Elijah Representing the Prophets in the Transfiguration: Christian Formation Transfiguration Series 3
Role of Elijah in the Transfiguration
· Represents the Prophets
· Elijah is a
prophet. Why is he being considered the prophet?
· Elijah doesn’t have a book, many other prophets do.
· Elijah’s story is in 1 Kings 17-19, 21 and 2 Kings 1-2:12
Why
Elijah is the One:
1.
Elijah as a Prophet was Legendary
· While not the first prophet (1 Kings 13:1), he is the first
named.
o
Note, he wouldn’t have
been the one in his time, 1 Kings 20:35
· Epic Story- 1 Kings 18:20-40
o
Challenged Prophets of
Baal
o
Proves that God is the
One True God
o
Like most prophets,
irrefutable proof isn’t listened too…
· Was a teacher, had a following
o
Succeeded by Elisha, received
2x Elijah’s spirit (2 Kings 2:9)
o
Isaiah would have been
similar, having a school of successors
2.
Messianic Connection
· Description of Elijah- 2 Kings 1:8
o
Spent a great deal of
time in the wilderness too
· Malachi 4:5-6- Elijah prophesized to return at the end
o
Marks the end of our Old
Testament Scripture
o
Led to the belief that
Elijah would come before Messiah
o
Seder Meal at Passover-
leave a place for Elijah
o
Some thought John the
Baptist was Elijah
§ Matt 17:10-13- Suggests John connected to Elijah
§ John 1:21- John himself says he’s not Elijah
o
Transfiguration also
could be seen as Elijah’s return
§ Mark 9:9-13 and Matt 17:10-13
·
Both come after
Transfiguration
·
Both discuss Elijah
coming first
3.
Connection with Law
· 1 Kings 19:1-18- Flight to the Wilderness
· 1 Kings 19:8- Elijah ends up at Horeb
o
This is another name for
Mount Sinai
o
Where Moses received the
law
· Both the Law and the message to the prophet received here.
· Prophets are really a continuation of the Law
o
Call to live in better
relationship with God and each other
· The Transfiguration, being on a mountain, reflects both on
Sinai.
o
Once again gets at
Jesus’ role completing the teachings that have come before