“And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem” (Luke 9:30-31 ESV).
Jesus took His inner circle of disciples, Peter, James and John, up on a mountain to pray. As usual, they fell asleep, but they awoke suddenly to discover a change. The veil separating this world from the next had been pulled back. They saw the appearance of Christ’s face changed, and His clothes became dazzling white. They saw Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus about His approaching death. They used unusual language, describing his death as if it were a mission to be “accomplished.”
Why a mission to be accomplished? Because that’s what it was. Jesus came to die in our place, taking our penalty for sin, so that those who believe in Him might receive His eternal life. This is why Jesus exclaimed with His last breath on the cross, “It is finished!” Which in the original Greek is Τετέλεσται (“Tetelestai” – to fulfill, to accomplish, to pay in full).
Jesus accomplished the mission given to Him by the Father. And three days later, the Father raised Him from the dead!
PRAYER: Dear Father, we praise You for sending Your only begotten Son to die in our place, so that believing in Him, we might receive eternal life. And we do believe. And we gratefully remember what Jesus did for us. Strengthen us now to live for Him and to proclaim His gospel to everyone. In Jesus’ name, amen.