Reflection for December 10
As they descended the mountain, Jesus told Peter, James, and John not to tell anyone what they had seen until after his resurrection because Jesus knew that they didn’t fully understand it, and he couldn’t explain what they didn’t understand. Their question, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” revealed their misunderstandings. They knew that Jesus was the Messiah, but they had much more to learn about the significance of his death and resurrection.
Based on Malachi 4:5-6, the teachers of the Old Testament law believed that Elijah must appear before the Messiah would appear. Jesus referred to John the Baptist, not to the Old Testament prophet Elijah. John the Baptist took on Elijah’s prophetic role, boldly confronting sin and pointing people to God. Malachi had prophesied that a prophet like Elijah would come (Malachi 4:5). It was John the Baptist, and then Jesus, the Son of Man, who suffered at their hands. They came in fulfillment of the scriptures - as God had promised.
We have been taught to believe, we research, we practice, we have the desire, yet we don’t fully understand the divine. How can we fault the disciples, even those that knew him, for not fully understanding the gift in front of them and the sacrifice that he would give for the salvation of all? We have a faith that calls us ‘the beloved’ - by God. The prophets, who paved the way for the Messiah, were a guiding light. Our greatest gift from God is our savior Jesus Christ. Jesus can be seen in all of God’s creation. We need to have open hearts and eyes to see and the trust and fortitude to do as he taught us. We are continuously receiving opportunities to see the face of God and to live in ‘this heaven on earth’ with him and forever in the life after. We turn to you Lord, let us see your face and we shall be saved.
Karen Herbert