“Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected?”
Mark 9:12 (NIV)
Some verses are just difficult to understand. I once was tasked with preaching a Lenten message using the following question as the foundation; “For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry” (Luke 23:31)? You have to wait until sometime in the third quarter when we tackle questions Jesus asked in the Luke’s Gospel. In the meantime, this week’s question is also a tough one – so we need some context, maybe a lot of context.
Jesus had invited Peter, James, and John to join Him on the mountain. One the mountain the three guys experience something extraordinary. They get a glimpse of the glorified version of Jesus. Jesus is transfigured – His clothes became dazzling white, then Moses and Elijah turn up and are having a chat to Jesus (note these two had been long gone from the planet by then). Then Peter does what Peter does best, sticks his foot straight in his mouth (see Mark 9:5-6). Next a cloud settles over this little gathering and a voice in the cloud says: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” (Mark 9:7). Finally, all of a sudden, it’s just Jesus, Peter, James, and John. As they head down the mountain Jesus tells them not to say a word about what they just witnessed until the Son of Man (Jesus) had risen from the dead. The guys do as they are told but discuss among themselves what “rising from the dead” meant. The guys ask Jesus a question about the teachers of the law saying Elijah had to come back before the Messiah came.
Here comes Jesus’ question. Jesus tells then yep Elijah does come first. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? Oh, and by the way Elijah has already come, and he wasn’t treated very well, just as it was written about him.
Now to try and make some sense of it. First remember that Moses represents The Law and Elijah represents the Prophets. The prophet Malachi tells of Elijah coming ahead of the Day of The Lord to turn the hearts of the people back to God. Enter John the Baptist, he came in the spirit of Elijah to do exactly that. That is why Jesus said that Elijah had been there and was treated badly. The prophet Isaiah talked about the suffering the Messiah would endure – read Isaiah 42:1-4 and Isaiah 53.
In asking this week’s question Jesus is making the connections between suffering and redemption clear. It is a reminder for us to stand firm in our faith in times of trial and to help us understand that to follow him requires humility and sacrifice. The prophets of old carried God’s word to the people to prepare their hearts for what God had planned. Those of us who follow after Jesus with sincere and humble hearts are meant to show others the way. Being obedient, will sometimes cause us pain. That pain is meant to help us grow and be more fruitful. To help us to fully trust in His plan for us and His ability when the time comes to make all things new and banish the darkness of this world forever.
Let me know your thoughts. Know someone who might be encouraged by this – please share. I will be praying for you. Until next week – remember that whatever suffering we endure is only momentary in the face of eternity and that redemption is ours if we humbly surrender all to the giver of the Law and Prophets.
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