Journey Through the Gospel of MarkSýnishorn

Jesus and Moses

As we prepare to watch Mark paint a portrait of Jesus highlighting comparisons with Old Testament prophets, let’s begin with an exercise that will enhance our appreciation of the detail Mark will go to emphasize these similarities.

Gospel writers present different aspects of Jesus’ messianic character. They do so by emphasizing parallels with Old Testament figures such as prophets. Mark focuses on details that recall Moses’ encounter with God on Mt. Sinai. In comparing Exodus 24:16 and Mark 9:2, Mark records a seemingly insignificant detail that would connect Moses and Jesus in the minds of Jews familiar with their Bible. It happened “after six days” (see also Ex 24:16).

Mark 9 reinforces the connection between the Transfiguration and Moses at Mt. Sinai. Moses’ ascent of Mt. Sinai was viewed as a pivotal moment in his life where he obtained a kind of royal authority. By alluding to this Exodus event in Jesus’ story, Mark is presenting Jesus as King of the freshly inaugurated Kingdom of God.

Mark is also presenting Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament end-times prophecies. Jesus’ meeting with Moses and Elijah makes this clear.

Dr. Eduard Schweizer summarizes the significance of these Old Testament connections:

This story has united two expectations that were alive in Judaism: the coming of the prophet of the end-time who is like Moses and the appearance of Elijah at the dawning of the end-time. It has declared to every Jew that the fulfillment of the history of Israel and of every hope for the glorious end-time has already begun in the coming of Jesus.

Now that the King of the Kingdom of God has arrived, the prophecies of the end-times will be fulfilled. Jesus fulfills the hopes of Israel and begins the final phase of world history.

Source: Eduard Schweizer, Good News According to Mark, 1970, p. 183.