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.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.
As these original followers of Christ, we must come down from our mountaintop experiences with Him and as these first disciples also demonstrated, we must take Jesus’ instructions with us. I am reminded of God’s command to the Israelites in Haggai regarding the rebuilding of the earthly temple – give careful thought, go up, bring down and build:
7 This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 8 Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored,” says the LORD. Hag 1:7-8 (NIV)
As the Israelites were building the physical temple, modern day believers are building our spiritual temples - our bodies –progressively becoming more and more conformed into the image of Jesus. We grow in Christlikeness when we spend time with Him (go up on the mountain), take down what we learn and subsequently apply the Truth to our lives. Paul tells us in Romans:
29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Romans 8:29 (NIV)
In our verses for today, Jesus gives His guys a charge – keep this vision private for the present. The time would come when they would speak but this was not the time. Solomon tells us:
1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: Eccl 3:1 (NIV)
...a time to be silent and a time to speak, Eccl 3:7 (NIV)
If they had proclaimed this miraculous event of their taste of the coming kingdom perhaps people who were already inclined would seek to make Jesus King by force – which, of course, was not part of God’s plan of redemption. Perhaps as well, if prematurely proclaimed, the credibility of it would have been rocked by His sufferings and death which were hastening on. After our Lord’s resurrection, the speaking of this event would be a great confirmation of it.
Next we discover His inner circle seeking clarity from Scripture from the Source setting forth the proper example for all followers of Christ. When we lack wisdom – when we are to ask for it and in faith believe we will receive it as James tells us:
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. James 1:5-8 (NIV)
Our Lord had already spoken regarding the Baptist coming to fulfill the prophecies of being the Elijah who was to come recorded earlier in Matthew yet it was clear these guys now needed reminding. Isn’t it refreshingly kind of our Lord to continue to repeat Truth to our dull ears day after day?
11 I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15 He who has ears, let him hear. Matt 11:11-15 (NIV)
“God often uses the repetitive events and themes in daily life to get my attention and draw me closer to Himself. Now instead of just listening for God's whisper, I am trying to recognize the sacred echoes- those moments when God speaks the same message to my heart again and again. I call them sacred echoes because I've noticed that throughout my relationships, daily life, and study, the same scripturally sound idea or phrase or word will keep reappearing until I can no longer avoid its presence. Is this mere coincidence or is it something more? When it comes to hearing from God, I firmly believe the Bible is our source and authority. God's Word is like a megaphone to His people. Throughout Scripture God speaks through kings and queens, princes and prophets, poets and pilgrims. He speaks through weather patterns, barnyard animals and even the stars in the sky. God is not only creative, but He is persistent in getting our attention and communicating with us.” The Sacred Echo by Margaret Feinberg