Well, friends, can I just repeat something I said last night?
What a pleasure it is to be with you
and how much I admire those of you who have come with little children
or even not quite so little children.
It's a big thing to come away for a weekend like this.
It's tiring and stressful and you need a week off after it,
that kind of thing, but it really is terrifically worthwhile.
It's worthwhile not only for you but for your kids
and I just encourage you to keep on investing in church life
as part of your family life.
It really is a big thing and will mean a lot
and there are lots of good things we like to do for our kids.
There aren't that many better than investing your life
and your family's life in the life of God's people.
However, I want to begin this morning.
2 Kings chapter 2 is the part of the Bible
that you should have open in front of you.
But I want to begin by just raising the question
as to whether you've noticed
how many people think
that the world that they know
and that they understand
and they're familiar with
is the real world.
You come across that kind of idea.
Older people quite often look at younger people
and say something like
wait till they get into the real world.
By which they mean the world of adult work and responsibility
the world that they live in.
And then younger people
often think that older people
or at least some older people like me
are out of touch.
And by that they mean
out of touch
with the world that they know
and understand.
Their real world.
These days I find myself feeling
as a city dweller
watching
the hard times
being endured
by so many people
in rural Australia
with drought and fire and so on
and some recently with floods.
I sometimes wonder
what I know
of the real world
protected as I am
in my comfortable
city existence.
that idea that the world
we are familiar with
or world
is the real world
most of the time
those who are accused
of being out of touch
with the real world
find it a little bit
insulting.
We don't like being told
that our world
our experience
our understanding
is inferior
is inadequate
is out of touch
with something
more important.
And I found myself
wondering whether
that is part of the reason
that people don't really
like the message
of the Bible.
Because the Bible
tells us
that the real world
the real world
is bigger
than any of us know.
We are out of touch.
Seriously
out of touch.
The real world
is more
than we can see
than we can hear
than we can feel.
And this matters
because
well let's see
why it matters
by following
the story of Joshua
not Joshua
Elisha
these names
get all confusing
don't they?
They're all sort of
so similar
and overlapped.
Elisha
when he next appears
in 2 Kings
chapter 2.
The event
we're about to witness
and I know
you've been reading
2 Kings
and so you are
many of you
at least
will be familiar
with this story
it occurred
these events
somewhere in the
850s B.C.
And the event
in 2 Kings
chapter 2
is one of those
utterly astonishing
events
which the Bible
records
that shows us
the real world.
indeed
I would say
here we have
an event
that actually
illuminates
everything.
The event
has links
to others
like it
as you read
through this
chapter
we won't have
time to do
very much
of this
but it reminds
you of all
sorts of
other things
other particular
moments in the
Bible story
if we read
it carefully
it's hard to
avoid being
reminded of the
exodus from
Egypt in the
days of Moses
certainly we'll
be reminded of
the entry into
the promised
land under
Joshua's
leadership
we might also
find ourselves
thinking of the
occasion in the
life of Jesus
known as the
transfiguration
I'm not going to
mention that but
there are links
to that event
as well as the
resurrection and
ascension of
Jesus and the
pouring out of
the Holy Spirit
they're all linked
to what happens
in 2 Kings
chapter 2
the story we're
about to follow
is very weighty
well I want us
to listen to it
we're going to do
things a little bit
differently to what
I usually do
this time I told you
last night you're
guinea pigs this
mightn't work
too bad we'll just
do our best
it won't hurt you
to listen to the
Bible anyway
whether the rest
of what I say
works that's another
matter but
2 Kings chapter
2 I want us to
listen to the
whole story
we're not going
to go through
it in detail
in our thinking
but having listened
to the story
I'm then going
to try and pick
up on four big
things that we
learned from what
happened on this
day long long
ago
alright follow
with me in 2
Kings chapter 2
from verse 1
I'm reading in the
ESV if your
translation is
significantly different
and you're puzzled
by that you can
ask me about that
later on
2 Kings chapter 2
from the top
now when the
Lord was about
to take Elijah
up to heaven
by a whirlwind
Elijah and
Elisha were on
their way from
Gilgal
just to insert
here this is the
first time that
Elisha has been
mentioned since the
account we looked
at last night in
1 Kings 19
that call
although we can
assume that
Elisha has been
with Elijah all
the time
we were told that
he became his
assistant
and so I think
Elisha has been
there he hasn't
been mentioned
but now he is
mentioned
verse 2
and Elijah said
to Elisha
please stay here
for the Lord
has sent me as
far as Bethel
but Elisha said
as the Lord
lives and as
you yourself
live I will
not leave you
so they went
down to Bethel
and the sons
of the prophets
who were in
Bethel came out
to Elisha
these sons of
the prophets
we're going to
hear a lot
more about
them
they seem to
have been
kind of
followers or
disciples of
Elijah and
Elisha in
various places
around the
countryside
well they came
out and they
said to
Elisha do
you know
that today
the Lord
will take
away your
master from
over you
and he said
yes I know
keep quiet
Elijah said
to him
Elisha please
stay here
for the Lord
has sent me
to Jericho
but he said
as the Lord
lives and as
you yourself
live I will
not leave you
so they came
to Jericho
the sons of
the prophets
who were at
Jericho drew
near to Elisha
and said to
him
do you
know that
today the
Lord will
take away
your master
from over
you
and he
answered
yes I
know
keep quiet
then Elijah
said to him
this is getting
a little bit
tedious isn't
it not
tedious it's
actually very
interesting but
it's getting
repetitive
then Elijah
said to him
please stay
here for
the Lord
has sent
me to
the Jordan
but he
said as
the Lord
lives and
as you
yourself
live I'm
not going
to leave
you so
the two
of them
went on
50 men
from the
sons of
the prophets
I think
the sons
of the
prophets
in Jericho
also went
and stood
at some
distance
from them
as they
both were
standing
by the
Jordan
there on
the west
side of
the Jordan
if you're
trying to
picture this
scene
and 50
men
watching
them
then Elijah
took his
cloak
you remember
that cloak
from last
night
and rolled
it up
and struck
the water
and the
water was
parted
to the
one side
and to
the other
until the
two of
them could
go over
on dry
ground
and when
they crossed
Elijah said
to Elisha
ask what I
shall do
for you
before I
am taken
from you
and Elisha
said
please
let there
be a
double
portion
of your
spirit
on me
and he
said
you've
asked a
hard
thing
yet
if you
see me
as I'm
being taken
from you
it shall
be so
for you
but if
you do
not see
me
it shall
not be
so
and as
they still
went on
and talked
behold
chariots
of fire
and horses
of fire
separated
the two
of them
and Elijah
went up
by a
whirlwind
into heaven
and Elisha
saw it
and he
cried
my father
the chariot
of Israel
and its
horsemen
and he
saw him
no more
then he
took hold
of his
own clothes
and tore
them in
two pieces
and he
took up
the cloak
of Elijah
that had
fallen from
him
and went
back and
stood at
the bank
of the
Jordan
then he
took the
cloak of
Elijah
that had
fallen
from him
and struck
the water
saying
where is
the Lord
the God
of Elijah
and when
he had
struck
the water
was parted
to the one
side and
to the other
and Elisha
went over
now when the
sons of the
prophets
who were at
Jericho
saw him
opposite them
this is the
50 men who'd
been watching
at a distance
they said
the spirit
of Elijah
rests on
Elisha
and they
came to
meet him
and bowed
down to
the ground
before him
and they
said to
him
behold
now
there are
with you
there are
with your
servants
50 strong
men
please let
them go
and seek
your master
Elijah
it may be
that the
spirit of
the Lord
has caught
him up
and cast
him on
some
mountain
or into
some
valley
and he
said
you shall
not
send
but when
they urged
him
till he
was ashamed
he said
send
they sent
therefore
50 men
and for
three days
they sought
him
but they
didn't find
him
and they
came back
to him
to Elisha
while he
was staying
at Jericho
and he
said to
them
didn't
I say
to you
do not
go
quite a
story
eh
quite an
event
I'm a
little
puzzled
that we're
not more
familiar
with it
I mean
it's not
an unknown
event
it's not
a really
obscure
event
in the
Bible
but such
a remarkable
event
it's not
one of the
top three
that you'd
think of
in the
Bible
events
you're
familiar
with
as the
chapter
begins
the time
had come
we're told
for Elijah
to depart
from this
world
it's quite a
moment
Elijah
if you've
been reading
the whole
story
Elijah
first
appeared
in this
account
in 1
Kings 17
verse 1
we noted
that last
night
in the
days
of that
dreadful
king
Ahab
and his
even more
dreadful
wife
Queen
Jezebel
and about
20 years
have passed
if you calculate
it out
it looks like
around about
20 years
can't work
it out
exactly
but there's
been about
20 years
Elijah has
been around
and Elijah
remember his
name
my God
is Yahweh
that's what
his name
means
he's been
a very
powerful
figure
in Israel's
history
the story
of Elijah
has been
exciting
and dramatic
but Elijah
as we're
going to
see
was actually
preparing
the way
for
Elisha
and
Elisha's
time
had come
see how
verse 1
says
the Lord
was about
to take
Elijah
up to
heaven
by a
whirlwind
now
the departure
of most
people from
this world
including
you and
me
time will
come
we presume
the departure
of most
people from
this world
means their
death
and usually
they're
buried
and for
obvious reasons
the Bible
often describes
this as
going down
in biblical
history up
to this point
there have
been just
two exceptions
or variations
from the
norm
in Genesis
5
do you
remember
there was
we read
Enoch
who the
text says
it's really
one of those
phrases in the
Bible
what does
that mean
it says
he was
not
for God
took him
whatever that
precisely means
it sounds
as though it was
a little bit
different to
most of us
then much
later
Moses
died
and was
buried
but apparently
not by
human hand
and we read
at the end
of the book
of Deuteronomy
that no one
knows the place
of his burial
to this day
so that was
a little bit
unusual
but 2 Kings
chapter 2
verse 1
anticipates
that Elijah's
departure
will surpass
in wonder
and mystery
the departures
of Enoch
and Moses
the Lord
was about
to take
Elijah
up
to heaven
by a whirlwind
and as we'll see
these words
are to be taken
quite literally
now I'm sure
as we read
the story
I wonder
if your mind
was sort of
going in
various directions
and thinking
of connections
to other
Bible events
that crossing
of the Jordan
River
on dry ground
well that was
just like
what happened
centuries earlier
in the days
of Joshua
when the Israelites
you remember
first entered
the promised land
indeed
if you get out
a Bible atlas
and it's a really
good idea
to have a Bible
atlas
or a good
Bible map
as you're reading
particularly
these Old Testament
stories
and following
the movements
because the
assumption
of the writer
is that the
first readers
of this
will know
the geography
most of us
don't
and so it's
worth getting
out a Bible
atlas
and seeing
where
and if you
follow the
movements
of Elijah
and Elisha
you'd see
that as they
moved eastwards
towards the
Jordan River
and across
the Jordan River
it looked as
though they
were following
the path
of Joshua
and the Israelites
but in reverse
they were going
in the opposite
direction
it sort of
almost looks
like it was
a picture
of the judgment
that God
had warned
the people
that they
would suffer
of being
driven out
of the
promised land
as
Joshua
sorry
as Elisha
and Elijah
take that
path
so strikingly
similar to the
entry of the
promised land
across to the
east
I think I'm
getting east
and west
mixed up
don't worry
about it
if I've got
it wrong
just ignore
me
but then
what happened
Elisha
my God
saves
came back
now without
Elijah
and it was
a kind of
return to
the promised
land
it was a
kind of
picture of
redemption
now that's
important for
understanding the
significance of
Elijah
my God
is Yahweh
and Elisha
my God
saves for the
Old Testament
people of
Israel
but I want to
draw your
attention to
some other
connections
Elisha
and Jesus
it's interesting
to me that
after Elijah's
remarkable
departure
in 2 Kings
chapter 2
we find
almost no
mention of
him
throughout
the whole
of the rest
of the
Old Testament
until
the very
last words
of the
last book
in our
Old Testament
at the end
of the book
of the prophet
Malachi
we hear God's
promise that
goes like this
so right at the
end of our
Old Testaments
behold
I will send
you Elijah
the prophet
before the
great and
awesome day
of the Lord
comes
and as
Elijah
with his
message of
judgment
was preparing
the way for
what God
was going to
do through
Elisha
so God
is going to
send a new
Elijah
to prepare
the way for
the fulfilment
of God's
purposes
the great and
awesome day
of the Lord
well Elijah
sorry
I'm getting
all muddled
up
this is
Saturday
morning
I'm as
bad as
I was
on Friday
night
it was
about
450
years
later
after
Malachi
that
John the
Baptist
made his
public
appearance
in the
vicinity
of the
events
that we're
reading
about
in
2
Kings
chapter
2
and
John the
Baptist
when he
appeared
he was
clothed
like
Elijah
and he
was
preaching
repent
for the
kingdom
of heaven
is at
hand
he
looked
like
and he
sounded
like
Elijah
and the
New
Testament
tells us
that he
was the
promised
new
Elijah
who was
preparing
the way
for the
one who
would come
after him
and the
one who
came after
John the
Baptist
was of
course
Jesus
now I'm
sorry
making all
these
connections
I hope
you can
keep up
with this
but I
find it
all
interesting
it's
true
that I
find
some
things
interesting
that other
people don't
find interesting
but I'm
hoping I can
engage you
with this
Jesus'
name
is like
Elisha's
name
do you
remember
Elisha
means
my God
saves
Jesus
follow these
little technical
details
Jesus is
the Greek
for
Joshua
so
Jesus'
name
was
in Hebrew
Jesus'
name
was
Joshua
and Joshua
means
Yahweh
saves
Jesus
was given
this name
you remember
by the
angel who
visited
Mary
because he
will save
his people
from their
sins
now I don't
want to explore
this in further
detail just now
but we should be
aware that
as with the
Old Testament
generally
we read
and we
listen
to what the
Old Testament
teaches us
aware that
what we
learn from
these pages
has
important
connections
to even
more
amazing
events
concerning
Jesus
Christ
now we're
going to
come back
to that
back to the
story in
2 Kings 2
I'd like to
think about
what happened
but I'm
going to do
it backwards
you can cope
with that
just to be
different and
keep you on
your toes
on a Saturday
morning
I'd like to
think a little
bit about how
the story that
we just read
ends
remember there
were 50
sons of the
prophets from
Jericho
who I have
suggested I
think they were
disciples of
Elijah and
Elisha that
seems to fit with
what we're told
about them
and they'd
been watching
from a
distance
as Elijah
and Elisha
crossed the
Jordan
going eastwards
I think I've
got it right
this time
the spectacular
event that
took place
on the east
side of the
Jordan River
was beyond
their sight
they didn't
see it
and then
they saw
Elisha return
across the
Jordan on
his own
and they drew
the conclusion
that Elisha
had succeeded
their master
and their
teacher
Elijah
you can see
that in
verse 15
what did
they think
had happened
to Elijah
because they
didn't see
what happened
but they saw
Elisha come
back on his
own
they knew
from earlier
in the story
they knew
that the
Lord was
going to
take Elijah
away
and that
had evidently
now happened
but how
had it
happened
perhaps they
thought he
died
or
perhaps they
thought that
Elijah had
been whisked
away somewhere
as was
rumoured to
have happened
before with
Elijah
Elijah kept
disappearing
all the time
and people
had theories
as to what
was happening
to him
right through
his life
but they
now say
to Elisha
you see
verse 16
behold now
they say
to Elisha
behold now
there are
with your
servants
50 strong
men
please let
them go
and seek
your master
Elijah
it may be
that the
spirit of
the Lord
has caught
him up
and cast
him down
on some
mountain
or valley
somewhere
now I
imagine
that these
50 are
not necessarily
thinking all
that clearly
but they
were perplexed
and they
were perplexed
about what
they'd seen
they'd been
perplexed
about what
they were
to do
they were
bewildered
by what
they had
not seen
and they
had an
understandable
I think
even
commendable
desire
to go
and find
their
esteemed
master
whether
he was
still alive
or dead
they didn't
want him
left
in the
hills
across
the
Jordan
well
imagine
their
confusion
when
their
new
master
rather
abruptly
rejected
their
proposal
it's in
verse 16
again
and Elisha
said
you shall
not
sin
don't
do it
now of
course
Elisha
knew
that
sending
out
a
search
party
was
pointless
but I
suspect
that he
felt
sort of
unable
to tell
the
sons of
the
prophets
what had
actually
happened
to his
master
I mean
how would
you describe
it
even the
writer
here
who's
writing
it
sometime
later
with the
calmness
of a
time
having
passed
he can
only
describe
it
in
one
verse
this
spectacular
thing
that
happened
there's
only one
verse
given
to it
but I'm
sure
that
Elisha
was still
rather
overwrought
by what
had
happened
what
he'd
seen
and hence
his rather
brusque
words
no don't
don't
do it
now
you notice
if you read
carefully
that the
sons of
the prophets
they
accepted
Elisha's
new
authority
they
didn't
feel
free
to
act
without
his
permission
but
at the
same
time
they
were
not
comfortable
with
this
refusal
don't
do
it
I
wonder
whether
they
suspected
that
perhaps
Elisha's
judgment
was
impaired
by his
grief
he's
not
he's
not
thinking
clearly
what
possible
justification
could
there
be
for
not
sending
a
search
party
out
to
find
Elijah
or
his
body
and so
verse
17
you've
got this
rather strange
description
but when
they
urged
him
until
he was
ashamed
he said
okay
send
they pressed
him
to authorise
a search
until
apparently
he felt
he couldn't
go on
refusing
it was
becoming
embarrassing
presumably
because
Elisha
found
himself
unable
to
explain
the
reason
for
his
refusal
what
had
happened
I'll
describe
it as
the
ascension
of
Elisha
that's
the
right
kind
of
language
I
think
it's
not
the
kind
of
event
you
could
easily
take
in
let
alone
explain
to
anyone
else
the
heavenly
world
had
invaded
the
world
with
which
we
think
we're
familiar
the
Lord
had
taken
Elijah
up
to
heaven
how
could
Elisha
explain
that
to
the
sons
of
the
prophets
I
find
myself
thinking
of
Jesus
attempts
to
explain
to
his
disciples
what
was
about
to
happen
to
him
you
remember
at
one
level
his
words
were
plain
enough
remember
Jesus
said
and
there
are
a
number
of
occasions
when
he
said
something
like
this
from
Mark
chapter
9
the
son
of
man
is
going
to
be
delivered
into
the
hands
of
men
they
will
kill
him
and
when
he
is
killed
after
three
days
he
will
rise
what
does
that
mean
the
disciples
couldn't
understand
and
we
read
that
they
were
afraid
to
ask
him
it
was
really
quite
beyond
them
but
Elisha
was
unable
to
persist
in
his refusal
to allow
a search
party
to go
out
so he
relented
he said
send
they
therefore
verse 17
sent
50 men
and for
three days
they sought
Elijah
but of course
they didn't
find him
it was
mission
impossible
the search
party would
have crossed
the Jordan
river
close to
the spot
where
Elijah
and
Elisha
had
crossed
I think
their feet
would have
been a little
bit more
damp
but then
they would
have
fanned
out
to search
through the
hills
and the
valleys
for any
sign
of
Elijah
50
strong
men
on the
move
for three
days
from dawn
till
dusk
they
would have
covered
a lot
of
territory
particularly
as they
were searching
for something
as large
and visible
as a human
body
and to
their
surprise
and their
puzzlement
they're not
out we're not
puzzled but they
would have been
puzzled they did
not find him
well of course
they didn't
we might say
he is not
here
just as
surely as
they did
not find
the body
of Jesus
in the
tomb
on Easter
day
they would
not find
the body
of Elijah
on the
hills
or in the
valleys
across the
Jordan
he's not
here
well the
search party
returned
to Elisha
who was
waiting for
them in
Jericho
verse 18
they had
nothing to
show for
their search
and Elisha
said to
them in
verse 18
did I
not say
to you
do not
go
one of the
interesting
things as
you read
the Bible
and you
read
conversations
is to
try and
imagine
what was
the tone
how did
he say
that I
don't think
it was
I told
you so
I don't
think it
was that
but he
was reminding
them that
he had
known all
along
that a
search
party
was not
necessary
now we
don't know
whether
Elisha
now made
some attempt
to explain
to the
sons of
the prophets
and to
the search
team
why it
was
that they
had not
found
Elijah
and how
he had
known all
along that
they wouldn't
they were a
bit like the
disciples of
Jesus on
Easter morning
cast your
mind back
then they
had one
vital piece
of information
the tomb
was empty
the body
of Elijah
was nowhere
to be found
but that
didn't tell
them what
had happened
and when
they eventually
learnt what
had happened
they could
understand that
it was this
kind of event
he is not
here
the ascension
of Elijah
I'll get
this sorted
out by the
end of the
weekend I
promise
the ascension
of Elijah
takes its
place with a
small number
of other
events in the
history of
this world
recorded in
the Bible
most importantly
the resurrection
and ascension
of Jesus
that tell us
that the
Bible's
message
is a great
deal more
than a
philosophy
of life
the Bible's
message is
a great deal
more than a
kind of
you know
how to live
a good life
message
in time
and space
the heavenly
world has
impacted this
world
the real
world
is bigger
than this
world
well let's
take a
closer look
for a few
minutes
at what
happened
on the
east side
of the
Jordan
that the
sons of
the prophets
were unable
to see
it was
beyond
their
gaze
there had
been
we just
go back
to verse
nine
I'm reading
the passage
backwards
because I've
got tired
of reading
forwards
go back
to verse
nine
there had
been a
remarkable
conversation
between
Elijah and
Elisha
in verse
nine
Elijah said
to Elisha
ask what
shall be
done for
you before
I am
taken from
you
and Elisha
said
please let
there be a
double portion
of your
spirit on
me
it's a
very strange
expression
that and
no one's
quite sure
what it
means
but there
is it's
in the
book of
Deuteronomy
from memory
I think it's
chapter 21
verse 17
if you're
taking notes
the only
other place
where you
find this
expression of
a double
portion
being used
and there
it's talking
about the
heir
the firstborn
who will be
the heir
and the
inheritor
and so it's
probable
whatever else
Elisha means
he's saying
please let me
be your
heir and
successor
something like
there may be
more involved
but that
seems to
be what
is implied
and verse
10
Elijah said
to him
you've
asked a
very hard
thing
yet if
you see
me as
I'm being
taken from
you it
shall be
so for
you but
if you
don't see
me it
shall not
be so
Elijah you
see seems
to be aware
of the
enormity of
the task
ahead for
his successor
you've asked
a very hard
thing he
seems to be
quite overcome
this is not
something that
Elijah can
do for
Elisha
it will
depend on
events beyond
the control
of either
of them
and they
walked on
the two of
them in
deep
conversation
it's a
very moving
scene
they're both
conscious
that they
were enjoying
their last
moments together
perhaps neither
of them had
any idea
exactly what
was going
to happen
but deep
in conversation
we're not
quite sure
how far
they walked
or how
long they
talked
and we're
not told
that but
we are told
that suddenly
their conversation
was dramatically
interrupted
verse 11
and as they
still went
on and
talked
behold
chariots
or possibly
a chariot
of fire
and horses
of fire
separated the
two of them
and Elijah
went up
by a whirlwind
into heaven
I think
you meant
to say
wow
we'd love
to know
more
we'd love
to understand
more
there's a
mystery here
the relationship
between the
earthly and
the heavenly
worlds
is beyond
our comprehension
it's a matter
it's a very
big mistake
to either
attempt
a precise
and literal
account
of these
things
or
to imagine
that something
we can't
fully understand
is unreal
or unimportant
the astonishing
spectacle
of Elijah's
ascension
though described
so remarkably
briefly here
it ought to
leave a deep
impression on us
as it certainly
did on Elisha
this was
apart from
anything else
this was
the most
powerful
possible
vindication
of the
person
and work
of Elijah
he'd
suffered
on earth
he was
hated
by kings
and one
particular
vicious
queen
you
troubler
of Israel
is what
Ahab
had called
him
but he
was received
into heaven
in stunning
glory
in the
real world
the real
world
the right
side to be
on is
Elijah's
side
and at
that moment
you can
see it
now although
the 50 men
standing back
on the other
side of the
Jordan
couldn't see
this
it was
witnessed
by Elisha
and impacted
him deeply
you see
what he
said in
verse 12
Elisha
saw it
and cried
my father
the
chariot
the Hebrew
is singular
the chariot
of Israel
and its
horsemen
and he
saw him
no more
can you
sense the
emotion
my father
Elisha's
heart
was torn
Elijah
and Elisha
had grown
close
like
father
and son
and when
he cried
out
the chariot
of Israel
and its
horsemen
he wasn't
describing what
he's seen
he was
referring to
Elijah
I can
demonstrate that
to you
but I won't
go into the
details now
Elijah
had been
the true
defender
of Israel
against her
most deadly
enemies
he had
been
Israel's
chariot
and horseman
but now
Elisha saw
him no more
and then we
read in verse
12 again
that Elisha
took hold
of his own
clothes
and tore
them
into two
pieces
such was
his grief
but his
action also
meant that
the time
had come
so to speak
to don
a new
garment
a new
responsibility
verse 13
he took
up the
cloak
of Elijah
that had
fallen
from him
and went
back and
stood on
the bank
of the
Jordan
keep your
eyes on
that cloak
verse 14
then he
took the
cloak
of Elijah
that had
fallen
from him
and he
struck
the water
saying
where is
the Lord
the God
of Elijah
where is
the God
of my
God
is Yahweh
Elijah
has now
been taken
up to
heaven
what does
that mean
does that
mean that
the Lord
has abandoned
Israel
the question
was spectacularly
and immediately
answered
verse 14
again
and when
he had
struck the
water
the water
was parted
to the one
side and to
the other
again
and Elisha
went over
and what
about those
50 men
who'd
witnessed
Elijah
and Elisha
cross the
Jordan
together
in the
other
direction
out of
the
promised
land
and now
saw
Elisha
crossing
back
into the
promised
land
alone
without
Elijah
verse 15
now when
the sons
of the
prophets
who were
at
Jericho
saw him
opposite
them
they said
the spirit
of Elijah
is on
Elisha
and they
came to
meet him
and they
bowed down
to the
ground
before him
the authority
of Elijah
had now
passed
to Elisha
that much
they understood
what they
may not
yet have
understood
but I'm
sure
Elisha
explained
to them
in due
course
was the
massive
significance
of what
had happened
over there
on the east
side of the
Jordan
I've called
it rather
blandly
on your
notes
this was the
last talk
I prepared
of the
four talks
that's why
the notes
are so brief
it was sort
of done
at the
last minute
and I've
put the
heading
the unseen
is bigger
than the
seen
okay
but
Elisha
you see
had been
given a
glimpse
of the
world
beyond
this
world
and I
want to
suggest
to you
that the
experience
he had
was like
the
resurrection
and the
ascension
of Jesus
do you
remember
what
happened
read to
us a
little bit
earlier
as the
disciples
were looking
on
in Acts
chapter 1
he was
lifted up
and a
cloud took
him from
their sight
and while
they were
gazing
into
heaven
as he
went
behold
two men
stood by
them
with white
robes
and said
men of
Galilee
why do
you stand
looking
into
heaven
this
Jesus
who was
taken
from you
into
heaven
will
come
in the
same
way
as you
saw
him
go
into
heaven
and
from
that
day
on
those
who
witnessed
that
event
knew
that
the
unseen
is
bigger
and more
important
than
the
seen
the
ascension
of
Elijah
provided
motivation
encouragement
and strength
to
Elisha
to continue
the work
of his
master
in the
power of
the spirit
that had
been given
to him
and so
friends
and I
think I'll
just skip
over the
last point
our time
has gone
I think
and your
patience
which is
extraordinary
must be
getting
near to
an end
but I
want to
remind us
that
what happened
to Elisha
now what's
happened to
Jesus
we are
now called
the wonderful
words in
Colossians
chapter 3
to set
our minds
and to
set our
hearts
on things
above
where
Christ
is
seated
at the
right hand
of God
we live
our lives
in this
world
we take
this world
seriously
we take
our
responsibilities
in this
world
seriously
yes
but we
set our
mind
we set
our
heart
on things
unseen
on things
above
where
Christ
is
and we
live in
this
world
we live
with our
relationships
in this
world
in the
light
of
what is
unseen
because
we are
looking forward
to the day
when we
too will
appear with
him in
glory
the
experience
on that
day so
long ago
that Elisha
witnessed
was a
glimpse
of what
has now
been seen
and passed
on to
us
in the
ascension
of Jesus
friends
do you
take life
seriously
like that
do you
live in
the real
world
do you
live in
the light
of the
real
world
the world
where Jesus
Christ
reigns
the world
where he
is seated
at the
right hand
of the
father
the world
where we
are waiting
for him
to return
for he
will
let's
pray
together
our
dear God
and heavenly
father
we thank
you
that the
real world
has invaded
this world
so that we
can live
in this
world
this wonderful
world that you
have made
and in which
you've placed
us
we can live
in this world
in the light
of reality
we pray
that you'd
help us
to do
that
we pray
that you'd
help us
to lift
our eyes
not just
to the
ascension
of Elijah
but to the
ascension
of Jesus
our Lord
who has
poured out
his spirit
on us
so that we
can live
here and
now
in the
light of
reality
we pray
this in
Jesus name
Amen