As the four of them, Jesus and
this inner group of three disciples, descend the mountain, they, as you might
expect, fall into conversation. The conversation concerns what they have just seen
and its implications. The three disciples are not going to be able to explain this
experience in any sensible kind of way and, indeed, Jesus tells them to keep it
quiet for the moment.
This is all part of the emerging
picture of Jesus as Messiah, which links to Peter’s recent declaration. The conversation
turns to the question of the role of Elijah, not entirely surprisingly as it is
he, along with Moses, who has appeared beside Jesus in the incredible transfiguration
vision.
There was a strong
tradition that Elijah would come back before the advent of the Messiah. He
certainly has a very special place in Jewish history. When Jesus asked who the
people thought that he was, one of the answers that had been voiced by the disciples
was that some thought he was Elijah.
Jesus now makes clear that
this is not so, stating that Elijah has already come. This effectively
identified Elijah with John the Baptist, not least because of the comment that
they did to him whatever they pleased, John having been put to the death
at the whim of the dancing youngster, Herodias. It also makes sense because
both Elijah and John are challenging prophetic figures. As Donahue and
Harrington (The Gospel of Mark) comment, Jesus here links “John the
Baptist to the prophet Elijah, a link already suggested by … John’s Elijah-like prophetic lifestyle (1:6),
and by his fearlessness in speaking out against rulers in Israel (6:14-29)” adding
that here “it becomes completely clear that it is John rather than Jesus who
is the Elijah figure.”
Jesus hints at what is to
come as he mentions suffering and being treated with contempt. It was a lot, as
we shall see, for them to comprehend. I wonder what things of God we do not
really appreciate, especially those that we probably ought to understand.
No comments:
Post a Comment