11 Disciples

Mother’s Day last year, my daughter gave me one of renowned photographer, Ken Duncan’s books; The Holy Land – Where Jesus Walked. I’ve been savouring that book, reading it as slow as I dare. I’ve almost come to the end and I reckon I’ll read it again.

Recently I wrote a little snippet on the mantle and part of that snippet on the mantle was how Elisha was the only one who saw Elijah ascend to heaven. The other prophets from that moment in the bible, stood on the opposite side of the Jordan River, watching on. They didn’t cross the river when Elijah and Elisha crossed. It was Elisha alone who followed Elijah. The other prophets stayed within the bounds and safety of their little bean patch. Elisha alone saw the miracle of Elijah ascending into heaven in a whirlwind with chariots and horses.

In reading Where Jesus Walked, as I approached the end of the book, I noticed something in which I hadn’t put two and two together before. When Elijah ascended, only one person (Elisha) witnessed it. When Jesus ascended some days after His crucifixion, the eleven disciples witnessed it along with two angels (this is spoken of in Acts 1:6-11). A question came to mind – Why only one then and why eleven now?

In old testament days, Holy Spirit only fell on one person at a time and it was generally a priest or a prophet. Elisha being the only one to witness the ascension of Elijah was the validation needed to confirm Elijah’s successor. In the new testament days, Jesus died and was resurrected once and for all; for all to be saved. Not for one successor only but for community – the church; hence the disciples, those who followed Jesus – for it was His body and blood shed for His bride alone. The many witnesses of Jesus ascension underscored the historical credibility and communal nature of the event; the public empowerment of a global movement, not just a single successor.

The singular witness preserved the mystery of Elijah’s departure, emphasising the unique and almost mystical status of the prophet in their day. That one witness was the condition under which Elisha received the mantle. The other prophets who stayed behind knew the baton had been passed, so to speak; knew it had taken place not because they saw the transaction but because Elisha now held the mantle.

Jesus ascension is portrayed as the culmination of His earthly mission and His enthronement at the right hand of the Father – a theological cornerstone of Christian faith.

The contrast highlights the shift from the Old Covenant model, where God’s Spirit rested on select individuals, to the New Covenant, where the Spirit is poured out on all believers; all those who follow Christ. It’s a foundation of faith meant for all nations.

As followers of Christ, we too carry the mantle. We carry Christ’s mantle and with that mantle comes ability; ability to preach to the poor in spirit, cast out demons, heal the sick, make the lame walk, the blind see and the deaf hear.

In doing so, we must follow the pattern of the Son. To be strong in the Lord, there are things we need to be doing; reading our bible, praise and worship and the taking of the elements are just a few. Jesus spoke of the bread and the wine, this being His body broken for us and His blood shed that we may have life and have life abundantly.

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”

Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”