The Most Intriguing Conversation In the Bible
by Pastor Coleman
Conversation is a wonderful thing. For people to converse with one another they must have a basic understanding of a common language. Conversation is a way of expressing your thoughts while at the same time giving another the opportunity to express their thoughts. Have you ever wished you had recorded a certain conversation? Perhaps it was a humorous conversation. Perhaps it was an informative conversation and you wish you could play it back; or perhaps it was an argumentative conversation in which you were misunderstood. Whatever the case, I’m sure most people value certain conversations above others.
The Bible records many conversations, and every one of them is important or God would not have included it in Scripture. But one conversation described in the Bible stands out to me. There is no back and forth conversation in this case. Only the fact that the conversation took place, where it took place, the participants, the circumstances and the subject matter are mentioned, yet much can be learned from this conversation. It is a conversation that has had a great impact on my life. I want to share it with you along with a few thoughts I had after reading it.
Luke 9:28-30 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.
29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.
30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
The participants in the conversation are Jesus, Moses and Elijah (Elias is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Elijah). The circumstances are unusual in that Moses died approximately 1494 B.C., and Elijah was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind about 814 B.C. Think about that time span for a while!
The observers, Peter, James and John, see Jesus as He was transfigured (countenance altered) before their eyes. At the same time they see (and recognize) Moses in a celestial-like body along with Elijah, likewise in a celestial-like body. Now, I’d like to point out some very interesting facts we can learn from this about what our bodies and minds will be like after our physical body dies, but that’s not what I want to show you right now. What I want to show you is the subject of the conversation these two “dead” men were having with Jesus.
Luke 9:30-32 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
32 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.
Of all the things there are in the world to talk about, of all the things there are in the Bible to talk about, Moses and Elijah talk to Jesus about His upcoming death. This makes for several observations:
1) Moses and Elijah both knew the future.
They were aware of the situation. The disciples, on the other hand, were so unaware of the situation that they were shocked and disappointed at the death of Jesus (Luke 24:21). I believe our loved ones in heaven know a whole lot more than we know. "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." (1 Corinthians 13:12)
Do you have loved ones in heaven? What do they know about your future? They know whether you are saved or not. If you’re not saved, they know whether or not you will get saved. They might be praying for you right now as you read this. The rich man that Jesus tells about who went to Hell, begged for someone to be sent from the “dead” to warn his five brothers, so they would not end up in Hell with him.
2) Though they lived 480 years apart they were interested in the same thing.
It is interesting that two men who lived in far different time frames, in far different sets of circumstances would be talking about the same thing. Their interests were centered on the same thing. I believe that all our loved ones in Heaven are interested in the same thing. I believe the one thing that all of Heaven is interested in is the eternal destiny of of the soul of every man on earth. The eternal destiny of every soul would be affected by the death of Jesus Christ, which leads me to my third observation.
3) The upcoming death of Jesus Christ was more important than anything in the universe!
It was so important that Moses, who lived 1,494 years before, was talking about it rather than other things he could have been talking about. They could have talked about the upcoming destruction of Jerusalem, but they didn’t. They could have talked about the persecution of Christians that would occur for many years after the destruction of Jerusalem and the burning of Rome, but they didn’t. They could have talked about the spiritual darkness of the Dark Ages (when the Roman Catholic “church” was in control of most of the civilized world), but they didn’t. They could have talked about the Reformation, when Catholic leaders like Luther, Knox, Zwingli and others reformed under new names and began the Protestant movement, but they didn’t. They could have talked about the birth of America, which would be the first government founded on Biblical principles since the Israelites received the “lively oracles,” but they didn’t. They could have talked about the many great inventions that would soon follow as a result of the light the Word of God would shine on knowledge and understanding of His creation and the laws of nature, but they didn’t. They could have talked about the landing on the moon, or the atomic bomb, or the advent and incredible proliferation of computers, computer technology and the internet, but they didn’t. They talked about His death which would soon be accomplished in Jerusalem.
Why did they talk about what Jesus would “accomplish” by His decease outside Jerusalem? Because the actual payment for their sin had not been made yet. They had believed in and looked forward to the coming of the Messiah, whose death and payment for their sin would satisfy the righteous and just demands of a holy God. Their hope for eternal life rested in Jesus making good on His promise to provide Himself a sacrifice and the Seed of woman to bruise the head of the Serpent (Satan).
Well, He did make good on that promise, and the payment for your sin and my sin has been made. Jesus died on the cross and suffered Hell for you and for me because He knew we could not pay for our own sins except by going to Hell forever. He loves us so much that “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” and dipped His soul into Hell to pay our eternal debt. (Psalm 16:8-10; Acts 2:22-32)
Then He proved His power to be the Saviour of the world by rising from the dead. All this was necessary for us to be able to go to Heaven. Neither church nor religion can save you, not doing any good works, nor even getting baptized. Only faith in Jesus Christ alone can save you and me. Putting your faith in Christ implies removing faith in anything else. You show your faith to God by taking Him up on His promise that “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13) Just call on the Lord Jesus in prayer and ask Him to have mercy on you. Tell Him you believe He is your only hope for Heaven because you believe He died and rose again for you. If you do, God will keep His promise, and you can know that you have eternal life.
It only makes sense that the most important thing in the world, as far as you are concerned, is where you will spend eternity. Once you take care of that, the most important thing in the world is for you to tell others how to get eternal life. I hope you will join me in making that the all-consuming passion of your life. It certainly was Jesus’ passion.
The Bible records many conversations, and every one of them is important or God would not have included it in Scripture. But one conversation described in the Bible stands out to me. There is no back and forth conversation in this case. Only the fact that the conversation took place, where it took place, the participants, the circumstances and the subject matter are mentioned, yet much can be learned from this conversation. It is a conversation that has had a great impact on my life. I want to share it with you along with a few thoughts I had after reading it.
Luke 9:28-30 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.
29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.
30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
The participants in the conversation are Jesus, Moses and Elijah (Elias is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Elijah). The circumstances are unusual in that Moses died approximately 1494 B.C., and Elijah was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind about 814 B.C. Think about that time span for a while!
The observers, Peter, James and John, see Jesus as He was transfigured (countenance altered) before their eyes. At the same time they see (and recognize) Moses in a celestial-like body along with Elijah, likewise in a celestial-like body. Now, I’d like to point out some very interesting facts we can learn from this about what our bodies and minds will be like after our physical body dies, but that’s not what I want to show you right now. What I want to show you is the subject of the conversation these two “dead” men were having with Jesus.
Luke 9:30-32 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
32 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.
Of all the things there are in the world to talk about, of all the things there are in the Bible to talk about, Moses and Elijah talk to Jesus about His upcoming death. This makes for several observations:
1) Moses and Elijah both knew the future.
They were aware of the situation. The disciples, on the other hand, were so unaware of the situation that they were shocked and disappointed at the death of Jesus (Luke 24:21). I believe our loved ones in heaven know a whole lot more than we know. "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." (1 Corinthians 13:12)
Do you have loved ones in heaven? What do they know about your future? They know whether you are saved or not. If you’re not saved, they know whether or not you will get saved. They might be praying for you right now as you read this. The rich man that Jesus tells about who went to Hell, begged for someone to be sent from the “dead” to warn his five brothers, so they would not end up in Hell with him.
2) Though they lived 480 years apart they were interested in the same thing.
It is interesting that two men who lived in far different time frames, in far different sets of circumstances would be talking about the same thing. Their interests were centered on the same thing. I believe that all our loved ones in Heaven are interested in the same thing. I believe the one thing that all of Heaven is interested in is the eternal destiny of of the soul of every man on earth. The eternal destiny of every soul would be affected by the death of Jesus Christ, which leads me to my third observation.
3) The upcoming death of Jesus Christ was more important than anything in the universe!
It was so important that Moses, who lived 1,494 years before, was talking about it rather than other things he could have been talking about. They could have talked about the upcoming destruction of Jerusalem, but they didn’t. They could have talked about the persecution of Christians that would occur for many years after the destruction of Jerusalem and the burning of Rome, but they didn’t. They could have talked about the spiritual darkness of the Dark Ages (when the Roman Catholic “church” was in control of most of the civilized world), but they didn’t. They could have talked about the Reformation, when Catholic leaders like Luther, Knox, Zwingli and others reformed under new names and began the Protestant movement, but they didn’t. They could have talked about the birth of America, which would be the first government founded on Biblical principles since the Israelites received the “lively oracles,” but they didn’t. They could have talked about the many great inventions that would soon follow as a result of the light the Word of God would shine on knowledge and understanding of His creation and the laws of nature, but they didn’t. They could have talked about the landing on the moon, or the atomic bomb, or the advent and incredible proliferation of computers, computer technology and the internet, but they didn’t. They talked about His death which would soon be accomplished in Jerusalem.
Why did they talk about what Jesus would “accomplish” by His decease outside Jerusalem? Because the actual payment for their sin had not been made yet. They had believed in and looked forward to the coming of the Messiah, whose death and payment for their sin would satisfy the righteous and just demands of a holy God. Their hope for eternal life rested in Jesus making good on His promise to provide Himself a sacrifice and the Seed of woman to bruise the head of the Serpent (Satan).
Well, He did make good on that promise, and the payment for your sin and my sin has been made. Jesus died on the cross and suffered Hell for you and for me because He knew we could not pay for our own sins except by going to Hell forever. He loves us so much that “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” and dipped His soul into Hell to pay our eternal debt. (Psalm 16:8-10; Acts 2:22-32)
Then He proved His power to be the Saviour of the world by rising from the dead. All this was necessary for us to be able to go to Heaven. Neither church nor religion can save you, not doing any good works, nor even getting baptized. Only faith in Jesus Christ alone can save you and me. Putting your faith in Christ implies removing faith in anything else. You show your faith to God by taking Him up on His promise that “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13) Just call on the Lord Jesus in prayer and ask Him to have mercy on you. Tell Him you believe He is your only hope for Heaven because you believe He died and rose again for you. If you do, God will keep His promise, and you can know that you have eternal life.
It only makes sense that the most important thing in the world, as far as you are concerned, is where you will spend eternity. Once you take care of that, the most important thing in the world is for you to tell others how to get eternal life. I hope you will join me in making that the all-consuming passion of your life. It certainly was Jesus’ passion.