March 14, 2015

“Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground. As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha picked up Elijah’s mantle, which had fallen off him, and went back to the shore of the Jordan. He took the mantle that had fallen off Elijah, hit the water with it, and said, “Where is the Lord, the G*d of Elijah?” When he hit the water, it divided and Elisha crossed over.” 2 Kings 2:8-14

What does it mean to “pass on a mantle to someone else?” It means to hand the leadership to a new leader. Elijah was on a “farewell tour” of sorts as he came to the end of his earthly life. Along with him is Elisha – the one to whom Elijah was about to pass the mantle. In being able to see Elijah ascend into heaven, Elisha is rewarded with his “double portion”, and the mantle of Elijah drops at his feet.

Did you ever pick up the mantle from someone? Was leadership ever passed along to you? Just before Jesus leaves his disciples to ascend into heaven, he tells them to “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and to teach them to obey all that Jesus had taught them.” (Matthew 28:19ff) This was Jesus’ way of passing on the mantle of leadership to his disciples, so that they would go forward and continue his ministry, and to grow the church. The Gospel of Mark finishes with the disciples returning home and not saying anything to anyone. We know intrinsicly this did not happen. They did eventually go forward and share the good news that the kingdom of G*d had come near in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, and that something new was now to be taught concerning G*d’s mysterious ways. And the disciples handed on the mantle to others, and so it continues to today. You and I have received the mantle from the great cloud of witnesses that have gone on before us, but who passed along the faith to us before they left. We need to pick it up – strike out on our way to share the good news – and eventually pass along the mantle of faith to others.  Jesus is depending on us.

Pastor Dave