Elijah and Elisha
Prophets
God has let them in on what he’s doing
Elijah felt
1 Kings 19
Take my life, I’m all alone
God showed him that this wasn’t the case
Provided perspective AND Elisha
Now, at the end of this life, he has the freedom to try to talk them out of coming
People to care for
Real community - that tells him no
Crossing the Jordan by Jericho
Monumentous location
Moses and Joshua
Moses
Slavery, Torah, Wilderness
Moses was taken up
Joshua - all these people…one big river
God provided a way, led the people across dry land
River
Now, the very elderly Elijah stands on the banks of the river
Rolls up his cloak
Again, God splits the river
Elijah, another prophet - dry feet and access to the other side
Elijah - before I go, what can I ask for you?
Double portion
Not what you think
Full
If you see me, the answer is yes - if not, the answer is no
And they kept walking and talking
Chariots of fire came and separated them and they took Elijah up
Tore his clothes - a sign of mourning
Death of those in the Lord, good for them, devastating for us
Left with Elijah’s cloak
River
Cross over?
Cloak divides the
Double portion confirmed
Their is a prophet like Elijah in the land
Prophet
Heals the curse of Jericho
Protected from mockery
We use teasing as a sign of affection
Mockery - a form of idolatry
Highlight 2 things
1). Word of the Lord keeps going
Tension - will this keep going?
We see something God is doing - we try to hold on tightly
We know the line is thin
Often respond with fear or fake
2).Moses/Elijah Connection
Tranfiguration
Prophet
Peter - Build a booth - keep it here
Jesus, the new and better Moses and Elijah
Outside Jericho, the cursed city
Joshua goes across
Elijah and Elisha go across
John the Baptist - the new Elijah, the new prophet
baptizing - cleansing ritual
Jesus
Water does not part
We no longer need to get from here to there
But from here to God himself
Waters of Jericho are cursed - death and miscarriage
Jesus the Living Word is here
Cursed Water now purifies us
Jesus takes the curse on himself
No bears come and resuce Jesus’ honor
Beaten and mocked
Now, because of the cross and the empty tomb
We have access
The Great Divide has parted
Let’s come to the Table