When the apostles lifted up their eyes (Matthew 17:8), after having fallen on their faces (Matthew 17:6), they saw only Jesus. Moses and Elijah’s presence was only meant to be temporary and for a specific purpose. The words Jesus only
in Matthew 17:8 do not refer to the fact that he is the only redeemer, however, but just that he was alone with these disciples on the mountain.
When the apostles lifted up their eyes (Matthew 17:8), after having fallen on their faces (Matthew 17:6), they saw only Jesus. Moses and Elijah had returned to heaven in the cloud. Their presence on earth was only meant to be very temporary and for one specific purpose. Heaven had not come to earth as Peter had suspected. The words Jesus only
in Matthew 17:8 must not be understood as referring to the fact that he is the only redeemer, however, but merely that he remained alone with his three disciples on the mountain.1
8 And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.