Thoughts for the Day

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, ‘Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!’ Suddenly when they looked around, they saw no one with them any more, but only Jesus.

As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them to tell no one about what they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead could mean. Then they asked him, ‘Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?’ He said to them, ‘Elijah is indeed coming first to restore all things. How then is it written about the Son of Man, that he is to go through many sufferings 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 about him.’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

In the middle of the church service someone came rushing down the aisle shouting "He's coming!" and disappeared out another door. We'd hardly got started before it happened again, the door flew open and a woman ran in crying "Quick! Get ready, he's coming!" After the chatter died down we continued, then the door banged open and two people came in, the first ran ahead. "He's here!" he said, excitedly. Instinctively, the congregation looked back to the door and started clapping as a man entered, dressed in sacking, his beard unkempt, sandals on his feet, and a leather belt round his waist! 'John the Baptist' was present! Well, ok, it was a Family Service, but this little sketch reminded us all of how John the Baptist prepared the way for the ministry of Jesus, by calling the people to repent and be baptised.

Today's reading is about the Transfiguration of Jesus, but I want to look instead at the question the disciples ask concerning Elijah. The Jews believed that before the Messiah arrived to save God's people He would send the prophet Elijah to prepare them. (Malachi 4.5) But Jesus indicates that "Elijah" had already come and "they did to him whatever they pleased". He is referring to John the Baptist who has recently been beheaded by King Herod. In Matthew's Gospel Jesus actually says, "For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John came; and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. (Matthew 11,13-14)

The coming of John the Baptist was to signal a new step in God's plans for His people, and it wasn't only the people but Jesus who identified Him with the greatest of all the Prophets.

Lord God,
John the Baptist came into the world
to call men and women to confess their sin,
as a way of preparing for
the coming of Jesus, the Messiah.
As Christians, may we not relax
but remember that You have said You will return,
and we need to be prepared.
Help us to look again at our lives, and repent.
Amen.