Passing the Torch

There becomes a moment or a series of moments when the torch is passed from the teacher to the pupil. It happened with the great artists Michelangelo that taught Raphael; philosophers, from Plato, Socrates and Aristotle. There was a legacy of people connected by the torch of the gospel passing from one person to another. Sunday School teacher Edward Kimball helped lead Dwight L. Moody to Christ; J. Wilbur Chapman was converted at a Dwight L. Moody evangelistic meeting; Billy Sunday was converted at a Chapman meeting; Mordecai Ham was converted at Billy Sunday meeting; and Billy Graham was converted at a Ham meeting. While it may be loosely connected by some people, the fact that people were touched by each of these events that lead to their salvation is amazing and we wonder, who will get the torch now? We don’t know but we can’t let the fact that we can’t see the torch keep us from bearing the gospel! We’ll see more about that later but let’s look at a truly awesome torch passing moment between a teacher and his protégé. Elijah’s life happened in the Old Testament, around 900 B.C and God did some awesome things with Elijah. He was a powerful prophet of God who could petition God through prayer for the rain to stop and it would. He could call down fire from Heaven through prayer as well as make a king and queen scared of him! Elijah wasn’t perfect but he did as the Lord told him and was blessed mightily. “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. James 5:16-18.” People paid attention when Elijah came around. However, Elijah knew he wasn’t going to be around forever, people did hate him after all. So, after the whole Jezebel incident, Elijah went fleeing for his life, God told Elijah that he wasn’t alone giving him confidence in the face of adversity. “So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him. 2 Kings 19:19.” Elisha followed Elijah and prophesied for God also, preaching and teaching the people about God Almighty but like many good things they must come to an end, but the legacy lived on!  “And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.” Obviously, something was fixing to happen! And all the prophets knew it. “And Elijah said unto Elisha, Tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel. And Elisha said unto him, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.” Elijah told Elisha, don’t leave yet! I’m not gone yet! But the prophets knew something big was fixing to happen and told Elisha, maybe to make Elisha feel bad or prepare him. “And the sons of the prophets that were at Bethel came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.” Elisha knew something was going to happen to Elijah but wanted them to be quiet. Reality hurts sometimes especially when we know the hard times of saying goodbye are coming. Elijah was doing a final tour of going to Bethel, next to Jericho, “And Elijah said unto him, Elisha, tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Jericho. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they came to Jericho.” Elisha waited, and was rewarded, his teacher was still there! But people still wouldn’t let it go and told Elisha, “And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.” At this point I’m sure Elisha was just trying to soak up everything he could. I don’t know how old he was or if he felt ready to take Elijah’s mighty spot, but it was coming soon. “And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the Lord hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on. And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan.” Elijah wanted some space from the others and have time to speak with his protégé Elisha. “And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground.” Wow, and we thought Moses only had that power! Elijah parted the water by using his mantle and hitting the Jordan River. Elisha had some big sandals to fill, could he do it? “And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.” I wonder if Elisha knew all the problems Elijah faced with the adversity and the burden he carried. We may envy people who do so much but the responsibility and burden they carry is a lot as well. “And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.” No one knew exactly when it would happen. Elijah had been moving around a lot and wanted to let Elisha know if he left then there was no way he could have what he asked. What Elisha asked was a lot, wanting what Elijah had but doubling down! As Jesus said, “But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.  Luke 12:48.” Elisha was asking a lot by having double portion of Elijah’s spirit. Would he be ready for the task when it befell him?  Elisha was fixing to find out! “And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.” What a vision! I can’t imagine what this looked like! They were separated by this awesome fiery vision of a chariot and horses fashioned of fire that that took Elijah up in a whirlwind up to Heaven. Talk about a way to go! Elisha was there! What everything come to pass? “And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.” No doubt Elisha was distraught, but Elijah didn’t die! God took him to Heaven, how awesome is that? Elisha now had a choice to make, would he follow through with what he told Elijah, or would he walk away? The Bible says, “He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;” The mantle was a piece of outer clothing, like a coat used to protect the person from the elements, Elisha had Elijah’s mantle that went him everywhere. I’m not sure if it had powers but it was something physical that Elisha had of his teacher Elijah. Elisha was going to see if he had the double portion that Elijah promised. “And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.” When I read this, I got chills. I’m sure that Elisha did too. The revelation and realization that Elijah’s legacy was passed down to no other but him. It became real when this happened; “And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him. 2 Kings 2:1-15.” The others knew, Elisha was now filling the sandals of Elijah and Elisha went on to do great things for God Almighty. Elisha ended up doing great things as well, by making a woman who was barren with child. Elisha also made the food constantly in supply for a widow woman and her son, as well as reviving her son from the dead. Elisha restored and showed the power of God. How does this help you and me? We may not be able to do the great things that Elisha and Elijah did but we can be a great protégé of Jesus Christ. And that’s where we’re going with next!

Jesus came to the Earth unparalleled with anyone before or after, He was after all God in the Flesh! He didn’t need anyone but did call men to help Him in his mission to tell others about Him. He called a mixed group of people that in no way could’ve gotten along unless God was there and guess what? He was! The disciples are named in this passage as well as the instructions Jesus gives them. “And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.” Fishermen, a tax collector, and a religious zealot, a Gentile and a traitor. Talk about your rag tag bunch of people! But Jesus had a plan for these guys that would rock the world now and forever! “These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence. And when ye come into an house, salute it. And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. Matthew 1:1-20.”  Jesus gave these men a great gift of not only hearing God in the Flesh speak and show miracles but give them special gifts also. Jesus wanted them to show the world what it was all about. Jesus preached for 3 ½ years from the moment he was baptized to the time he ascended into Heaven. When Jesus’ work was done on the Earth, He went back into Heaven. “And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” What now? Jesus is gone into Heaven. His work is done. But what about the Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey. And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. Acts 1:7-14.” Even after Jesus ascended the disciples and Jesus’ family still met for encouragement and to strengthen each other in the faith. The ones still here weren’t left behind to do nothing. They were there to fulfill a duty to God and mankind. As another biblical account says, “So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. Mark 16:19-20.” Jesus gave them a call that lasted longer than 3 ½ years, it went throughout their whole life. The Lord was with them, how amazing is that? Jesus, God in the flesh, passed the torch to some very unlikely people who fulfilled a job requirement like no other. “Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:16-20.”

The disciples were blessed and also knew their place as Jesus told them, “The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.” Matthew 10:24. The work was important, eternally so but the disciples were not to place themselves above God. Sadly, many people who get the torch from their teacher make themselves out to be greater and more innovative. They may have more popularity but like everyone else they had to learn and have time to grow. And we have a choice to make are we going to listen to our mentors or be too busy to be bothered? Just like these sisters who made their decisions, “Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. Luke 10:38-42.”  We all need time to sit at the feet of Jesus no matter what our calling may be; preacher, teacher, song leader, prayer warrior, treasurer, deacon, evangelist, choir director, missionary, or whatever God has called you to do. We need to be dutiful and prepared because we never know when the day will come when we must carry the torch that was passed to us or pass on the torch to someone else. We need to carry it wisely and freely give the word of God however we are called. As the scripture says, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2.” Jesus carried the torch to Earth; the disciples continued the work and many people have kept carrying it up to now and it is our responsibility. We may not have the awesome gifts that the disciples, Elijah or Elisha had but we have grace and the ability to have the Bible anytime we need it in whatever language we need.

So let us be prepared to share the gospel that is bestowed to us, “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:31, 32.” What are you going to do with the gospel? Hopefully you believe in it and trust Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Someone had the courage to share the gospel to us, but will we have the courage when it is our time to share? What will you do when it is your time to pass the torch?