2 Kings 2:1-12, Psalm 50:1-6, 2 Corinthians 4:3-6, Mark 9:2-9
A). THE ASCENSION OF ELIJAH.
2 Kings 2:1-12.
I. ASCENSION
The taking up of Elijah by the LORD prefigures the ascension of the Lord Jesus, and anticipates our own meeting with Jesus in the air.
1. Elijah’s ascension was attended by horses and chariots. As Elisha and the sons of the prophets looked on, Elijah was taken up “in a whirlwind into heaven” (2 Kings 2:11).
2. The ascension of Jesus was attended by angels. As the disciples looked on “a cloud received (Jesus) out of their sight” (Acts 1:9-10).
3. Our own meeting with the Lord in the air will be “with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God.” The church is going to be “caught up together in the clouds,” to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
II. SUCCESSION
1. The main theme of 2 Kings 2:1-12 is not so much the whirlwind, which is only cursorily mentioned (2 Kings 2:1), but rather the matter of succession. Nicely poised between the end of the reign of one king (2 Kings 1:17-18), and the commencement of the reign of another (2 Kings 3:1-3), the passage deals with the parallel question of prophetic continuity.
When it came to the time when Elijah was to be received into heaven, Elijah and Elisha retraced the footsteps of Israel (2 Kings 2:1-8). Three times Elijah told Elisha to return, but the latter was persistent, and refused to leave his master (2 Kings 2:2; 2 Kings 2:4; 2 Kings 2:6). Twice the sons of the prophets informed Elisha of Elijah’s impending departure, and twice Elisha instructed them to keep silence (2 Kings 2:3; 2 Kings 2:5).
They came to Bethel, where Jacob had twice met with the LORD in his journeys from and to Israel: and where Jeroboam had more recently set up one of his golden calves. Then Jericho, where Joshua had begun the conquest of Canaan: a city recently rebuilt at great personal cost to the builder thereof (Joshua 6:26; 1 Kings 16:34)! Then they miraculously crossed the River Jordan, reflecting as in a mirror the first entrance of Israel into the promised land.
Elisha asked for a double portion of Elijah's blessing, but Elijah laid emphasis on God’s sovereignty in this matter (2 Kings 2:9-10). After Elijah was taken up, Elisha tore his own clothes into two pieces, then took up Elijah's mantle (2 Kings 2:11-13).
2. There was also concern for the continuity of the church after the ascension of Jesus. It was a time for waiting, according to His instruction, for the coming of the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49). The question of continuity amongst the Apostles was something of a distraction during the waiting time, but did give rise to a timeless definition of the qualifications required of an Apostle (Acts 1:21-22).
3. The visible church still has to address occasional gaps in ministry, when one servant passes the mantle to another. The times between ministries are times for waiting, for prayer (Acts 1:14), and for maintaining church unity (Acts 2:1).
III. RETURN
1. It is also true that, because Elijah ascended into heaven without dying, hope arose that he might return. This is stated explicitly at the end of the Old Testament (Malachi 4:5-6). According to Jesus, this hope is fulfilled in the ministry of John the Baptist (Matthew 11:13-14).
2. Similarly, the perplexity of the disciples at the Ascension of Jesus was met by the promise of His return “in like manner” (Acts 1:11). This is our hope.
3. Finally, not only are we told that the church is going to be caught up together in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, but we are also told the result: “and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17).
In the meantime Jesus tells us, “What I say unto you, I say unto all. Watch” (Mark 13:37).
B). FROM EPIPHANY TO TRANSFIGURATION.
Psalm 50:1-6.
An epiphany is a wonderful, unpredictable thing. It is defined as a sudden and unexpected revelation. It is not something that we come to expect, or can hunt down. Not something that we can earn through works, or prayers, or religious rites. Or ‘getting up’ enough faith (whatever that means). God will not be bribed.
Moses was just walking along, doing his work, minding his own business. After forty years, perhaps he had all-but forgotten his misplaced and disastrous early zeal for God’s cause and people. But there it was, a STRANGE epiphany - enough to cause him to turn aside and inquire: a bush that burned but failed to be consumed.
And there He was: the voice of God in the midst of the fire. It was a life-changing moment in the pilgrimage of Moses. At the call of God, Moses became consumed by His Presence, equipping him for ministry. It was the beginning of a new epoch in the history of God’s dealings with mankind.
At Mount Sinai, Moses went forth alone. The people waited in the valley. Now it was a fire that consumed that set the boundaries of the mountain alight. The boundaries of Law, which says, ‘this far, and no further - or die!’
By the time Moses came down with the tables of the Law, the same people who had said, ‘what He commands we will do,’ were dancing around an idol. The Law was broken, as it always will be (Romans 7:9-10) - with disastrous consequences. Many died that day, struck down by the finger of God. A TEMPESTUOUS epiphany indeed.
Elijah was fleeing from a woman when he had his epiphany. Somewhere between the LORD’s victory over Baal, and Jezebel’s saying, ‘Boo!’ - Elijah lost sight of the LORD, and fled. Perhaps he would find God again in the wilderness, or by the brook, or in His many other providences?
Or in a mountain cave - perhaps not unlike that in which Obadiah was bravely hiding other believers, whose existence Elijah refused to admit. Yet even Elijah could not manipulate God. God was not in ‘the earthquake, wind and fire’ - but when all this had settled down, He spoke in a, barely discernible, ‘still, small voice.’ A CALMING epiphany. ‘Why are you here?’ He asked, more than once.
Peter, James and John were singled out by Jesus, and climbed a mountain with Him. Exhausted, they slept - but that did not prevent them seeing Jesus in all His glory. This was no ordinary theophany, but Jesus Himself, TRANSFIGURED before them. An UNEXPECTED epiphany of His glory.
The three sleepy disciples saw those other two mountaineers, Moses and Elijah, the Law and the Prophets, discussing as ever (read your Old Testament, and see), ‘Jesus’ departure that He was to accomplish at Jerusalem.’ Beholding, they saw the cloud, heard the voice of God, and were left with a command to ‘hear Jesus.’
The privileged trio were commanded not to share what they had seen, until after the resurrection - which gave them enough material, along with what they had seen and heard, for theological reflection as they descended the mountain once more. Peter and John wrote about it in due time: but James the brother of John went to an early grave at the murderous hands of Herod, and I know of no such writing from him.
An epiphany speaks of the mighty God, the God who speaks, the God of all Creation (Psalm 50:1). The God whose word shines forth from the heavenly Zion, and from the earthly Jerusalem (Psalm 50:2), to the ends of the earth (Isaiah 2:3). The God who comes, and is coming, and shall not keep silence (Psalm 50:3).
Our God is a consuming fire (Psalm 50:3). But He is also the God of grace (cf. Hebrews 12:28-29). When He calls His covenant people to judgment, those bound to Him by sacrifice (Psalm 50:4-5), it is not necessarily something to strike terror into our hearts: because that covenant is true, and that all-sufficient sacrifice is Jesus.
And the heavens shall declare His righteousness (Psalm 50:6), even the righteousness which is ours in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:22). For God is judge Himself (Psalm 50:6), ‘that there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus’ (Romans 8:1). ‘And we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous’ (1 John 2:1), who silences the accuser of the brethren, and stands in our room and stead.
That is a judgment we can bear.
C). DARKNESS AND LIGHT.
2 Corinthians 4:3-6.
The Apostle Paul likens the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to a perfume, which to some people - “the saved” (2 Corinthians 2:15-16) - is a source of sweetness, light and life. To others - “the lost” (2 Corinthians 4:3) - it is the poignant poisonous smell of darkness and death.
When we ‘half-believe’ and try to appropriate the law of God in our lives by our own strength, that which was meant for our good becomes the “ministration of death” to us (2 Corinthians 3:7). This is the work of “the god of this age” - the devil (2 Corinthians 4:4)!
In such a situation we know nothing beyond the law’s condemnation (Romans 7:8-11). Paul spoke of being a “wretched man” (Romans 7:24) - but thankfully he does not stop there. Deliverance comes “through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 7:25) - and there is “no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
When the children of Israel escaped from Egypt, the presence of the LORD was manifested to them in a pillar of cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:21-22). Before the Red Sea was parted, the pillar stood as darkness to the Egyptians, and as light to Israel (Exodus 14:19-20).
Now the sinister “god of this age” was standing (as it were) at the preacher’s left hand, seeking to obscure the gospel he preached, blinding the minds of the hearers (2 Corinthians 4:4). So many things conspire together to distract people from the right course that, even in church, ‘listening they hear not, neither do they understand’ (Isaiah 6:9-10). “He that is of God hears God’s words,” says Jesus: “the reason that you hear them not is because you are not of God” (John 8:47).
The great fear of the powers of darkness (Ephesians 6:12) is that “the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine” upon the hearers of the word of God (2 Corinthians 4:4). When we see Jesus, we see the exact expression of God’s being (Hebrews 1:3). This is a perfect imprint, answering to the Father with whom He was “face to face” before Creation (John 1:1).
We must be careful whose image we reflect in our own lives. “Take heed therefore,” says Jesus, “that the light which is in you be not darkness” (Luke 11:35).
Paul had been concerned by some self-made ‘ministers’ who were nothing better than peddlers “making gain by corrupting the word of God” (2 Corinthians 2:17). Paul and his fellow-ministers, by contrast, were neither dishonest nor manipulative. They were “not handling the word of God deceitfully” (2 Corinthians 4:2): and they were “not preaching themselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord” (2 Corinthians 4:5).
It would have seemed appropriate here if Paul had now made mention of his team of ministers being “slaves” to Christ, as he does elsewhere (Philippians 1:1). However, he names them the Corinthians’ bondsmen, “for the sake of Jesus” (2 Corinthians 4:5). Later, and in three separate places, he will list the trials he has gone through for the advancement of the gospel - ‘boasting,’ he says - but only because they have pushed him to it.
Paul reminds us that the God who commanded the light to shine out of the darkness in creation (Genesis 1:3) is the same God who shines the light of the gospel into the hearts of believers when He would make us a new creation (2 Corinthians 4:6). This is the experience of Paul and his ministry team, and of all who have trusted in Jesus down through the ages.
“The earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea” (Habakkuk 2:14). In the gospel, this promise is in process of fulfilment. The light which we receive is the “light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).
Such light, and such knowledge, is found nowhere else.
D). TRANSFIGURATION.
Mark 9:2-9.
“After six days” Peter, James, and John were drawn aside “into a high mountain apart” (Mark 9:2). Like Moses, who drew aside to behold the bush that burned but which was not consumed (cf. Exodus 3:3), we sometimes need to step aside from the busyness of life for more intimate communion with God.
The three disciples were privileged to receive a sample, a foretaste of the glory to come as witnesses to the transfiguration of Jesus (Mark 9:3). Here we have a demonstration, a living illustration, of the kingdom of God coming with power. In this, too, we have a hopeful anticipation: ‘when Christ shall appear, His people shall appear with Him in glory’ (cf. Colossians 3:4).
Moses’ face had shone at Sinai, but Jesus’ whole Person was set aglow with the glory of the LORD in the mountain of Transfiguration. Truly God was here, setting His tabernacle among men. John testified: ‘We beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father’ (John 1:14).
Other manifestations of the glory of the kingdom of God would include the Cross and resurrection of Jesus (Mark 8:31), the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost; and will include the ultimate return of Jesus.
The appearance of Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus in the mountain (Mark 9:4) is indicative of the continuance of life beyond this earthly realm. It represents anew the fulfilment of the law and the prophets in the Person of our Lord (cf. Matthew 5:17). It is not until Luke 9:31 that we are told what they were talking about.
Impetuous as ever, Peter wanted to build three temples on the Mount of Transfiguration: one for Moses, one for Elijah, and one for Jesus. The disciples were so awestruck that he did not really know what he was saying. Just in that moment a cloud covered the little group on the mountain, and out of the cloud a voice spoke: “This is my beloved Son, hear Him” (Mark 9:5-7).
When the cloud of God’s presence lifted from the scene, the three disciples - Peter, James, and John - could no longer see Moses and Elijah, but “Jesus only” with themselves (Mark 9:8). The Lord is turning our attention away from the law and the prophets - represented by Moses and Elijah - and is instructing us to listen to Jesus. One greater than the law and the prophets, greater than Elijah - and greater even than Moses himself - is here!
As they came down the mountain, Jesus instructed the three disciples not to tell anyone what they had seen “till the Son of man was risen from the dead” (Mark 9:9).
