Elijah Has Already Come

 "And as they came down the mountain, JESUS commanded them not to tell anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man be raised from the dead.

The disciples asked HIM, 'Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?'  JESUS answered, 'So it is: first comes Elijah; and he will restore all things.  But I tell you, Elijah has already come; and they did not recognize him; and they treated him as they pleased.  And they will also make the Son of Man suffer.'

Then the disciples understood that JESUS was referring to John the Baptist." - Matthew 17:9-13

(On going down the mountain, the apostles feel uneasy, "Why did Moses and Elijah speak of the imminent death of JESUS?"  They cling to their illusions, finding support in the Scriptures which said that Elijah had to return to earth to prepare the way before the Messiah would come, so that HE should not encounter any opposition [Malachi 3:1 and 4:23].

JESUS asserts again what HE had said many times: HE has to be rejected.  Not all that is written in Scripture is to be understood literally.  Elijah was not to return personally from heaven, but rather John the Baptist had already come as the new Elijah [Luke 1:16].)

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