In the Middle of the Story



Matthew 17:9-13
9And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.”
10And the disciples asked him, “Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?”
11He answered, “Elijah does come, and he will restore all things.
12But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.”
13Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

Holy Week 2014 has arrived. Yesterday we waved our palm branches and remembered the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. Now we set our minds and hearts on the next few days as we are challenged and horrified by the brutal death of Christ only to shout with joy a few days later over the resurrection of our Savior. You have to admit – it’s a weird story. It is unexpected and doesn’t really make logical sense – a Savior who dies? How can that be right?

And herein lays the beauty of the plan. As our story continues from the Transfiguration of Christ we find Jesus and the “Three” heading back down the mountain. In those moments Jesus instructs them as to what the immediate future holds and what their marching orders look like. They have witnessed something truly spectacular and are to now remain silent about it! At least until Jesus has been raised from the dead. I have to admit, had I been Peter in that moment, my frustration level would have been high.

But instead of voicing that frustration, the disciples ask Jesus for further explanation and He grants it. They have just laid their own eyes on the Prophet Elijah and the Lawgiver, Moses. So naturally they bring up the prophecy from Malachi regarding the return of Elijah. Read those words below. In light of the Transfiguration, these words are especially awe inspiring.

Malachi 4:1-6
1“For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.
2But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.
3And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the Lord of hosts.
4“Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel.
5“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.
6And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”

Jesus helps the disciples understand that prophecy is being fulfilled in their presence. They knew John the Baptist personally, and while he wasn’t a reincarnation of Elijah, he did serve to fulfill the prophecy regarding his return. The story isn’t turning out the way the disciples had anticipated – but then that’s God’s way. He never does things the way we anticipate for His plans are better than ours. The person who fulfills the prophecy of Elijah’s return was arrested and brutally beheaded! And this signals the return of the Kingdom of God? Jesus continues to discuss His own eminent death and this is the return of the Kingdom of God? God’s ways are not our ways.

One of the joys of walking with Christ every day is seeing how He will work out my situations. His ability to come up with creative solutions to my situations is incredible. While the disciples are incredulous and confused by Jesus words they continue to walk with Him and trust Him. It challenges my imagination to consider the fact that those 12 men stood right in the middle of the story of my salvation. Despite their confusion and sometimes flat out doubt, the act of our redemption took place just as God planned. All the glory belongs to God.

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