As they were coming down from the mountain,
the disciples asked Jesus,
“Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
Peter, James, and John had just witnessed the transfiguration, and so also the presence of Moses and Elijah. With this question to Jesus they were trying to put things in context. They knew about the prophecies that said that Elijah would come to prepare the way for the Messiah and they had just seen Elijah himself. Had these prophecies just been fulfilled? And, if so, to what end?
He said in reply, “Elijah will indeed come and restore all things;
but I tell you that Elijah has already come,
and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased.
The prophecies, it turned out, were not about this event on Mount Tabor, but rather about the ministry of John the Baptist. As the angel told Zechariah about John, "he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared" (see Luke 1:17). The angel confirmed that John was to be a fulfillment of the prophecy that we read in the book of Sirach:
You were destined, it is written, in time to come
to put an end to wrath before the day of the LORD,
To turn back the hearts of fathers toward their sons,
and to re-establish the tribes of Jacob.
It wasn't the literal historical figure of Elijah who was to fulfill the role described in the prophecies. It was rather someone who walked in his spirit and power. Yet in John the Baptist we heard virtually nothing on miraculous stories as we did about Elijah himself such as Sirach recounts:
Their staff of bread he shattered,
in his zeal he reduced them to straits;
By the Lord’s word he shut up the heavens
and three times brought down fire.
How awesome are you, Elijah, in your wondrous deeds!
Whose glory is equal to yours?
John the Baptist was said by Jesus to be the greatest of the Old Testament prophets. And yet, if he did any miracles, they are now unknown to us. He embodied the spirit of Elijah by having words that were "a flaming furnace", by a prophetic challenge to his hearers to restore broken relationships and to repent of their sins. Apparently the true spirit and power of Elijah was not to be located in the miraculous so much as in this prophetic call. No wonder, then, John was not recognized for the part he played. Rather than being entertained by the supernatural, those who came to see John were cut by words that were simple and practical, and for that reason challenging to the core.
"What then shall we do?” And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.” (see Luke 3:10-14).
How easy it would be to disregard such a call in favor of something more obviously supernatural, otherworldly, but ultimately less relevant and challenging. Yet the voice of God was never to be found in the special effects, but always first and foremost in the still small voice within (see First Kings 19:11-13).
What then did this new Elijah actually accomplish? He gave witness to the coming of the Messiah by the living in fidelity to his prophetic call even unto death. This suffering for the sake of his mission pointed forward to the way in which Jesus himself would not first be triumphant and glorious but instead suffer and die. John's entire life then, was a comprehensive sign pointing toward the Messiah. It was especially needful for a sign like John's life to testify to Jesus, for God's presence was otherwise the most hidden in suffering, his voice apparently silent. Yet righteousness often led to suffering and suffering was a necessary part of the destiny of the Righteous One. John's life demonstrated that we ought to strain even in suffering to hear the still small voice of God so that we can believe him to be at work even then.
So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands.”
Then the disciples understood
that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.
No comments:
Post a Comment