Elijah Representing the Prophets in the Transfiguration: Christian Formation Transfiguration Series 3





Outline: 



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
o   John the Baptist described similarly (Mark 1:6, Matt 3:4)
·      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
·      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