N
NotWorthy
Guest
Mark Twain once said, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it sure does rhyme”. Before you ask, “what in the world are you talking about, John”, let me explain.
I was dwelling on the story of the Pentecost when the Apostles had their coming-out party. And something struck me. In a way, I’ve heard this story before.
In 2nd Kings 2:9-11, we see Elijah passing on his ministry to Elisha. Elisha would perform many of the miracles of Elijah and then some even greater ones. But the passage that really gets me is the phrase “May I receive a double portion of your Spirit”. Let me show the verses real quick: When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask for whatever I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha answered, "May I receive a double portion of your spirit." “You have asked something that is not easy,” he replied. “Still, if you see me taken up from you, your wish will be granted; otherwise not.” As they walked on conversing, a flaming chariot and flaming horses came between them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.
Now fast forward to the New Testament.
The Apostles witness Jesus being taken up from them, just as Elisha witnessed Elijah:
When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.
The Apostles received a double portion of Jesus Spirit just as Elijah did Elisha. When did this happen?
First in John 20: (Jesus) said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit.
Second in Acts 2: Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.
And the Apostles went on to do greater things than even Jesus. In John 14, Jesus says:
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father.
So, I repeat myself: History doesn’t repeat itself, but it sure does rhyme
Your thoughts are most welcome on this subject!
Note: I realize that Elijah and Elisha are types of John the Baptist and Jesus, but the similarities in these two sequences struck me in the same way.
I was dwelling on the story of the Pentecost when the Apostles had their coming-out party. And something struck me. In a way, I’ve heard this story before.
In 2nd Kings 2:9-11, we see Elijah passing on his ministry to Elisha. Elisha would perform many of the miracles of Elijah and then some even greater ones. But the passage that really gets me is the phrase “May I receive a double portion of your Spirit”. Let me show the verses real quick: When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask for whatever I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha answered, "May I receive a double portion of your spirit." “You have asked something that is not easy,” he replied. “Still, if you see me taken up from you, your wish will be granted; otherwise not.” As they walked on conversing, a flaming chariot and flaming horses came between them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.
Now fast forward to the New Testament.
The Apostles witness Jesus being taken up from them, just as Elisha witnessed Elijah:
When he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.
The Apostles received a double portion of Jesus Spirit just as Elijah did Elisha. When did this happen?
First in John 20: (Jesus) said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit.
Second in Acts 2: Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.
And the Apostles went on to do greater things than even Jesus. In John 14, Jesus says:
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father.
So, I repeat myself: History doesn’t repeat itself, but it sure does rhyme
Your thoughts are most welcome on this subject!
Note: I realize that Elijah and Elisha are types of John the Baptist and Jesus, but the similarities in these two sequences struck me in the same way.
