This is the Bible study which explores the Bible readings set for Sunday, February 14 according to the Revised Common Lectionary which is widely shared across denominations (ref. TLW06B). It draws its story from the three ‘windows’ of revelation, through the perspective of the Old Testament; then the NT gospel perspective of Jesus, who fulfilled the law and the prophets in His person; then from the perspective of spiritually-reborn Spirit-enabled believers in the early church being helped to live their new lives well, in the expectation of Jesus’ return. We recommend you read the Bible passages as they stand first and let them speak to you, then dig deeper with the verse by verse commentary, reflection notes and discussion points. There’s a link to download a print edition and it’s OK to copy this for your own use, your group or church.
2 Kings 2:1-12 — Elijah’s ministry ends as he is swept up to heaven
Mark 9:2-9 — Heaven opens to reveal the glory of heaven on Jesus
2 Corinthians 4:3-6 — How the glory of Christ is hidden at first
And also read: Psalm 50:1-6
Theme: Heaven reveals God’s glory
• Linked article for February 14: ‘God’s presence comes with heaven’s brilliance’
2 Kings 2:1-12 — Elijah’s ministry ends as he is swept up to heaven
Elisha accompanies him on his final journey and asks to inherit his anointing
1 When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.
“When the Lord was about to take Elijah” — preparing hearers for an amazing story which follows.
“Gilgal” — north of Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, not the Gilgal near Jericho.
2 Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel.
“Stay here” — three times Elijah urges Elisha to stay behind, perhaps to test his resolve. He replies with a solemn vow. He was appointed as Elijah’s successor, and was aware of what was to happen as the story shows.
• For further study, read 1 Kings 19:16-21.
3 The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?”
“Yes, I know,” Elisha replied, “so be quiet.”
4 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, Elisha; the Lord has sent me to Jericho.” And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So they went to Jericho.
“Jericho” — rebuilt after its destruction. At this time there were companies or schools of prophets at Gilgal, 2 Kings 4:38, Bethel, v.3 and Jericho, v.5. Elijah travels by divine instruction to each group for a final meeting.
5 The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?”
“Yes, I know,” he replied, “so be quiet.”
6 Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here; the Lord has sent me to the Jordan.” And he replied, “As surely as the Lord lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them walked on.
7-8 Fifty men from the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan. Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
“Fifty men” — many witnesses for the miracle that followed.
“Elijah took his cloak” — This event is full of symbolism as Elijah rolls up his cloak and uses it as Moses had used his staff when God parted the Red Sea, then crosses over to the region where Moses died.
• For further study, read Exodus 14:21-31, Deuteronomy 34:1-6.
9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?”
“Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied.
“Inherit a double portion” — he applies the principle of the firstborn to ask for a spiritual inheritance. Who could follow Elijah’s ministry? Elisha knows he doesn’t have what it takes to carry on Elijah’s work.
10 “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours — otherwise, it will not.”
“If you see me when I am taken” — Only God could grant that request, but seeing what happened would be a sign to encourage Elisha.
11-12 As they were walking along 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. Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his garment and tore it in two.
“Elijah went up to heaven” — according to the biblical record, only Enoch, Genesis 5:24, and Elijah went to the Lord without dying first. Jesus, after His resurrection, was the only other person to be taken in bodily form to heaven.
“The chariots and horsemen of Israel” — a title recognising that Israel’s strength was not its army but its faithful prophet who delivered the word of the Lord.
“Tore [his garment] in two” — a sign of sorrow but also transition of the anointing as Elisha then picks up the cloak, 2 Kings 2:13-14, that had dropped from Elijah.
Reflection
SUMMARY Elijah is coming to the end of an eventful ministry at a turbulent time, and makes a final round trip to three of the companies of prophets he has established. Elisha, already singled out by God as his successor, proves his resolve by insisting on accompanying Elijah and witnesses his final miracle, seeing the water of the Jordan part, in the manner of Moses and God’s parting of the Red Sea. Elijah crosses over to the region where Moses died. Then in a sudden and dramatic vision, a flaming chariot with horses manifests and Elijah is swept up with them and out of sight.
APPLICATION Elijah is an iconic figure representing the school of prophets generally. He appeared at the transfiguration of Jesus, representing the wisdom of the prophets, together with Moses, who represented the wisdom of the Law, Mark 9:4-5 below. The story of the succession of Elisha from Elijah is that the Lord calls and anoints people for service – outstanding, memorable, dangerous service in the case of these two. Although associated with eye-watering miracles, their lesson to us is not exalting themselves, and being especially reliant on the Holy Spirit’s leading and empowering.
QUESTION What kind of ministry might look a little like Elijah or Elisha today? Why is it needed?
Mark 9:2-9 — Heaven opens to reveal the glory of heaven on Jesus
Three disciples with Jesus on the mountain see Him joined by Elijah and Moses
2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them.
“After six days” — following Peter’s declaration that Jesus was the Messiah, and Jesus’ teaching on how it led to the Cross, Mark 8:27-31. This event confirms what Peter had expressed.
“Up a high mountain” — probably near Mt Hermon.
“Transfigured” — meaning changed in physical appearance.
3-4 His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.
“Dazzlingly white” — Jesus was born as man, requiring Him to lay aside His divinity and glory, Philippians 2:6-7. However He remains fully God, and for this moment He reveals the heavenly glory that He had before coming to earth, and will have at His second coming.
• For further study, see 2 Peter 1:17; John 17:5; Luke 24:26; Mark 8:38, 13:26.
5-6 Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters — one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)
“Moses and… for Elijah” — Elijah, representing the Prophets, and Moses, representing the Law, are talking with Jesus, who is greater than either of them and represents the fulfilment of the Law and the Prophets, 1 Kings 19:8, Exodus 24:1, 9.
7 Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: “This is My Son, whom I love. Listen to Him!”
“A cloud” — the glory cloud symbolic of God’s presence throughout the OT, Exodus 40:34-38.
“A voice came” — one of three occasions when God’s voice was heard audibly: at Jesus’ baptism, here, and during His triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
• For further study see Mark 1:11; John 12:28.
8 Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
“Not to tell anyone” — Jesus’ transfigured glory needs to be seen in the light of His suffering, death and resurrection. Nationalistic expectations were a barrier. After the resurrection the disciples were to share their experience with everyone.
• For further study, see Mark 5:19, 43; Matthew 8:4; Matthew 16:40.
Reflection
SUMMARY Peter’s declaration that Jesus was the Messiah, closely followed by the Transfiguration on the mountain in the dazzling brightness of God’s glory, and the recognisable figures of Moses and Elijah appearing to fellowship with the Lord, are at the high point of Mark’s account. From here the action in Judea moves to the story’s low point around His trial and crucifixion. The disciples, now believing Jesus was the Messiah, needed to see the heavenly glory on Him before the dark days that lay ahead.
APPLICATION Is the Lord we love the divine Person of the three that make up the godhead? Or is He an extraordinarily anointed human being? He is both, which can be difficult for us. It was for those first disciples who were still working out that He had laid aside his divine majesty, to be one of them — and to fully participate in our human life.
QUESTION Why did Jesus invite just Peter, James and John to join him on the mountain?
2 Corinthians 4:3-6 — How the glory of Christ is hidden at first
Man’s sin has allowed the devil to keep people in the dark about Jesus
3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.
“Our gospel is veiled” — to everyone who has not yet believed the Good News. Accepting Jesus as Lord breaks the confusion and deception the devil tries to maintain.
4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
“The god of this age” — we are either blinded to the truth by the deception of the devil, the power behind all unbelief and ungodliness; or we turn to trust Jesus and revelation about Him comes .
“Cannot see the light of the gospel” — it is a choice for people living under the spiritual realm ruled by the god of this world, to believe in Jesus and receive the light of God’s presence, Col. 2:12-14; 1 Peter 2:9. This move towards the light is contested by the devil.
5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.
“We preach… not ourselves” — especially in proud, opinionated Corinth. To say “Jesus Christ is Lord” is to serve other believers, not be a spiritual overlord.
6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
“Let light shine of darkness” — in the first creation God commanded light to come into the world. In the personal new creation, which happens when we turn to God in faith, He ‘turns on’ the light in our hearts, dispelling the darkness, so we see who Jesus Christ is.
Reflection
SUMMARY In a similar way to the glory of God appearing and revealing something of heaven’s glory around Elijah, and revealed to the disciples on the mountain top, so the spiritual darkness, confusion and ignorance about Jesus disappears in a flash of glory in our hearts, the moment we accept Jesus by faith. As the word of God caused light to come into the world, our word of faith in Jesus releases spiritual light into our heart.
APPLICATION The Christian faith is not a philosophy with a logical line of reasoning; neither is it a form or order that we follow religiously, although that has been constructed out of it. It is a revelation which causes a release and leads into a relationship. Like it or not, we were born sinful, under Adam’s curse, and only one person can release us from that — Jesus. We have to believe who He is before we get to see who He is, but that decision of faith to believe in Jesus is like turning on a light switch. The devil’s deception through darkness is broken, and spiritual realities that were hidden to us before start being revealed.
QUESTION What is your story of believing in the dark, and then seeing in the light of Jesus?
PRAYER Lord, in these dark days may we carry an anointing of Your glory to be Your light to others.
You are perfect in beauty, majestic in glory and yet patient and compassionate, always revealing Yourself by Your Spirit.
We intercede for those we know and love, for whom the Good News of Jesus is veiled, and prevented by darkness from knowing You in Your glory through Jesus.
May they find You by trust and themselves become Your lights to others
Let Your light and Your faithful care over our neighbourhood lead very many to You. We seek Your glory in revival, and we pray this in and through the Name above all names, the glorious Lord Jesus. Amen.
And also read: Psalm 50:1-6
1 The Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to where it sets.
2 From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.
3 Our God comes and will not be silent; a fire devours before Him, and around Him a tempest rages.
4 He summons the heavens above, and the earth, that He may judge His people:
5 “Gather to Me this consecrated people, who made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.”
6 And the heavens proclaim His righteousness, for He is a God of justice.
///////
TLW PRINT EDITION Download a PDF of the print edition here. Permission given to reproduce for your own use, your church bulletin or house group. Prints on A4 paper to form a four-page Bible-size folder.
Leave a Reply