Sermon by Herman Kauffman
Wawaka Church of the Brethren
June 13, 2004

The Mantle of Leadership

John 14:15-17
Luke 24:28-31
2 Kings 2:1-11

For this Installation Sermon, I have chosen to focus on an Old Testament story of Elijah and Elisha, two prophets whose names are near enough alike to confuse us.

Elijah was the earlier and better known of the two prophets. Elijah was the prophet called by God to confront King Ahab with the prospect that there would be no rain in the land (1Kings 17:1). Now Ahab was not a nice guy. The scriptures tell us that "Ahab ... did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all who were before him." That makes Ahab one bad dude! Elijah confronted Ahab as God called him to do ... and then went to hide out in a cave where God sent ravens to provide for his needs. It was also Elijah who was ministered to by the Widow of Zaraphath during the days of famine and, in return for her kindness, her jar of meal and jug of oil never became empty.

It was Elijah (1 Kings 18) who represented God over against the 450 priests of Baal in what I like to call the Mount Carmel Barbeque contest. Both sides built an altar to their respective Gods and placed a bull on the altar, calling on their gods to send down fire. After the priests of Baal had failed, Elijah went so far as to soak his wood with water before calling on God to send down fire. And when the fire came, the people fell on their faces and proclaimed: "The Lord indeed is God!"

Later, in 1 Kings 19, Elijah's life is threatened by Queen Jezebel and again flees for his life. After 40 days and nights in the wilderness, the word of the Lord comes to Elijah: "What are you doing here, Elijah?" Feeling alone, rejected, and persecuted, Elijah is told to go out and stand on the mountain where he experiences great winds, earthquake and fire. But Elijah does not experience the Lord in the wind, earthquake or fire; but only in the silence that follows the storm.

Elijah was a great prophet of God, frequently referred to in the Gospels as representative of the Old Testament prophets and sometimes Jesus is understood to be the second coming of Elijah. In the latter days of Elijah's life he takes on a disciple named Elisha who will eventually become his successor.

The call of Elisha (1Kings 19) is another interesting story. Elisha was a farm boy plowing the fields with twelve yoke of oxen when Elijah came by and threw his mantle over him - a symbol of God's call. Elisha responds immediately, asking only to go home and kiss his parents good-bye.

Elisha becomes a very loyal disciple, traveling with Elijah until we reach the passage read for us this morning from 2 Kings 2: "Now when the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal."

We might say that even though Elijah was near the end of his life, a prophet's work is never done! In the journey that follows in these next verses, Elijah takes Elisha on the historical journey of God's people as they journeyed with God.

The journey of Elijah and Elisha begins in Gilgal which was the location of the first encampment of God's people after their forty-year exodus through the wilderness from captivity in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land. Here in Gilgal God's people had built an altar with twelve stones (representing the 12 tribes) and worshiped God. Here they had celebrated God's passover and their new found freedom.

At Gilgal, Elijah says to the younger Elisha: "Stay here; for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel." But Elisha responds: "As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went together to Bethel.

Bethel was the location where Jacob experiences his "Jacob's Ladder" dream and comes to recognize God's presence in his life. Bethel was also the location to which Jacob later returned and was blessed by God with a new name, Israel. Now, in the days of Elijah and Elisha, Bethel is home to a company of prophets who come to greet Elijah and Elisha. They inquire of Elisha: "Do you not know that today the Lord will take your Master away from you?"

"Yes, I know," replies Elisha, "keep silent."

Again Elijah says to Elisha: "...stay here; for the Lord has sent me to Jericho." Again, Elisha responds: "As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they came to Jericho.

Jericho was the location of the so-called battle led by Joshua, when the city of Jericho fell to the people of Israel without the use of force. At Jericho, the people came to recognize the presence and power of God. Now, in the days of Elijah and Elisha, Jericho is home to still another company of prophets who come out to greet Elijah and Elisha. They, too, inquire of Elisha:

"Do you not know that today the Lord will take your Master away from you?"

"Yes, I know," replies Elisha, "keep silent."

Again Elijah says to Elisha: "...stay here; for the Lord has sent me to the Jordan." Again, Elisha responds: "As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went on to the Jordan.

The Jordan River was the major river that flowed through this land of the Bible stories. The Jordan was where Jesus would later be baptized and begin his ministry, but in the Old Testament context, the Jordan was the symbol of freedom. When the Israelites had crossed the Jordan, they had reached the Promised Land - the land for freedom.

When Elijah and Elisha reach the Jordan, accompanied by a company of 50 prophets, Elijah in an act reminiscent of Moses parts the waters and they cross to the other side. For Elijah this crossing becomes a symbol of freedom as he is taken by God in a whirlwind into heaven. But before he ascends, he turns to Elisha for whom this is also a symbolic moment - the moment of his baptism and his installation into leadership - and asks: "Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you?"

Elisha replies: "Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit."

"You have asked a hard thing," responds Elijah, "yet, if you see me as I am being taken from you, it will be granted you...."

What a wonderful recognition of Elijah's leadership ability that Elisha should desire the spirit that is in Elijah for himself. It reminds me of Jesus, in John 14, leaving his disciples the gift of his Holy Spirit to be with them and guide them when Jesus would no longer walk this earth with them. Or, in Luke 24, in the breaking of the bread, Jesus presence to his disciples became real and their eyes were opened and they recognized him ... before he, too, vanished from their sight.

I also find it interesting that Elijah promises Elisha the gift of his spirit if Elisha is able to see Elijah as he is taken from him. While the story is focused on a literal "seeing," it also carries with it a message, I believe, of "seeing" as understanding. Such is the case in John's Gospel when in the Upper Room, Jesus says to his disciples, "A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me." (John 16:16) How is this possible? Because Jesus, also, gave his disciples a gift of the spirit - the Holy Spirit. "This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you." (John 14:17)

This then is the mantle of leadership: the gift of God's Spirit. The gift Elijah passed on to Elisha to enable his leadership among God's people. The gift Jesus passed on to his disciples - including you and I - to enable our leadership in the church. It is this Spirit that empowers us and enables us to do great things for God that we could never do without God's Holy Spirit.

Elijah is taken into heaven and Elisha is left with the gift of Elijah's spirit and his mantle - the very symbol of his leadership. Elisha now assumes the authority and leadership of Elijah and Moses by striking the water to part it so he can return to the gathered community who declare:"The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha." It is a blessing on Elisha's leadership. A blessing that means: As God has blessed Elijah, may God now bless Elisha. And in the chapters that follow, Elisha carries on the ministry of God as had Elijah and Moses and others before him.

So it was and so it is ... that new leadership is called and prepared to lead God's people in all generations. Both Old and New Testaments are filled with the stories of those who are called out by God and used to provide unique gifts of leadership for the glory of God and all God's people. We in the church have inherited that ministry and are called and gifted with the Holy Spirit to continue the work of Jesus - Peacefully, simply, together.

Today, as we have gathered as the Wawaka Church of the Brethren, we pause to remember with appreciation those who have provided leadership here over the past 150 years.

And as we install Verne Leininger as pastor, to continue that long line of leadership, we are thankful for God's call on Verne's life that led to his ministry training and ordination some 40 years ago. God has led Verne on his own ministry journey that has included stops at churches in Northern and Southern Ohio, Maryland, and Indiana.

Now, I want to tell you that I like Verne, and Phyllis. I find both to be a committed Christians who seek to follow God's leading in their respective ministries, and I am glad that they are here in Wawaka to join with each of you in the ministry of this congregation.

But I also want to remind you this morning that Verne is an "ordinary" man - perhaps you've already had time to learn that about Verne He is not superman and is not responsible to fly in and rescue this congregation. He is an "ordinary" man with unique gifts and strengths and weaknesses and feelings. Remember that. Remember that your pastor is human and made up of the same stuff that you are.

But I want you to remember something else. Verne has received the mantle of leadership. God has called him to pastoral ministry and has gifted him with a "double-share" of the Spirit, as Elisha named it. And it is the same gift that Jesus gave his disciples 2,000 years ago and gives today. It is our mantle of leadership that authorizes us to make disciples, to baptize them and to teach them to be obedient, always remembering that we are not alone - for God is with us to the end of the age.