Passing the Mantle

Mentors and Mentees

*** Elijah and Elisha entering into a discipleship relationship

Every Elijah needs an Elisha; every Elisha needs an Elijah

Every Paul needs a Timothy; every Timothy needs a Paul

Practical questions:

Where are you growing because someone is investing in you?

Where are you passing along something valuable to someone of another generation?

*** Photo: Keys to the Church, a photo of the church

*** Photo of Adeeb Joudeh al-Husseini whose family has kept the keys to the church since around 1187

A transfer of authority

*** List of those with authority

The symbols

1 Kings 19:19–20 NRSV

So he set out from there, and found Elisha son of Shaphat, who was plowing. There were twelve yoke of oxen ahead of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle over him. He left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” Then Elijah said to him, “Go back again; for what have I done to you?”

The signs

2 Kings 2:8 NRSV

Then Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, and struck the water; the water was parted to the one side and to the other, until the two of them crossed on dry ground.

2 Kings 2:13–14 NRSV

He picked up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. He took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, saying, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” When he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.

Chariots of Fire

*** Image: Chariots of fire

*** A beautiful image of God receiving a faithful person into the divine life

2 Kings 2:11–12 NRSV

As they continued walking and talking, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them, and Elijah ascended in a whirlwind into heaven. Elisha kept watching and crying out, “Father, father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” But when he could no longer see him, he grasped his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.

Genesis 5:24 NRSV

Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him.

Acts 7:55–56 NRSV

But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

A double portion

2 Kings 2:9 NRSV

When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha said, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit.”

I want the most my teacher has to offer! Not from greed, but because I hunger and thirst for righteousness and I long to live as God intends me to live, following God’s will to the most significant degree.

Who teacher you, and whom do you teach?

What symbols are involved, and when will you know the torch has been passed?

Do you have faith that honors those who have gone before?

Do you want to receive the most God has to offer, that you may serve God well?