Mark 9:11 - They asked him, saying, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
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What does "Mark 9:11" mean?
This verse, Mark 9:11, is a question posed to Jesus by his disciples regarding a common Jewish belief about the coming Messiah. To understand the verse, you need to know the background belief:
The Messiah: Jews believed that a Messiah (anointed one) would come to redeem Israel and establish a glorious kingdom.
Elijah's Return: Based on Malachi 4:5-6, many Jews believed that the prophet Elijah would return before the Messiah came. Malachi prophesied that Elijah would "turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers," essentially preparing the way and bringing reconciliation before the "great and terrible day of the Lord."
Scribes' Teaching: The "scribes" were experts in Jewish law and scripture. They taught and interpreted the scriptures, and it was their understanding and widely disseminated teaching that Elijah must come first.
So, putting it all together, the disciples' question means:
"Jesus, the scribes, who are our religious authorities, teach that Elijah must return before the Messiah appears. If you are the Messiah, as some of us are starting to believe, where is Elijah? How do we reconcile your presence with the established teaching about Elijah preceding the Messiah?"
The underlying implication of the question is a potential conflict:
If Jesus is the Messiah, and Elijah hasn't come, then the scribes' teaching seems incorrect.
Or, if the scribes' teaching is correct, then perhaps Jesus isn't the Messiah.
The disciples were trying to understand how Jesus fit into the established messianic expectations and prophecies. Their question reflects a genuine effort to grapple with the implications of Jesus' identity and his relationship to the well-known prophetic traditions. Jesus' response in the following verses clarifies the role Elijah has already played and the misconceptions surrounding his coming.
Mark 9:11 - They asked him, saying, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”
What does "Mark 9:11" mean?
This verse, Mark 9:11, is a question posed to Jesus by his disciples regarding a common Jewish belief about the coming Messiah. To understand the verse, you need to know the background belief:
The Messiah: Jews believed that a Messiah (anointed one) would come to redeem Israel and establish a glorious kingdom.
Elijah's Return: Based on Malachi 4:5-6, many Jews believed that the prophet Elijah would return before the Messiah came. Malachi prophesied that Elijah would "turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers," essentially preparing the way and bringing reconciliation before the "great and terrible day of the Lord."
Scribes' Teaching: The "scribes" were experts in Jewish law and scripture. They taught and interpreted the scriptures, and it was their understanding and widely disseminated teaching that Elijah must come first.
So, putting it all together, the disciples' question means:
"Jesus, the scribes, who are our religious authorities, teach that Elijah must return before the Messiah appears. If you are the Messiah, as some of us are starting to believe, where is Elijah? How do we reconcile your presence with the established teaching about Elijah preceding the Messiah?"
The underlying implication of the question is a potential conflict:
If Jesus is the Messiah, and Elijah hasn't come, then the scribes' teaching seems incorrect.
Or, if the scribes' teaching is correct, then perhaps Jesus isn't the Messiah.
The disciples were trying to understand how Jesus fit into the established messianic expectations and prophecies. Their question reflects a genuine effort to grapple with the implications of Jesus' identity and his relationship to the well-known prophetic traditions. Jesus' response in the following verses clarifies the role Elijah has already played and the misconceptions surrounding his coming.