The Coming of Elijah

 

And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.” (Mark 9:9-13 ESV).

 

Continuing to read in this chapter of Mark’s Gospel we see the disciples on their way down from the mountain where they'd seen the glory of Jesus, and where they had seen Moses and Elijah. The disciples had some questions about Elijah. They had been taught since they were young that Elijah would come back in a dramatic way to prepare for the coming of the Messiah (cf. Malachi 4:5-6). On the mountain, they saw clearly that Jesus was the Messiah. They wondered where had Elijah been?

 

In response, Jesus said Elijah had come, and he was referring here to John the Baptist (cf. Matthew 17:13). But what did it mean that Elijah (or John, in the spirit of Elijah) would restore all things?

 

Elijah, along with Moses, was one of the great prophets in the history of God's people, Israel. Elijah's calling was to challenge people to give up false faith and religion and turn back (be restored) to God. Before he went up to heaven, Elijah passed along his mantle, or cloak, to Elisha, who would carry on this work in God's name (cf. 2 Kings 2). In the spirit of Elijah, John the Baptist brought the same message, calling people to repent and turn back to God (cf. Luke 1:17).

 

In the spirit of Elijah, we also call men and women to prepare for Christ's coming into their lives. And we have more good news: Jesus has come, and all who believe in him as Savior can be restored to God. We are not waiting for our redemption… it has already come!