Three

"Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus." - Mark 9:2-4

For the Jews accompanying Jesus (Peter, James and John), the presence of Moses or Elijah alone would have been both awesome and terrifying. Moses, as we recall from Exodus, hears God's word and leads his people out of slavery. He is considered both a prophet, and is credited for a large number of laws followed by the Jews of Jesus's day. In short, they're lives are structured around the vision and purpose Moses delivered to the newly freed slaves.

Elijah represents the power and Will of God. Like Jesus, Elijah is credited for bringing someone back to life, and was an adamant prophet and proponent of God, challenging the various religions and Kings of the day. And through the power of God, he strikes down an army with fire and ends a drought. But Elijah was still, by all accounts, just a man. After traveling 40 days and 40 nights to the mount that Moses received the Torah, he tries to hide from God, feeling that his journey was in vain. He struggled with belief just as you and I do - even with all he was able to do through God!

It's the combination of the two that spell out who Jesus really is - and it helps the Jews of Jesus' time understand and accept that Jesus's way is the new way, the law he preaches is the new law, and the power he wields is a power infinitely stronger than Elijah's. Because God isn't speaking his law through Moses, isn't using his power through Elijah - but because Jesus is God Made Flesh.

That may take a while to sink in...