Basic HTML Version
258
Humble Hero
The disciples were confident that God had sent Moses and Elijah to
protect their Master and establish His authority as king.
But the cross must come before the crown. Bearing the weakness
of humanity, burdened with its sorrow and sin, Jesus walked alone
among us. As the darkness of the coming ordeal pressed in on Him,
His spirit was lonely in a world that did not know Him. Even His
loved disciples had not understood His mission. In the world He
had created, He was alone. Now heaven had sent messengers—not
angels, but men who had endured suffering and sorrow and could
sympathize with the Savior.
Moses and Elijah had been colaborers with Christ. They had
shared His longing for the salvation of the lost. Moses had pleaded
for Israel, “Yet now, if You will forgive their sin—but if not, I pray,
blot me out of Your book which You have written.”
Exodus 32:32
.
Elijah had known loneliness of spirit, as for three and a half years of
famine he had endured the nation’s hatred and woe. He had run away
to the desert alone in anguish and despair. These men had come to
talk deeply with Jesus concerning His suffering and to comfort Him.
The topic of their conversation was the salvation of every human
being.
Overcome with sleep, the disciples heard little of what happened
[197]
between Christ and the heavenly messengers. They had not received
what God wanted to give them—a knowledge of Christ’s sufferings
and the glory that would follow. They lost the blessing that could
have been theirs. Yet the experience assured them that all heaven
knew of the Jewish nation’s sin in rejecting Christ. They received
a clearer insight into the work of the Redeemer. They were “eye-
witnesses of His majesty” (
2 Peter 1:16
) and realized that Jesus was
indeed the Messiah and that the heavenly universe recognized Him
as such.
While they were still gazing at the scene, “a bright cloud over-
shadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying,
‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!’”
As they heard the voice of God speak in fearful majesty that caused
the mountain to tremble, the disciples fell stricken to the earth, their
faces hidden, till Jesus came near, dispelling their fears with His
well-known voice, “Arise, and do not be afraid.” The heavenly glory