17:9
Yet again Jesus instructs them not to tell anyone about what they have seen. There is glory, greater glory than we can ever imagine, but it cannot be understood within the context of man in rebellion, only in the context of the cross. So they were only to tell others after the resurrection.
17:10-13
The disciples then ask about Elijah (see Mal 4:5). It seems odd to us that they should ask a question about Elijah, but Mal 4:5 seems to have formed a very important part of the general teaching on the Messiah at the time. Jesus tells them that Elijah had already come. The teaching at the time was fundamentally flawed, John the Baptist fulfilled the role of Elijah coming. As an aside, this warns us against over-literal interpretations of apocalyptic scriptures. In Mal 4:5 Elijah is used figuratively. Just as John the Baptist (Elijah) suffered, as the Son of Man would suffer “at their hands”. Note that John was killed by Herod, Jesus by the Jewish religious leaders and the Romans. All mankind is lumped together here.
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