How did Moses appear in the transfiguration since he died and was buried by God?
Let’s read the account of the Lord’s transfiguration found in Luke 9:28-36, “And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering. And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him. And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said. While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.”
There was an inner circle of disciples of the Lord. Peter, James, and John were allowed privileges that some of the other disciples were not allowed to be a part of. This is such a case. The Lord, a great man of prayer, took these three disciples with him to a mountain to pray. It was while the Lord was in prayer that he was transfigured. Matthew 17:2 says the Lord “was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.” The word ‘transfigured’ is from the Greek word ‘metamorphoo’. It is the same word that we get ‘metamorphoses’ from. It means to transform or change. It is the same word that is translated ‘transformed’ in Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
At the Lord’s transfiguration, there were two men with him. Luke 9:30-31 says, ”And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.” Let’s look at this a little closer.
TWO MEN, MOSES AND ELIJAH – It was Moses by whom the law was given, and the practices of the law were types of the Messiah. It was particularly right that he should appear here. His prophecies and types were about to be fulfilled, and the law was about to be done away with. Elias (Elijah) was a prophet who was taken to heaven without seeing death as we read in 2 Kings 2:11, “And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” Elijah had been honored very highly by being taken to Heaven without dying. He was also honored by being made the model of the forerunner of the Messiah. We read of John the Baptist in Luke 1:17, “And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” It was proper that these two men, representing the Law and the Prophets should be here with the Lord in his transfiguration. How could Moses be here since he had died? We read in Deuteronomy 34:5, “So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.” Let’s read Luke 20:37-38, “Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. For HE IS NOT A GOD OF THE DEAD, but of the living: for all live unto him.” The believers in the Lord who have passed on are ALIVE. While their bodies may be still in the ground, their souls and spirits live on in the presence of the Lord. Notice that Moses and Elijah “appeared in glory”, with the glory which the redeemed have while with the Lord in Glory. What an incredible sight this must have been. The Lord instructed His disciples not to talk about this for a while. We read in Matthew 17:9, “And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.” Peter later wrote about this. Read 1 Peter 1:16-18 to see what he wrote. (284.6)