Why Must Elias Come First? - Mark 9:11

Mark wrote how Jesus “charged” His disciples, “that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead. And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean”, and in chapter nine and verse eleven of his book, Mark shared how Peter, James and John, “asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?” where we read:

And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?

The verse reads, “And they asked him, saying, ...” Mark began with the words, “and they asked him” which means “and Peter, James and John questioned, requested and inquired of Jesus” “saying” or “uttering, declaring and proclaiming” the following. Mark shared how Peter, James and John inquired of Jesus with the following question.

The verse goes on to say, “... Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?” Mark continued with the words, “why say the scribes” which means “for what reason and cause utter, declare and proclaim the men learned in the Mosaic law and in the sacred writings, an interpreters and teachers” “that Elias” or “that Elijah who was prophet born at Thisbe and was the unflinching champion of the theocracy in the reigns of the idolatrous kings Ahab and Ahaziah whose name means my God is Jehovah” “must first come” which means “it is behooved, a necessity and a need to arrive in advance and before”? Mark shared how Peter, James and John wanted to know the reason the “scribes” said that it is necessary for “Elijah” to appear “before” the Messiah comes.

When we meditate upon Mark's words in this verse, we see how Peter, James and John wanted to know “why the scribes” taught that “Elijah” must appear before the Messiah. Malachi, the Old Testament prophet wrote, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:” (See Malachi 4:5), and Jesus was well aware of this prophesy. He will say more about this prophesy in the next few verses, but for now let it suffice us to know that God had this plan set from all eternity. His desire is to “save” people from their sins through belief and trust in His Son Jesus so they can live with Him forever. Those who are wise will consider God's perfect plan which included “Elijah” and submit their lives to Jesus Christ as their personal “Savior and Lord”.

Next time Mark shares how Jesus, “told them, Elias verily comes first, and restores all things”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".