July 7, 2012 Any Hope?

Any Hope? Mark 15:35-37 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he's calling Elijah.” 36 One man ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said. 37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. I ALWAYS marvel at this last moment of Jesus’ earthly life because of the last strain of hope some at the cross seem to exhibit. As Jesus cried out, (Mark 15:34) “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” some seemed to believe God might answer his cry and send the prophet Elijah, who had lived some 8 centuries earlier. Why would they think that? The scriptures declare in Malachi 4:5 “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes.” Devout Jews expected Elijah, who had entered heaven on a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11), would return in glory and power ahead of the Messiah to establish God’s rule on earth. As Jesus called out to God, the bystanders might have hoped, “What if Elijah comes and Jesus is the Messiah? We must be ready.” As they offered to Jesus some meager relief, do you think they were “covering their bases” in the event Elijah did come to Jesus’ rescue? I wonder who they were…some of Jesus’ accusers…some of Jesus’ disciples? Were they men who hoped in Jesus and clung to a final thread of hope in Jesus’ plea? Too often we live standing by the cross, not sure if we want to commit to the Messiah. But we must. That is the only way you will be ready for the “great and dreadful day of the Lord”. Pause and consider your Messiah.