We come back to the Lenten week, pausing to worship our Resurrected Savior on Sunday. Previously we looked at the account of the Transfiguration of Christ on the mountaintop. Jesus took Peter, James, and John to the top of the mountain (probably Mt. Tabor), where he was “metamorphoō”, “changed”, into the glorious manifestation of his divine being. The disciples witnessed Jesus as he had been for all eternity, and as he would be after his resurrection and ascension to heaven.
In that encounter, two Old
Testament heroes of the faith appeared alongside Jesus. Moses and Elijah represented
the Law and the Prophets. Along with
Abraham and King David, no greater figures from the Old Testament can stand
equal to their stature. They were great
men of faith whom God used to accomplish His great purposes in the nation of
Israel.
Moses was born and raised in
Pharaoh’s household, in privilege, with great learning, while the nation of His
people was mistreated as slaves. The
writer of the Book of Hebrews says of Moses' faith:
23 By faith Moses was hidden by his parents for three months after his birth, because they saw that the child was beautiful; and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called a son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered abuse suffered for the Christ to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, unafraid of the king’s anger; for he persevered as though he saw him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel” (Heb 11:23–28).
Moses led the nation out of Egypt through God’s marvelous works against the Egyptians. Then Moses led the people of Israel into the desert of Sinai, where God gave to them the Law that would serve to define their nation as “the people of God”. The Law served the nation and the Ten Commandments that God gave to them have lasted through the millennium to define the nation’s laws, including our country.
Yet, Moses was not the culmination
of God’s revelation, he was merely the beginner of God’s revelation of how the
people of God would gain their identity and live that identity out for God. Thus, Jesus, on the mount of Transfiguration,
was met by Moses and Elijah to signify that these two Old Testament heroes were
not the end of God’s revelation, but stood as markers pointing to Jesus.
John Chrysostom was a Bishop in
Constantinople during the late 4th and early 5th century A.D. John of Antioch was the name he was known by during
his life. A native of Antioch, where the
name Christian was first given to the followers of Jesus, Chrysostom
was elected Patriarch of Constantinople in AD 398. He grew in his office to become one of the
most articulate and influential preachers of the early Christian church. He
was an eloquent and uncompromising preacher who was so extraordinary that 150
years after his death, he was given the surname Chrysostom, meaning
“the golden mouth” or “the golden tongue.” One of his teachings, called a “Catechesis”
because it was used to teach those who were coming into the Church as converts,
was about Christ Jesus and how he fulfilled the life of Moses, and pointed the
way toward the Church.
From the Catechesis
by Saint John Chrysostom, bishop – “Christ and Moses”
The
Israelites witnessed marvels; you also will witness marvels, greater and more
splendid than those which accompanied them on their departure from Egypt. You
did not see Pharaoh drowned with his armies, but you have seen the devil with
his weapons overcome by the waters of baptism. The Israelites passed through
the sea; you have passed from death to life. They were delivered from the
Egyptians; you have been delivered from the powers of darkness. The Israelites
were freed from slavery to a pagan people; you have been freed from the much
greater slavery to sin.
Do you need
another argument to show that the gifts you have received are greater than
theirs? The Israelites could not look on the face of Moses in glory, though he
was their fellow servant and kinsman. But you have seen the face of Christ in
his glory...
In those days
Christ was present to the Israelites as he followed them, but he is present to
us in a much deeper sense. The Lord was with them because of the favor he
showed to Moses; now he is with us not simply because of Moses but also because
of your obedience. After Egypt they dwelt in desert places; after your
departure, you will dwell in heaven. Their great leader and commander was
Moses; we have a new Moses, God himself, as our leader and commander.
What
distinguished the first Moses? Moses, Scripture tells us, was more
gentle than all who dwelt upon the earth. We can rightly say the same of
the new Moses, for there was with him the very Spirit of gentleness, united to
him in his inmost being. In those days Moses raised his hands to heaven and
brought down manna, the bread of angels; the new Moses raises his hands to
heaven and gives us the food of eternal life. Moses struck the rock and brought
forth streams of water; Christ touches his table, strikes the spiritual rock of
the new covenant, and draws forth the living water of the Spirit. This rock is
like a fountain in the midst of Christ’s table, so that on all sides the flocks
may draw near to this living spring and refresh themselves in the waters of
salvation.
Since this
fountain, this source of life, this table surrounds us with untold blessings
and fills us with the gifts of the Spirit, let us approach it with sincerity of
heart and purity of conscience to receive grace and mercy in our time of need.
Grace and mercy be yours from the only-begotten Son, our Lord, and Savior Jesus
Christ; through him and with him be glory, honor, and power to the Father and
the life-giving Spirit, now and always and forever. Amen.
Peace
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