Only Jesus

Moses and Elijah, two representatives of the Law and the Prophets, appeared from the Old Testament past on Mt. Tabor. They had come to meet their great successor, to give their final witness, and to hand over the project of redemption. God’s glory was revealed in dazzling light around the Christ.

But Peter’s first impulse was to suggest a construction of three tabernacles for each of them, treating Moses, Elijah, and Jesus as equals. While he expressed what he thought was a great idea, he was interrupted by a strong rebuke – “This is my beloved Son, listen to him!” Peter looked, and “saw no one but Jesus only”.

“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son…who is the brightness of His glory and the exact image of His nature”, (Heb. 1:1-3).

Peter was fixated on Moses and Elijah, while God’s glory was right in front of Him. There was Christ, the Word of God. The one whom the Law and the Prophets point toward and bow to. The one whom the Old Testament was trying to describe, but could never fully articulate. He had revealed Himself, but Peter didn’t get it.

Peter thought the Old Testament is on par with Jesus. That the Bible is a flat text where every passage carries the same weight. But it is not. This is why Jesus says, “You have heard it said, but I say to you…”

The Old Testament serves one purpose – to point to Christ. But many Christians, like Peter, give the Old Covenant equal authority with Christ. The Father thunders from heaven, “No! Listen to Jesus.”

If Moses says to stone sinners, God says, “Listen to Jesus! He’s a friend of sinners.”

If Elijah says to call down fire from heaven to burn up his enemies, God says, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of. Love your enemies.”

Moses says this. Elijah does that. But Jesus says and does the opposite. Christ is now God’s only spokesperson. We can not possibly find a “healthy balance” between the Law, the Prophets (Old Covenant), and Jesus (New Covenant). And if we try to, we build tabernacles on Mt. Tabor.