Devotion 2.7.24

2 Kings 2

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.

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.”

11 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. 12 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.

13 Elisha then picked up Elijah’s cloak that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. 14 He took the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and struck the water with it. “Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.

This week is a week in which we take on the G.O.A.T conversations. Travis Kelce now ranks right up there with wide receiver Jerry Rice, hurdling past Gronkowski and other tight ends, with his record receptions in post-season, made possible by Patrick Mahomes, who is now also achieving past THE Tom Brady early in his career. Our friend Ryan Hyatt asked if Mahomes is the greatest Texas Tech athlete ever? That's easy but it's difficult if you look at the vast number of professional athletes that Tech has produced. Another Tech great played for KC early in its existence named Earl Holub, and if you look at female athletes, Sheryl Swoopes has certainly achieved well above every Tech athlete with Olympic gold (3X) and WNBA greatness with the then-Houston Comets (4X champion and 3X MVP), to name a few of her successes. GOAT conversations are fun, but they should always be started with "it depends."

Christ asks the disciples who they think he is in Matthew 16:

4 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

The answers show a certain amount of "it depends." They are still unclear as to who Christ truly is. Elijah is considered one of the more major of the major prophets, his significance filled on his duty and time of service (what he faced as a prophet who followed God faithfully), and that God spared him death as he ascended to heaven in a chariot of fire. He still holds a prominence to this day in the Jewish faith, and clearly did at this time in our readings.

A reading yesterday about Moses in the presence of God and today about Elijah must mean this Sunday is Transfiguration Sunday, a day we observe Christ in the presence of Moses and Elijah as Peter, James and John watch on a mountaintop. That Jesus is on a mountaintop with these two figures in Israel's history puts Him high up there, as his disciples grapple with who He actually is. Peter, though, knows exactly who Christ is as the Spirit speaks through Peter, giving Him a status all His own. We know, as did Peter, Christ is the Messiah. He is God's Son, who has been with the men He visits during Transfiguration and with His Father since before time and creation.

To Israel, the Transfiguration makes a statement. To us, it affirms our faith and what we know/believe. We pray that we share this faith with others so that they, too, get to know Christ.

Hope Men's Ministry is a ministry in service to Hope Lutheran Church and School. Our purpose is to grow, unite, and share God's Word to all men through meaningful activities. These activities center on fellowship, service, conversation, prayer, study and devotion as we seek to become men of God as He created us to be.