Elijah then Jesus then Us

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Mark 9:11-13: 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.”

Let's pray. Father God, thank You for Elijah then Jesus and then us. Thank You for Elijah's preparation, Jesus' fulfillment, and our living out the message of salvation and grace. We pray this in Jesus' name. And all God's children say...

It was told that Elijah, the prophet taken up to heaven in the chariot of fire, would return and be the "set up man" for the Messiah. (Malachi 4:5). Some are still waiting for him to arrive. Jesus said, "He has already come and gone and he did what he was supposed to do. Jesus confirmed that the "Elijah" people were waiting for was John the Baptist. "Elijah's" work of preparation is complete. He handed it off the the Messiah, the Christ, who is Jesus.

And Jesus is handing off the work to us. Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit so that we use His power in order to bring His salvation to life and light to the world. It is now our task as God's servants to bring Jesus to the people who need to know Him.