Jun 27 2019 - 2 Kings 2:1-18 – Elijah taken up to heaven

Elijah, you will remember, had recruited Elisha to be his disciple – to be with him and to learn from him.

Today's reading describes a very special day in the life of both of these prophets. Elijah seems to know that the time has come for him to leave the world and he seeks to do so quietly and on his own, but Elisha will not leave his side. First they travelled to Bethel and then to Jericho. At both towns, prophets came out to tell Elisha that the Lord would take his master from him that day. Elisha acknowledges that he too knows this.

Finally, Elijah travelled to the Jordan river with Elisha accompanying him. At the river, Elijah took off his cloak, rolled it up and struck the waters with it. The waters divided and the two prophets crossed on dry ground. Elijah is leaving the Promised Land just as the children of Israel had entered it.

Having crossed the river, Elijah asked Elisha, "Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?" (v. 9). Elisha asks for a double portion of the spirit that has filled Elijah; he wants to be like his master and to serve the living God as Elijah had done. Elisha is promised that if God enables him to see Elijah taken up from him his wish will be granted.

As they continued walking and talking together, "suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind" (v. 11). Elisha picked up Elijah's cloak that had fallen from him and, tearing off his own clothes, took up his master's cloak. When he got back to the Jordan he struck the water with the cloak, the waters parted and he walked through on dry ground. When he met the bands of the prophets, they recognised that, "The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha" (v. 15). The evidence for this will be seen in the things Elisha is able to do in the name of the Lord, things similar to those previously done by his master.

Jesus had chosen twelve special disciples to be with him always, to learn of him and help him in the work of the kingdom entrusted to him by his Father. They were devastated when he was crucified; their hopes of the kingdom were dashed. But when he rose from the dead and met with them again, their hopes were revived. Imagine then that day when Jesus met with the remaining eleven on a hillside in Galilee and he was taken from them, ascending into heaven. How would they now continue his work?

A few days later this question is answered as, gathered again in Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit is poured out upon them from heaven. Now they are filled with the Spirit that animated the Lord Jesus and enabled him to be effective in the ministry the Father had given him. Now they were able to do similar works to him, and greater also for he had been taken from them. Three thousand were brought to own Jesus Christ as Lord on that first Day of Pentecost and billions more have come to know God through the Lord Jesus Christ since that day.

And today we also own Jesus as our Saviour and our Lord. He has called us to be his disciples – to follow him and to learn from him. He has given us his Spirit that we might be fully equipped to serve him in the work of the kingdom. What is keeping us from doing great things for our great God and our great Saviour, Jesus Christ?

Father God, we thank you for the Lord Jesus who has called us, in all our weakness and fear, to be his disciples. We thank you for your Spirit who makes the risen person and power of the Lord Jesus present to us. Send us out in the power of your Spirit to live and work to your praise and glory.

Peter Misselbrook