This is the fifth and final week we will hear the wild and extraordinary tales of Elijah, the 8th century Hebrew prophet who fiercely defended Yahweh against worship of the Canaanite Baals, fertility gods. We hear of Elijah, the man of God, the miracle worker, Elijah the Tishbite. Where is Tishbite and why should we care anyway?
Today’s Collect prays that our Church — not just St. Stephen’s, not just the Episcopal Church, but the Church, universal, worldwide, the Christian Church of all times, is founded on the apostles and prophets. Apostles were those men and women who followed Jesus and who spread the Christian faith. An Apostle, literally, means one who is sent. We know the names and deeds of many apostles – Simon Peter, James, and John.
But let’s remind ourselves who prophets were. Prophet means storyteller, not fortuneteller. The ones who had the unfathomable audacity claim to speak for the Lord and Creator of the universe.
There is no evidence to suggest that anyone ever asked a prophet home for dinner more than once. Prophets were not popular fellows and scripture abounds with tales of their harsh treatment. But, they were ancestors of Jesus. They were Jesus’ teachers and models and mentors. Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Amos, and Isaiah, whom Jesus chose, when he was back in his hometown just starting out on his preaching ministry, to quote in his local synagogue.
No one was ever very comfortable in the presence of a prophet, for they spoke, and by the way are still speaking, out against phoniness, corruption, and injustice wherever they are found.
The prophet Elijah has a special place in Jewish legend. Because he did not die but was taken up to heaven bypassing the grave, the legend arose that he would come again. Remember, the Episcopal Church does not teach that scripture is literally factual. A teaching that someone escaped death is a way of pointing to his or her specialness — similar to remarkable birth stories. To this day, our Jewish friends set an empty chair at their Passover tables. It is a chair for Elijah.
Not much is really known about the early life of Elijah but tales are told that he was a soldier of the Lord fighting against heathen gods, championing the downtrodden, performing miracles, and then vanishing up to heaven in a blazing chariot. Jesus taught that John the Baptist was Elijah come again. And some scholars believe that Jesus called out to Elijah from the cross.
The Elijah legend we heard this morning from 2 Kings where
Elijah, like Moses, parts the water, before he is taken up into heaven is full of apocalyptic, “out of this world” imagery. But, beyond the cinema graphic special effects we hear some practical lessons, some helpful hints for those of us who would be followers of Jesus.
Quaker teacher Parker Palmer asks, “Is the life you are living the same life as the life that wants to live in you? Before you tell your life what you intend to do with it, listen to what it intends to do with you.”
Before the church agrees to baptize a person, perhaps we should read to that person (or his or her parents) today’s scripture from Luke. This is one of Jesus’ so called “hard sayings.” Like the “someone” who said to Jesus “I will follow you wherever you go,” we’re quick to embrace the promise of new and everlasting life, but we’d be wise to ask the cost of the promise. “Nowhere to lay your head.” “No taking care of family responsibilities.” Really? “No saying farewell, no looking back.”
Perhaps before we hand you a Sunday bulletin at the church door we should ask, “Do you really know what you’re getting into?
Elijah first and then his protégée Elisha exemplify the kind of following Jesus asks of those who would come after him. In these ancient legends we learn how to follow, not always an easy task.
Elisha asks to inherit a double portion of Elijah’s spirit. That reminds me of the two disciples who ask to sit on Jesus’ right and left hands in his kingdom. We always think the rewards will be glorious. But, followers do not make the rules or set the terms. Soon we find out the rewards of faithful following are glorious, but v-e-r-y different than we imagined.
Elijah wisely leaves the decision of his successor up to God. God does confirm Elijah’s choice of Elisha as his successor and Elisha picks up Elijah’s mantle (cloak) and parts the Jordan River just as Moses had done and continues the ministry assigned to his master.
We are schooled for leadership. Leaders are praised; leaders are rewarded. Society reveres leaders. Last Wednesday and Thursday evenings we watched twenty individuals who think they should be the leader of this country. But have you ever wondered what makes a good follower? Today’s scripture present us with two excellent models of following. Twice Elijah beckons Elisha to turn back and twice Elisha replies “I will not leave you.”
- a good follower is persistent;
- a good follower is faithful, even in times of uncertainty;
Elisha was a gentle prophet, doing acts of kindness for almost fifty years of faithfulness to God. Several of Elisha’s recorded miracles in the Hebrew Scripture book of 2 Kings are repeated by Jesus years later (raising the dead, feeding a multitude with a meager portion of food). Elijah and Elisha are certainly prophets Jesus studied and revered as he discerned his journey to Jerusalem and his God-given purpose of bringing salvation to all. These prophets suggest to us that faithful following may be expressed by a commitment to discerning God’s will. Faithfulness may be expressed by embracing the suspense and ambiguity that is part of life and asking “what is God calling me to do in this situation?” Elisha’s model of following leads us to seriously consider putting aside our own self interest and trusting the One to whom we pledged our allegiance at our Baptisms or Confirmations, the Lord who has built his church on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Amen.