马太福音 17:9-13 下山的时候，耶稣吩咐他们说：“人子还没有从死里复活，你们不要将所看见的告诉人。” 门徒问耶稣说：“文士为什么说以利亚必须先来？” 耶稣回答说：“以利亚固然先来，并要复兴万事； 只是我告诉你们，以利亚已经来了，人却不认识他，竟任意待他。人子也将要这样受他们的害。” 门徒这才明白耶稣所说的是指着施洗的约翰。
耶稣为什么不叫门徒把他们在山上所看见的告诉人们呢？那是因为，如果没有耶稣从死里复活的这个背景，人们是不能理解和也不能相信门徒们在山上看到的那一幕。
马太给我们举了这样一个不相信的例子，当谈到玛拉基书中提到“以利亚”在基督显现之前就来了。施洗约翰就是玛拉基书所说的以利亚，但犹太人的首领并没有认出他来。同样，他们也不信耶稣，无论他行了多少神迹，也不管他应验了多少预言。
我很庆幸我站在那座空坟墓的另一边！耶稣的复活使圣经中的一切得到了应验。如果上帝的儿子从死里复活，我为什么要怀疑上帝创造了这个世界呢？我怎么能怀疑我的罪真的被赦免了呢？我怎能质疑自己从死里复活呢？如果耶稣从死里复活，我怎能不相信上帝站在我这边呢？
当你与你的怀疑和恐惧作斗争时，时刻提醒自己：“他复活了！他实在是复活了！”
祷告：我的神和主，我的救主和朋友！感谢你今天提醒我，你确实是基督，世界的救主。当我的罪临到我的时候，当我的疑惑潜入我的心中，当我的心绝望的时候，把我带回十字架和空坟墓。奉主耶稣基督的名求。阿门！
Matthew 17:9-13: 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” 10 The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” 11 Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things.12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.
Why did Jesus tell his disciples not to tell about what they saw on the mountain? Because without the background of the resurrection from the dead, what they saw on the mountain wouldn’t have been understood or believed.
Matthew gives us an example of that kind of unbelief when it comes to Malachi’s mention of “Elijah” coming before the Christ was revealed. John, the Baptist, was the Elijah that Malachi spoke of, but the leaders of the Jews did not recognize him. In the same way, they refused to believe in Jesus, no matter how many miracles he did or how many prophecies that he fulfilled.
I am so thankful that I stand on the other side of the empty tomb! Jesus’ resurrection makes everything in Scripture believable. If the Son of God rose from the dead, why should I doubt that God created the world? How can I doubt that my sins are really forgiven? How can I question my own resurrection from the dead? How can I not believe that God is on my side, if Jesus rose from the dead?
When you struggle with your doubts and fears, remind yourself: “He is risen! He is risen indeed!”
Prayer: My God and Lord, my Savior and friend! Thank you for reminding me this day that you are indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world. Bring me back to the cross and the empty tomb when my sins assail me, when my doubts creep in, when despair is in my heart. In your name I pray. Amen.