Greetings, you who are loved by the Lord Jesus Christ,
Today let us look at the confusion among the disciples following Jesus’ statement concerning the resurrection:
And they seized upon that statement, arguing with one another what rising from the dead meant.
— Mark 9:10
This comes immediately after Jesus told them not to share what they had seen at the transfiguration until He was raised from the dead. Mark tells us that the disciples seized on that statement, and began arguing among themselves about what “rising from the dead” really meant.
The Jews already believed in a general resurrection that would take place at the end of time, when everyone would be raised. But here, Jesus was speaking of a very specific resurrection—His own. This was new to their theology, and they were puzzled by it.
Taking their cue from what they already knew, they remembered that their theology taught that certain things must happen before the general resurrection—one of which was the coming of certain prophets. So they asked Jesus about this:
And they began asking Him, saying, “Why is it that the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
— Mark 9:11
This question refers back to the prophecy of Malachi:
“Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome day of Yahweh.”
— Malachi 4:5
The disciples understood that before the end-time resurrection, Elijah must first come. So they were confused when Jesus spoke of His own resurrection while they had not yet seen Elijah appear.
Jesus then clarified the true meaning of Malachi’s prophecy. The disciples expected a literal Elijah to return, but Jesus explained it differently:
And He said to them, “Elijah does first come and restore all things. And yet how is it written of the Son of Man that He will suffer many things and be treated with contempt?”
— Mark 9:12
Jesus affirmed that Elijah would come first to restore all things. And Scripture reveals that this prophecy pointed not to Elijah himself, but to John the Baptist, who came in the spirit and power of Elijah.
“And he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
— Luke 1:17
The Jews were expecting Elijah in person, but Malachi’s prophecy was fulfilled in John the Baptist, who had already come.
Jesus then connected this fulfilled prophecy to another one—that the Messiah would suffer. The disciples knew of these prophecies, such as those given by Isaiah:
Surely our griefs He Himself bore,
And our sorrows He carried;
Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten of God, and afflicted.
But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our peace fell upon Him,
And by His wounds we are healed.
— Isaiah 53:4–5
Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would be the suffering servant, bearing the sins of His people. Jesus explained that just as Elijah had come in John the Baptist, so too must the Messiah suffer, according to Scripture.
The disciples had expected a conquering warrior Messiah who would deliver them from Roman oppression. But Jesus revealed that His victory and deliverance would come through His suffering.
He concluded with this statement:
“But I say to you that Elijah has indeed come, and they did to him whatever they wished, just as it is written of him.”
— Mark 9:13
Elijah had come—John the Baptist in the spirit of Elijah—and he also suffered, ultimately being beheaded by Herod.
Even today, many wrestle with the same questions: If Jesus is the Son of God, why did He suffer and die? Why would God allow it? These questions challenge the truth of Scripture, yet Jesus shows us that these things happened precisely because they were written beforehand.
All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.
— 2 Timothy 3:16
Know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes by one’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever made by the will of man, but men being moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
— 2 Peter 1:20–21
The Bible contains over 300 prophecies about Jesus—His birth, His lineage, His ministry, His miracles, His crucifixion, His resurrection, and His ascension—all fulfilled in the New Testament. This overwhelming evidence shows that Scripture has one divine Author: God Himself.
Fulfilled prophecy confirms that the Scriptures are true. And if Scripture is true, then so are its warnings, promises, and message of salvation.
Paul puts it this way:
Now I make known to you, brothers, the gospel which I proclaimed as good news to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I proclaimed to you as good news, unless you believed for nothing. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.
— 1 Corinthians 15:1–4
The accuracy of prophecy assures us that we can trust God’s Word. It shows us that we are sinners in need of redemption, and that Jesus is the sacrifice who turns away God’s wrath. By faith, His perfect life is credited to us, His death pays for our sins, and His resurrection secures eternal life for us.
For those who believe, let us rejoice in the truthfulness of Scripture and the certainty of our salvation in Christ. For those who have not yet believed, let us humble ourselves, trust the Scriptures, and put our faith in Jesus Christ—the only Redeemer who can save us from God’s wrath and give us eternal life.
Grace and peace be multiplied to you all.
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