Jesus is greater than Moses and Elijah. That’s a quiet theme running from beginning to end in the book of Mark.

Yesterday we saw that some people mistook Jesus for Elijah. And next Friday we’ll see that people thought Jesus called for Elijah from the cross (Mark 15:35).

Elijah was a great prophet of the Lord in the Old Testament, and so was Moses. God had led his people out of slavery in Egypt through Moses, and Moses was the one through whom God had given his people the law. But now, one who was greater even than Moses was here (see Deuteronomy 34:12).

In the Old Testament one of the greatest honors God gave to a person was to call them “my servant.” But here God speaks directly from heaven, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love.” The Son of God is far greater than a servant.

But Moses and Elijah were not in competition with Jesus. There was no jealousy on their part. In fact, they must have been thrilled to meet Jesus. Jesus was the whole reason for the ministries Moses and Elijah had. The law (Moses) and the prophets (Elijah) all pointed to Jesus.

And now Jesus would complete what God had started through Moses and Elijah. “Listen to him!” said God the Father about his Son. Jesus would com­plete the message of God’s salvation for the world.