A cape, a sidekick and people to save

Elijah casting his mantle over Elisha, Westminster Synagogue, Naomi Spiers



1 Kings 19:16b & 19-21

And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place...So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him. And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen’s equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.

In referring to himself, Kanye West once said "I guess every superhero needs his theme music." Then Kanye walked face first into a street sign... proving that a real hero needs more than music. A real hero needs a cape, a sidekick and people to save. When most people think of heroes who wear capes and have a sidekick they think of Batman... or maybe even Sherlock Holmes. I think of James Brown. Seriously, if you have never seen the Godfather of Soul's "Please, Please Don't Go" routine then you are thoroughly deprived. At every performance, James would have some point in which the music would just overwhelm him and he would need to be escorted off the stage by his sidekicks. They would place a cape on his shoulders and slowly walk him off, but then James would suddenly be quickened by a need to perform. He would throw off the cape, run back to the microphone and scream or do a split or some other amazing feat. On a good night he would do this several times...every performance...over his 50 plus years as a performer. But then again, I never heard of James Brown ever saving anyone's life.

 

 

 

Some of you from churches with more ancient traditions may be familiar with the cape used in a religious/liturgical context. Roman Catholic clergy may wear a Cope or a Ferraiolo , while Eastern Orthodox bishops wear a version of a cape called a Mantle. The tradition of the Mantle goes all the way back to the Prophets of ancient Israel. Just like superheroes Prophets throughout biblical times were known for and identified by their costumes. Elijah was no different. Everyone identified his prophetic profession and his prophetic powers by his uniform. A hero is identified by more than his uniform: a hero identified by his deeds. Much like our superheroes Elijah was known for his great acts of courage. Great acts that put him in grave danger. While fleeing from the evil rulers of his equivalent of Gotham, Elijah cried out to God that he was the only Prophet left. King Ahab and Queen Jezebel had murdered all of the others. God responded that he had thousands of others that were unknown to Elijah and uncorrupted by idolatry. In particular, he pointed out one of them that would inherit Elijah's ministry: Elisha. As a symbol of the passing of the calling Elijah found Elisha and passed on his cape. 

 

Just like Elijah and Elisha, several prophets throughout Scripture were known for having sidekicks. Whether they were personal aides, spokesmen or scribes, eventually all of these sidekicks would go to further ministry of their own. Most Christian groups still continue the tradition of assistance, where the primary minister is assisted by some form of Acolyte (Pentecostals and Non-Denominationals: think "Armorbearer) or Deacon. This is because heroes are called because of a great need in the greater community. Elisha would follow in the steps of Elijah in preaching against unrighteousness. As Jesus would later put it "The Harvest is ripe but the laborers are few." No matter the society there is always a need for individuals to stand in the prophetic role. By that I don't mean performing miracles and foreseeing the future: I mean representing God before the populace. However every generation and society needs to hear some portion of God's voice louder. The overall message may be the same but the sound bites are different. To the masses of Hebrew slaves, Moses preached freedom from their Egyptians masters and freedom from the mastery of Sin. To the crowds gathered at Washington D.C. Martin Luther King, Jr. would preach freedom from to injustice of Segregation. Later he would go on increase his advocacy for pacifism and against the social injustice of economic inequality. This is similar to the biblical prophet Amos, a simple farmer turned Prophet who stood against the disparity between correct religious actions and incorrect social actions. The Harvest is always ripe, the laborers are always few but the Lord finds laborers that will work above and beyond. That makes a hero.  

This dedication to the greater community is the manifestation of a Hero's need for a people to save. That responsibility manifests itself in sacrifice. This is true on several levels. Elijah felt a responsibility to his fellow clergyman Elisha who appointed him into ministry. Even with this tremendous call Elisha still remembered his responsibility to his family. In showing his commitment to both he sacrificed his animals which equate to his wealth. In this act he both provided food for his family and made a clean break with his past as a farmer to become a prophet. He gave it all away but not in a reckless or careless fashion. Elisha knew that his calling was not just to save his nation's soul but his family's lives. True spiritual heroism is concerned about every aspect of a person's humanity.

So why did I write a whole blog entry comparing superheroes like Batman to Prophets like Elijah and Elisha? Well, sometime back a close friend of mine told me that he had a cousin that evangelizes to people while wearing a Batman costume. Yep. He is aware of the extremity of his costume choice. He is not a mentally impaired person who thinks that he is actually Batman. He dresses this way because he sees people that he wants to save with the Gospel. Now I know what you are thinking: "How can I be this guy's sidekick?" No? That's not what you were thinking? Well even though this gentleman's actions are a bit... hmmmm, shall we say "nuanced"? Even though they are downright wacky, a lot of the biblical prophets took extreme measures to act out their messages. All of these acts pale in comparison to the act of Jesus. Though he was clothed in majesty in Heaven he abandoned this uniform of Glory and took up the costume of a servant. He gathered twelve sidekicks to assist him in the task of saving his people. He then donned a crown of thorns, accented it with three nails and veiled himself with the shame of Mankind's Sin. Extreme as this act may have been he did it... because he was a hero.