The journey from the Mount of Transfiguration to Mount Calvary would raise many questions for Jesus. Some of them would come from the disciples. One question was asked before they arrived at the bottom of the Mount of Transfiguration. These three disciples were impressed by what they had seen in the Transfiguration. They understood this was the Messiah, the Promised One.
But what about the teaching that before the Messiah would come, Elijah would need to return? That teaching came from Malachi 4:5-6, "See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse." They had seen Elijah on the mountain of Transfiguration, but when would he come to turn the father's hearts to their children and the children's hearts to their fathers?
Jesus went on to point out Elijah had come in the person of John the Baptist. There were many parallels between Elijah and John the Baptist. Both served during the time of a weak ruler who had a strong, determined, and unbelieving wife. What King Ahab's wife Jezebel had threatened against Elijah (1 Kings 19:1-2) would be carried out by Herod's wife Herodias (Matthew 14:1-11). Elijah, the one who would prepare the way for the Messiah, had already come.
But Jesus' main point is that while Elijah and John the Baptist had suffered much at the hands of wicked people, they did so in preparing the way for the Messiah. The Messiah would also suffer much at the hands of wicked people. He would suffer much to prepare our final journey into the Promised Land.
As we tell others the story of Jesus' journey to Mount Calvary we may also suffer much as we prepare the way for the Messiah to enter into the hearts and lives of His people.
THE PRAYER: We are grateful for the ministries of all those who have and are preparing the way for the Messiah. Bless what we do to prepare the way. Amen.
|
