The Pilgrim Path---Mark 9: 9—13

And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So, they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. 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.”

AS IT IS WRITTEN…

The Apostolic Three: Peter, James, and John---they get the “big” opportunity---the Transfiguration sight with the Savior. How do you begin to contain yourself, having seen that? How do you merge that with the ongoing message from Jesus that the Son of Man must die? And do not talk about this stupendous---otherworld episode---until after the “resurrection” has occurred? Well, sure. What does rising from the dead really mean? I think we can begin to understand the sheer mental consternation the disciples were experiencing. How could Jesus “be” as bright as the sun---and then die? How could he be in the company of Moses and Elijah and leave the world? Die? Never happen---so they thought. Oh---what about Elijah? Has he already come? Of course, John the Baptist was the forerunner---the Elijah who came. I will give you a fine segment from Dr. William Hendriksen:

By and large the people had not taken to heart the preaching of John the Baptist. They had failed to recognize him as the fulfilment of prophecy (Matt. 11: 16—18). The religious leaders of the Jews had turned against him (21: 25). At the instigation of wicked Herodias, Herod Antipas had killed John (14: 3, 10). Instead pf asking, “How does God want us to treat John the Baptist?” they had done to him whatever they pleased. And the same combination was about to kill Jesus. The Tishbite…John the Baptist…Jesus, by and large none were accepted; all were treated with contempt. Note “as it is written about him.” That writing begins already at First Kings 19: 2, 10b. All were able to say, “They seek my life, to take it away.”

This very fact---that it was written, hence divinely planned---is filled with comfort. It shows that without in any way erasing human responsibility and guilt, these murderous intentions and (in the case of the Baptist and Jesus) deeds happened in accordance with the divine decree. In the end, therefore, God always triumphs. His truth is victorious. Cf. Like 22: 22; Acts 2: 23, 24. See also Isaiah 53: 4—6.

We must always remember that Scripture “has been” revealed

We must ask for faith to believe what has been revealed

We must continue to Study Holy Scripture

We must understand that Holy Scripture speaks to the age in which we live

We must place our reason at the feet of Holy Scripture (never above it)

We do have a natural tendency to “fight” against the Scripture’s teaching

We must go to Scripture each day and think long and hard upon a passage

We must rest in the Holy Scriptures and the Living Christ whom they reveal

“To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this WORD, it is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah 8: 20

From Saint Cyril of Jerusalem: “Indeed, no one may teach any doctrine about the divine and holy mysteries of the faith, however small that doctrine may be, without the backing of the Holy Scriptures. We must not let ourselves be misled by mere plausibility and cleverness of speech. Do not even give full belief to me, the one who tells you these things, unless you find proof from the divine Scriptures of what I teach! For the salvation that flows from faith gets its strength, not from clever human reasonings, but from what can be proved out of the Holy Scriptures.”

Bread of our souls, whereon we feed,

True manna from on high,

Our guide and chart, wherein we read

Of realms beyond the sky.

Bernard Barton (1784—1849)

Grace and Peace in Jesus Christ Our Risen LORD, Pastor Jason