The first lesson is from the Apocrypha, the book of
Ecclesiasticus and is considered wisdom literature like Ecclesiastes or
Proverbs. It is also referred to as the
Wisdom of ben-Sirach who is presumed to have written the book (or at least part
of the book.)
The writer celebrates the life and ministry of Elijah. He holds a special place in Jewish history
and in the hearts of the Jews. At
Passover there is always a vacant seat left for him in case he returns. Elijah is unique in that he didn’t die but
was taken up to heaven in the whirlwind and Malachi prophesies his return prior
to the coming of Messiah. Jesus said
that Elijah has come already in the form of John the Baptist. Elijah stood against great apostasy and was
used powerfully in ways that no other prophet was used to return the nation to
the Lord. He did more than preach and
never wrote a prophetic book, he was a man who stood for the Lord when no one
else would publicly confront the evils of the king and queen. There were others who did not follow their
leaders but Elijah fought the public fight alone. It took a toll on him and ultimately this
warrior had a time of leaving the battlefield to resign his ministry. The Lord blessed him and used him mightily.
Some said that Jesus was either Elijah or John the Baptist
but Peter confessed he believed Jesus to be the Christ, the Messiah. Why would others have said that Jesus was
either Elijah or John the Baptist? His
ministry with John overlapped and in fact the Gospel of John makes clear that
John pointed to Jesus as greater than he was.
Elijah was expected to return but what about Jesus made people think he
was Elijah? Jesus didn’t take on the
power structures of the day or call the nation to return to the Lord. He healed ordinary people, those who came to
Him or those like the Samaritan woman and the Gerasene demoniac to whom He
went. His call was to take up the cross
and follow Him. We are indeed to die to
the world, seeking our reward not in this life or the things of the world but
to completely identify with Him as He suffered and died for truth. Following this Messiah wasn’t going to be as
wonderful and victorious as Peter thought it would be.
Paul writes that the Law is a ministry of condemnation and
death. That is why the glory of Moses
faded over time. The Law tells us the
truth about ourselves, that we are not righteous, not able to please God, not
able to fulfill our covenant vows and obligations. Jesus came to fulfill the law and
righteousness, to keep it perfectly and then to offer His life as a sacrifice
for our sins. His sacrifice was
acceptable to God and we know that to be so because He was raised from death to
life. Jesus has a glory that never fades,
only increases and the Spirit that enlivened Him and allowed Him to triumph
over sin and death is given to those who believe in Him. We have that same power in us but it requires
us to work cooperatively with the Spirit in order to defeat sin in our
lives. If we would display God’s power
in and through our lives, we must work with Him by dying to self. We are called to be like Elijah, fighting the
good fight, always proclaiming the Lord and calling others to follow Him.
Praise the LORD!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens!
Praise him for his mighty deeds;
praise him according to his excellent greatness!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens!
Praise him for his mighty deeds;
praise him according to his excellent greatness!
Let everything that
has breath praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD!
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