass from life to life we, as the disciples did, will find ourselves looking around and seeing no one except Jesus alone. But, “Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.’” Now is the time for careful examination of ourselves by asking the question… Are we listening to Him?
In Mark 9 we are able to draw out further similarities between the two. We pick up our walk with Jesus at The Transfiguration.
1 The Glorious Figure.
"Now after 6 days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them."
Mark 9:2-3
There was another time when something like this happened in the history of Israel, we find it in the book of Exodus. After spending 40 full days fasting form food and water while communicating with God…
"Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him.” Exodus 34:29-30
2 The Shekinah Glory.
In exodus 40, Moses is commanded by God to set up the tabernacle (which would later be the blue prints for David’s Temple, built by his son Solomon, and Herod’s Temple which was destroyed in 70A.D. when Jerusalem was sacked by Emperor Titus.)
“Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.” Exodus 40:34
In Mark,
“Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi (honored teacher), it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles (tents), one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah." For he did not know what to answer; for they became terrified.” Mark 9:5-6
Matthews account tells us that while Peter was still speaking, before he could finish his sentence…
“Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!" Mark 9:7
Before, it surrounded the tabernacle and God gave instructions to Moses, now it had surrounded the disciples and God gave an instruction to them.
Final Thoughts:
Place yourself in Peter’s shoes. You are with Jesus and two of your colleagues on top of a mountain. After a long hike you lay down to rest and end up dozing off (Luke 9:32), and you wake up to the sound of three men communicating about the departure of your teacher. Jesus no longer looks like himself, instead He is gloriously radiant and His clothes are exceedingly white, you’re terrified. What do you do? You turn back to your history. After being told that the kingdom of God is coming in power, and then waking up in the presence of God’s kingdom, would you not also think of building a tabernacle? The same thing your ancestors did last time they were in God’s presence?
Application:
“’This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!’ “All at once they looked around and saw no one with them anymore, except Jesus alone. Mark 9:7-8
In every moment we are always one breath closer to eternity. And as we pass from life to life we, as the disciples did, will find ourselves looking around and seeing no one except Jesus alone. But, “Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.’” Now is the time for careful examination of ourselves by asking the question… Are we listening to Him?
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