September 17, 2014 Intentional

Intentional

Matthew 17:8-12 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don't tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” 10 The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” 11 Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. 12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.”

AS Jesus, Peter, James and John leave the transfiguration site, points his disciples to God’s intentional salvation plan.

     First, Jesus encourages them to tell no one in order to protect the other disciples from confusion about their role. They are anticipating he will be an earthly king, and he must point them to the cross. Jesus tells the three to wait until “the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

     That creates an opportunity to help his disciples see God’s eternal plan. When the disciples ask why the teachers say, “Elijah must come first.” they are referring to Malachi 4:5 “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes.”

     They have just seen Elijah and the “day of the Lord”, the final resurrection hasn’t come. God’s Word seems out of order.

     Jesus affirms that Elijah did come as he refers to John the Baptist’s life. (See Luke 1:17) Jesus’ fate will be the same as John’s.

     Jesus’ teaching has shown the three disciples that the Father has an intentional plan to resurrect all of his own to eternal life.

LIFE Link: God’s intention is salvation.