Seder and the Cup of Elijah

The Passover celebration of the contemporary Hebrews is called Seder. At the beginning of the Seder festival, they open the door for Elijah to come in and join the meal. He has a place setting at the table. At the end of Seder, they conclude that Elijah hasn’t arrived and that they have to wait one more year. This custom is based on the teachings of prophets like Malachi, who prophesied, “Behold, I will send Elijah, my prophet, to you before that great and might day of the Lord comes” (4:5). The Hebrews in the time of Jesus, too, believed that Elijah had to come for God’s rule to begin. That was why they thought of John as Elijah (John 1:21, 25) and later Jesus as Elijah (Mark 8:28; 15:35).

As they were descending from that mount, the disciples asked Jesus,

“Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” (Mark 9:11)

Jesus explained that the scribes were correct, and Elijah had to come first to restore all things (9:12a). In addition, the person who was representing humanity – “the son of man” or Jesus – must also suffer many things and be treated with contempt before God’s rule came (9:12b). Somehow, in their teachings, the scribes had ignored this second part of the lesson.

Isaiah, for example, talked about God’s servant who would come to suffer many afflictions for the people’s sake (chap. 43). The scribes didn’t teach that but only taught about Elijah’s visit. That one-half of the truth failed them to anticipate a suffering king.

Jesus, then, said,

“Elijah has come. They did to him whatever they wished, as it is written about him.” (9:13)

This particular statement has an immediate and extended meaning. Immediately, they had just seen Elijah on a mount. He was with Jesus and Moses as Jesus transfigured (Mark 9:1–10). Extendedly, Jesus explained that John the Baptizer was the Elijah they were expecting for. Regardless, the people didn’t accept both Elijah-s wholeheartedly. Although the people promised to worship the true God when Elijah brought fire from heaven and consumed the sacrifice, later, he had to run and hide from the king and queen who wanted to take his life. Similarly, although people accepted John the Baptizer’s message when he came baptizing, later, they didn’t protect him from imprisonment and death.

Both Elijah and John the Baptizer (the Elijah redivivus), however, proclaimed the coming of God’s king and rule. True to their word, Jesus the king and God’s rule came in a route they didn’t anticipate – through suffering, death, and resurrection.

The scribes were half right. Elijah had to come before God’s rule came. But the scribes also omitted one-half of the message: before God’s rule came, God’s son, the Messiah, must come, suffer, die, and resurrect.

My teacher used to ask, “What’s more dangerous – a cup of arsenic or a cup of milk with two drops of arsenic?” Both are. Half-truths are as dangerous as full lies.

That principle holds true even with our proclamation of God’s rule. We proclaim that God’s rule has come as prophesied by prophets like Malachi and Isaiah. And God’s rule began with the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus. By saying this, we also acknowledge that God may expect his citizens to walk the same path that his king walked – suffer and die before we attain resurrection.