Mark 9:9-13 - The Coming of Elijah

Mark 9:9-13
⁹ As they were coming down from the mountain, He gave them orders not to relate to anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man rose from the dead. ¹⁰ They seized upon that statement, discussing with one another what rising from the dead meant. ¹¹ They asked Him, saying, “Why is it that the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” ¹² And He said to them, “Elijah does first come and restore all things. And yet how is it written of the Son of Man that He will suffer many things and be treated with contempt? ¹³ But I say to you that Elijah has indeed come, and they did to him whatever they wished, just as it is written of him.”

Message: The Coming of Elijah

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface- Jesus goes to the mountaintop and brings Peter, James, and John. He was transfigured. They see Moses (Law) and Elijah (Prophets) and Jesus shining as pure white. Something is happening, but they are not sure. Is this the fulfillment now of the final salvation, deliverance, complete exodus from exile? On that note, Peter builds a tabernacle - the place where God speaks. But, still he is unsure and terrified. God steps in and declares to them, what Jesus has already been saying to them, This is My beloved Son, listen to Him. 

This is the scene: the transfiguration is over and now Peter, James and John wonder: what next?  As they were coming down from the mountain, He gave them orders not to relate to anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man rose from the dead. So while the incident was significant it should not be told to anyone. This can only mean that what just occurred is something Jesus knew would create a lot of talk and conversation and perhaps consternation. That God had spoken to them "This is my beloved Son." Was it that for a moment the humanity of Jesus was set aside and they saw Jesus in all of his heavenly glory? Perhaps because what had just happened was not clear. God had even said, "Just listen to Jesus." Jesus had a purpose. Peter and the disciples did not understand that purpose for when Jesus said he would do something, the disciples often thought he should do something else. This had to have been hard, to have just had an incredible experience and for the other disciples to come up to them after this mountaintop experience and for them to just say, "Later, I'll tell you later." 

I mean, what happened? (1) Jesus is transfigured, (2) Elijah and Moses were present, (3) God the Father was there, (4) the Son of Man would rise again. See, what is happening? Jesus mentions again now that he would obviously die and then rise again. This is what had already disturbed them previously in chapter 8:31 when he said the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. It is as if it will all make sense after the resurrection, when I appear again, but right now it won't. The idea here was simple: trust me; listen to me. 

While they didn't talk to others They seized upon that statement, discussing with one another what rising from the dead meant. But this did make them wonder. 

As they wonder, they remember from the scriptures something - "Why is it that the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” The last 2 verses of the Old Testament in Malachi 4:5-6 records Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse. This great and terrible day of the Lord seems to refer to the Second Coming of the Christ when he establishes his kingdom. But, Jesus is also here so is it correct to say that Elijah should have already come.

And He said to them, “Elijah does first come and restore all things. And yet how is it written of the Son of Man that He will suffer many things and be treated with contempt? The Son of Man suffering was a fulfillment of Isaiah 53. No prophecy was ever more strikingly fulfilled.

But I say to you that Elijah has indeed come, and they did to him whatever they wished, just as it is written of him. John was not Elijah reincarnated. Hebrews 9:27 states and inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this judgment. John himself denied that he was Elijah in John 1:21 - They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he *said, “I am not.” John comes in the spirit and power of Elijah, preceding the first coming of Jesus. Elijah is to precede the second coming of Jesus. 

Summary - This is a difficult passage. It is mostly about revealed prophecy, of John coming in the spirit of Elijah and as Jesus suffering.

Promise: Suffering is a part of the way to glory.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the cross. Thank you for the eternal message of You seeking and saving the Lost, for saving me.