Mark 9:4

And there appeared unto them Elijah and Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

The independence of the gospel narratives is further emphasized by the reversal of the names Elijah and Moses, and by Mark's mention of the conversation without naming the subject matter, and Luke's giving the content of it.

Elijah as a representative of the prophets, and Moses as the great lawgiver of Israel both appeared before the Son of God in this event and, in a sense, laid their authority at the Master's feet, resigning their commission in the presence of Christ. The theological implications of this are profound. When the bright cloud, symbolical of the presence of God himself, caught away the great prophet and the great lawgiver, leaving only Jesus visible, it was God's way of saying, "There is only one authority now, and that is Christ!" "This is my beloved Son; hear ye him!"