The death of Jacob brings to a close the book of Genesis. What a spectacular procession it must have been with all those Egyptian chariots accompanying the funeral party travelling back to Canaan to bury Jacob’s remains with his family.
The Book of Exodus opens with the death of Joseph and all his brothers. By now, Israel has become so great, the new King of Egypt, who knows nothing of Joseph and his ancestors, throws the whole nations into slavery to protect his own.
As he does so, Moses, who is to lead the nation of Israel out of slavery towards the Promised Land, is born.
In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus is revealed to Peter by the Holy Spirit as the Messiah, the Christ promised to the Jews in the Old Testament, but at the same time, Jesus foretells his death at the hands of the elders and the chief priests.
The Transfiguration
The disciples must have been upset and confused for the Jews had expected a Messiah to be a great political warrior. Despite all the teaching, they still misunderstood the mission of Jesus. He was not an earthly leader who would defeat the occupying army.
In the coming days and weeks, they would come to realise that Jesus came to conquer sin and death, to lead us all home to everlasting life with His heavenly Father.
Scripture: Genesis 50:1 – Exodus 2:10; Matthew 16:13-17:9; Psalm 21:1-13; Proverbs 5:1-
Contemplative Catholic 