Category Archives: Elisha

chariot of fire., Elijah, Elisha, transfiguration, vision

The Messiah’s Secret – The Transfiguration

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Mrs Paris was the wife of one of our church Wardens at Christ Church Walmersley Bury. She was a very quiet reserved lady, I could tell that she had a strong faith and she knew her Bible well. One day we were talking and she told me of her encounter with Jesus. Before she was married she worked in a sewing factory, it was as she was busy at her work, when she looked up and saw Jesus standing at the side of her machine he was all in white and shining and in a moment he was gone.

The Transfiguration
“And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of man is raised from the dead.” Matthew 17: 1-9

Jesus transfigured – A change of form
Jesus was shining from the top of his head to the tips of his fingers and toes, and his clothes were glistening. Jesus did not want the vision that the disciples had seen to be made known before his resurrection for two reasons:
1/ If the people had heard about this vision and that the prophets Moses and Elijah were present in the vision, the expectation of Elijah heralding in the Messiah would have been very great. Jesus told his disciples that John the Baptist ministered in the power and spirit of Elijah. Luke 1:17. Matthew 17: 11-13. Mark 9: 11-13.
2/ Jesus had to die on the cross at Calvary before he could be received by the nations leaders as the Messiah, the call of the Messiah was first to the nation of Israel.

1/ The Jews were taught that Elijah would announce the coming of the Messiah’s Day of Judgement. Malachi 4: 5.
The people were in expectation of Elijah heralding the coming of the Messiah. If the disciples had told the people about Elijah being present in the vision then the people would have expected seeing Elijah not John the Baptist in the power and spirit of Elijah.

John the Baptist was preparing the nation through a baptism of repentance, restoring the people under the Law of Moses. He spoke of the need to prepare themselves for coming of the Messiah he would baptise them with the Holy Spirit and bring in a fire of judgement. To give them understanding he described the Messiah using his winnowing fork to separate the chaff from the wheat. The chaff he would burn with unquenchable fire. The chaff represented the unbelieving lawless, selfish people who would enter into eternal darkness and the wheat the people who believed and were obedient to the Laws of Moses sharing what they possessed with each other they would enter into the kingdom of God. Matthew 25: 31-46

Paul and Barnabas on their first ministry tour, when they arrived at the synagogue of Antioch in Pisidia Paul spoke of John the Baptist that he had preached a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. But he was not the Christ; he was the one opening up the way. Acts 13: 24.
Just like Elijah who threw his mantle onto the water of the Jordan as he did so the waters parted opening up the way across the Jordan. Both he and Elisha walked on the ground of the dry river bed. 2 Kings 2: 1-12

2/ The disciples Peter, James and John heard the voice of God, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” On hearing these words they responded by falling upon their knees in awe, Jesus touched them and said “have no fear.” The touch of Jesus was comforting, re-assuring and strengthening his disciples. Jesus’ gentle touch on our lives especially when we’re in difficult situations from my experience gives a sense of being lifted up and comforted.
On another occasion the people heard a voice in response to Jesus speaking aloud to his Father. Jesus said that his time had now come to fulfil the purposes of God, “Father glorify thy name.” In reply the voice of God saying, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” It sounded like thunder, others said that an angel had spoken to him. Jesus told them that this voice had come for their sake, not for his. He also indicated the death he was to die, “When I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” The people had not been taught that the Messiah would come and die for their sins. They assumed that when he came he would remain for ever. “The crowd answered him, “We have heard from the law that when the Christ comes he will remain for ever. How can you say that the Son of man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of man?” John 12: 33, 34.
The people were wondering if Jesus was referring to another Son of man, because they realised that he was speaking of dying on a cross, which they did not know anything about.
Mark records the words spoken by the chief priest and the scribes, “He saved others but he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.” Mark 15: 31, 32.10.

Paul taught that the Christ had to suffer and die
Paul made it known to the people in the synagogue at Antioch in Pisidia that those who lived in Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognise Jesus or understand the utterances of the prophets, the scriptures that refer to the Messiah’s suffering and death, they fulfilled these prophesies by condemning him. Acts 13: 27.

Here are two prophesies out of over thirty prophesies fulfilled by Jesus (see blog Mercy not Sacrifice)
“Yet it pleased him to bruise him; he has put him to grief; when you shall make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand;
Fulfilled. It was in the plan of God that Jesus would suffer and be killed and that on the third day God would raise him from the dead.
“Jesus said, “For I tell you that this scripture must be fulfilled in me, ‘And he was reckoned with transgressors’; for what is written about me has its fulfilment.” Luke 22: 37.
25. Prophecy. A great Calvary miracle prophecy uttered about 800 years before. “ And it shall come to pass in that day, said the Lord God, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day.” Amos 8: 9
Fulfilled. This is one of the most profound prophesies of the word of God. On the day that the Saviour would be crucified, there would be darkness at noonday.
“Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. (12noon – 3pm) Matthew 27: 45.

On the hill of Calvary Jesus was crucified
Jesus in his suffering cried out, “My God, my God why have you forsaken me?” “And some of the bystanders hearing him, “Behold he’s calling Elijah.” And one ran and, filling a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait lets see if Elijah will come and take him down.” Mark 15: 35, 36.
They was watching to see if what they had been taught by their leaders would happen. God hearing his plea, would he send Elijah to come before he died on the cross and rescue him. The death of the Messiah was hidden from their understanding. Even Caiaphas the leading man of the council of the Sanhedrin did not understand, God had hidden these prophesies concerning the death of the Messiah from him and the other members of the council.
But Caiaphas had received a prophesy from God, prophesying that one man would die to save the nation. He believed that he was doing God’s will in pursuing Jesus death.
It was God’s will, Caiaphas had accomplished what God intended without knowing that Jesus was the Messiah who had to die to fulfil those prophesies given by God to the prophets. John 11: 49-52

“The Gospel in the Feasts of Israel” by Victor Buksbazen’
“At the Passover table a place is set for Elijah, the herald of the Messiah, and he would announce that the Messiah had at last come. For the rabbis say the Messiah is most likely to come on the night of the Passover, so the traditional cup and an empty chair awaits him.”
Jesus was crucified on the eve of the Passover, on the Day of Preparation when all the lambs were killed at the temple in Jerusalem.
Jesus the sacrificial lamb, his blood brushed onto the doorposts and lintels of the repentant heart of every believer. As a result we pass over death, on the dry ground of the Jordan on having our sins forgiven and we are translated into the kingdom of God.

Luke records at the transfiguration that Jesus was heard to speak of his departure from Jerusalem, that departure being his resurrection and ascension into heaven to be with his Father.
Elisha walked with Elijah across the Jordan. A chariot of fire came between them and caught up Elijah and took him into heaven and because Elisha saw this he received the portion of Elijah’s spirit that he had requested.

“I pray you; let me inherit a double portion of your spirit?” And Elijah said, “You have asked for a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.” 2 Kings 2: 9, 10.

After Pentecost the Holy Spirit is given as a gift to every believer in Christ.
Today the Holy Spirit is given to all who believe in Jesus, he comes to us to witness to the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the good news of God’s saving love for all people. Jesus embraced death to give us life, eternal life. Elijah was translated into eternal life without going through a physical death. Elijah has witnessed to what every believer in Christ receives. Paul wrote, “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.” Authorised or King James Version. Colossians 1: 13.
We have entered into the place were Jesus is in heavenly places in our union with him in the Holy Spirit.
(Unlike Elijah we do go through a physical death.)

Egypt., Elisha, Naaman, Paul, Peter, The Way

The Messiah’s Secret – The Way

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Some of the changes I’ve experienced over my life time:

Decimalisation of our currency.
Bible written in modern language.
The computer age- This has meant learning a new way of communication involving the computer itself, how to operate it using its functions like emailing to another computer or looking up pages on the web.
Sat Nav – On screen map with voice giving directions to the programmed destination.
Mobile phone having access to the web and a camera as well.
Moving towards the future widespread use of the electric car.

Gospel of Change
2,000 years ago a major change was imminent, Jesus was teaching under God’s ruling authority the end of the Law of Moses as the people knew it.
On the mountainside Jesus was teaching a crowd of Jewish people, “You have heard it said, ’An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” Matthew 5: 38
Jesus has quoted from what Moses wrote in Deuteronomy 19: 15-21.
When a charge was brought against someone it could not prevail unless it was confirmed by two witnesses. If one of these witnesses gave false witness against the accused, I quote from Deuteronomy, ‘that person you shall do to him as he had meant to do towards his brother, so you shall purge the evil from the midst of you. . . .Your eye shall not pity; it shall be a life for a life, eye for eye, tooth for a tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”

The severity of the law.
Even today 2011 in some countries of the world, some crimes are punished by the removal of limbs. A friend of ours lives and works in Dubai she says it’s a very safe place because the laws are so severe anyone found stealing, the law punishes them by cutting off their hand, and there is no leniency.

Liberated from the Law
In February 2011 when I saw on TV the release on the faces of the people of Egypt from their laws, it brought it home to me that Jesus’ teaching must have been so liberating, releasing the Jewish people from fear and the harshness of the law. God was making changes to the laws he gave to Moses that would liberate his people from their way of life and ultimately the world.

(Matthew 5: 29 Jesus made the point and used the law ‘pluck out your eye if it causes you to sin ‘metaphorically’ to demonstrate how God feels about the sin of adultery to make it clear to the listeners so they would understand.)

Jesus making the change to the law of the false witness, “But I say to you, do not resist the evil one.” Don’t contend or struggle against the person who bears false witness against you, turn away from them, as Jesus says ‘turn the other cheek.’
Jesus was arrested and taken to trial before the chief priest Caiaphas and the ruling council. They brought false witnesses against him, the witnesses couldn’t agree. Jesus’ response he was silent, he turned away, and he turned the other cheek.

The Way
Jesus founded in himself the way of love, love fulfils the law.
‘The Way’ was the name given to the early church because it professed a way of life that followed the teaching of Jesus.
The Apostles remained in Jerusalem after the dispersion of the community of believers from Jerusalem. The structures of the church were put in place by the Apostles and Elders of the church in Jerusalem and all the churches came under its authority.
Saul and Barnabas on their first ministry tour after establishing a church they appointed an Elder. On there return to Jerusalem they told the apostles about the gentiles accepting the good news.
It was decided that a letter should be sent to the churches, telling them to abstain from food offered to idols.
Peter as one of these leaders was mentioned by Paul in his letter to the Corinthians, on a visit to the Corinthian church he baptised member’s there.1 Corinthians 1: 12. 15: 5.

Paul as a member of ‘The Way’ came under the authority and was accountable to the church leaders at Jerusalem. Acts 15
In Paul’s first letter to Timothy he described the offices: Bishops, Deacons and Elders. “If anyone aspires to the office of Bishop, he desires a noble task.” 1 Timothy 3: 1 These offices are part of the gifts given by the Holy Spirit. “Tend the flock of God that is in your charge, not by constraint but willingly, not for shameful gain but eagerly, not as domineering over those in your charge but being examples to the flock. 1 Peter 5 : 2, 3.
Paul was taken to trial before Felix he spoke in his defence about, ‘The Way. “But this I admit to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the law or written in the prophets, having a hope in God which these themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of the just and the unjust.” Acts 24: 14,15, 22.
Felix was aware of this branch of Judaism known as ‘The Way’ Paul emphasises its beliefs: in the God of Israel, the writing of the prophets and the hope of the resurrection.

Jesus continued his teaching telling the people there and us today how to respond to the demands of people for example someone who borrows.
When I was a child growing up in the 1950’s I remember how the neighbours would borrow from one another, soap powder, sugar, butter etc. Now and again things wouldn’t be returned, but as I remember it wasn’t held against anyone.
The basis for this attitude was in loving one another. Jesus taught that we should not with hold anything from some one in need.

Jesus went on to say “You have heard it said, ‘You shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’” Matthew 5:43
Jesus was maybe referring to this incident on the Israelites exodus journey from Egypt as they made there way towards the Promised Land. Moses recalled how the Ammonite and the Moabites would not go to meet the Israelites and give them bread and water. As a result they were not to seek peace with the Ammorites or the Midianites all the days of their life, for ever. Deuteronomy 23: 3-6
These people were afraid of the Israelites so they treated them as their enemy, their rivals.

There tends to be a lot of rivalry between football supporters. There are a small minority that take this rivalry to its limits by their attitude and actions they bring the whole game into disrepute.

Paul writing his first letter to the Corinthian church made the point that their support of various leaders had led to arguments, falling out with each other had brought the whole church into disrepute. He reminded them that the church was founded in Jesus through faith in him, nobody else. 1 Corinthians 3: 11.

“Jesus went on to say, “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5: 44.
We have an example in the Old Testament in 2 Kings 5: 1-16 concerning this, it also points to Jesus and the church.

A young Jewish girl was taken by a band of Syria raiders into captivity in Syria; she became servant to Naaman’s wife. Naaman was a general in the King of Syria’s army.
The Israelite girl noticed that Naaman had leprosy so she told her mistress about the healing ministry of Elisha the prophet. As a result of this girl’s concern for her enemy, Naaman went to the King of Syria and told him what the girl had said about Elisha.
Naaman was not deterred by the two nations being enemies, his faith rose above it. The King was pleased to give Naaman a letter of introduction to the King of Israel.
However when the King of Israel received the letter he was displeased, “Am I God, to kill and make alive, that this man sends word to cure a man of his leprosy.” He saw it as blasphemy, to indicate this and he tore his clothes. He was being asked to make a decision whether this man lived or not. He also thought the king of Syria was seeking to quarrel with him.
When Elisha heard about Naaman’s situation he wanted to help him, he saw the bigger picture. It was an opportunity to glorify the God of Israel and so Naaman was invited to Elisha’s home. On his arrival he was met by Elisha’s servant who delivered the prophet’s message to him saying that he should go and wash in the Jordon seven times.
This wasn’t what Naaman expected and he became angry because Elisha had not met him in person and he decided to leave.
Naaman’s pride caused him to become angry, his self importance became a stumbling block and I feel that he might have felt persecuted because of his leprosy. In Judaism lepers were separated from other people, as they were regarded as unclean.
Naaman’s servant convinced him to do what Elisha had said and so he relented and went and washed himself in the Jordon seven times and amazingly he was completely healed of his leprosy. Naaman wanted to give Elisha the gifts that he had brought with him. But Elisha refused to accept them. Naaman rejoiced having recognised that the God of Israel was the one true God.

The Jewish girl had shown love, respect for her enemy.
While she was held in captivity, she had sown a seed of faith, hope out of love, respect for her captor Naaman. She must have prayed for him to be healed of his leprosy and rejoiced when she heard that he had been healed through the ministry of the prophet Elisha and by grace he now believed in the God of Israel.

We can see the bigger picture of God’s love for all of the nations. Naaman was a gentile, who had integrity and humility and he had faith, in the God of Israel, believing that he had the power to heal him through his word to the prophet Elisha.

Isn’t this what we believe today? The Lord our God reaching out through his people to the unbelievers in our communities pointing them to ‘The Way’ to find a change taking place within themselves in the heart through faith in Jesus. Where they will find inner peace, joy, love, hope and truth in our Jesus.

The Messiah’s Secret page 148
“The Ministry of the Holy Spirit after Pentecost.”
“The promise of the presence of the Trinity within a person, Jesus said to his disciples before his death, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make their home with him.” The apostles and followers were the first fruit of the resurrection having received from Jesus the Holy Spirit. The combination of Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit made those who believe ‘Christ-like,’ Christ in you this was the mystery that Paul spoke of in his letters through faith in Jesus, God has made those of faith sons and daughters, children of the living God. Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; if you ask anything in my name, I will do it.” Love, joy and peace are the nature of Jesus Christ. We are called to abide in his love, that his joy and peace may be in us. John 14: 12-14.
The promises that are made by Jesus are part of the divine nature of God. 2 Peter 1: 4.
A Christian empowered by the Holy Spirit manifests the life of Christ in the world. The graciousness of Jesus, abundant kindness, patience, humility, gentleness, longsuffering and faithfulness.”