{"id":47378,"date":"2023-06-08T11:48:02","date_gmt":"2023-06-08T08:48:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=47378"},"modified":"2025-05-25T20:55:06","modified_gmt":"2025-05-25T17:55:06","slug":"why-did-moses-and-elijah-appear-to-jesus-and-not-other-prophets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2023\/06\/08\/why-did-moses-and-elijah-appear-to-jesus-and-not-other-prophets\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Did Moses and Elijah Appear to Jesus and Not Other Prophets?"},"content":{"rendered":"

QUESTION:<\/strong> On the high mountain where Jesus went to pray with His disciples, why did <\/span>Moses and Elijah<\/strong> appear to Him and not other Old Testament prophets like <\/span>Isaiah<\/strong> or <\/span>Samuel<\/strong>?<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

ANSWER:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

First, their appearance was not primarily for Jesus\u2019 sake<\/strong>, but for the sake of the three disciples<\/strong>\u2014Peter, James, and John<\/strong>\u2014who accompanied Him. God orchestrated this moment to fulfill deep theological truths<\/strong> and prophetic expectations<\/strong>. The transfiguration served multiple divine purposes:<\/p>\n

\n

1. To Fulfill Key Messianic Prophecies<\/strong><\/h3>\n

a) Jesus as the Prophet Like Moses<\/strong><\/h4>\n

God had promised through Moses that He would raise up a Prophet like Moses<\/strong>\u2014one whom the people must hear and obey:<\/p>\n

Deuteronomy 18:15<\/strong>
\n\u201cThe Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

This prophecy created a Messianic expectation<\/strong> among the Jews that one day a new Moses-like figure would arise. When Moses appeared on the mountain<\/strong>, it was a divine confirmation that Jesus is that Prophet<\/strong>\u2014the One foretold in the Law.<\/p>\n

The Apostle Peter later affirms this in:<\/p>\n

Acts 3:22\u201324<\/strong>
\n\u201cFor Moses truly said to the fathers, \u2018The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me…\u2019 Yes, and all the prophets… have also foretold these days.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Thus, Moses\u2019 appearance validated Jesus\u2019 identity<\/strong> as the promised Redeemer under the New Covenant (Hebrews 8:6\u201313).<\/p>\n

\n

b) Jesus as the Fulfillment of Elijah\u2019s Forerunner Role<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Jewish scribes taught that Elijah<\/strong> would return before the coming of the Messiah<\/strong> (see Malachi 4:5\u20136<\/strong>). This created confusion among the disciples, who wondered if Jesus could truly be the Messiah if Elijah had not yet come.<\/p>\n

When Elijah appeared during the transfiguration, it signified that the Elijah prophecy had been fulfilled<\/strong>\u2014not literally<\/strong>, but through John the Baptist<\/strong>, who came “in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17).<\/p>\n

Matthew 17:10\u201313<\/strong>
\n\u201cAnd His disciples asked Him, saying, \u2018Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?\u2019
\nJesus answered… \u2018Elijah has come already…\u2019 Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n

2. To Demonstrate That Jesus Is Greater Than All the Prophets<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Earlier, Jesus had asked His disciples:<\/p>\n

Matthew 16:13\u201314\u00a0<\/strong>
\n\u201cWho do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?\u201d<\/em>
\nThey replied, \u201cSome say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The people viewed Jesus as just another prophet<\/strong>, albeit a powerful one. But at the transfiguration, Moses (representing the Law) and Elijah (representing the Prophets) both stood in submission before Jesus<\/strong>\u2014highlighting that He is the fulfillment of both the Law and the Prophets<\/strong> (cf. Matthew 5:17).<\/p>\n

Matthew 17:5<\/strong>
\n\u201cThis is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n

3. To Reveal the Nature of Jesus\u2019 Death and Glorification<\/strong><\/h3>\n

In Luke\u2019s account, it says that Moses and Elijah were discussing with Jesus \u201cHis decease\u201d<\/strong>\u2014meaning His impending death and resurrection<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

Luke 9:30\u201331<\/strong>
\n\u201cAnd behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n