Why?

Then his disciples asked him, "Why do the teachers of religious law insist that Elijah must return before the Messiah comes?" Jesus replied, "Elijah is indeed coming first to get everything ready. But I tell you, Elijah has already come, but he wasn't recognized, and they chose to abuse him. And in the same way they will also make the Son of Man suffer." Then the disciples realized he was talking about John the Baptist. Matthew 17:10-13

 Then they asked him, "Why do the teachers of religious law insist that Elijah must return before the Messiah comes?" Jesus responded, "Elijah is indeed coming first to get everything ready. Yet why do the Scriptures say that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be treated with utter contempt? But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they chose to abuse him, just as the Scriptures predicted." Mark 9:11-13

 

Meditate. Read these passages again and focus on Jesus’ answer.  

 

Why? Why? Why? How often do you hear that? Especially if you have a four-to-six-year-old child around, you will hear it several times a day! Why do I have to brush my teeth? Why can’t I have ice cream for breakfast? Why is the sky blue? Why are my eyes blue and your eyes brown? Why can’t the dog talk like me? Why do I have to go to bed now? And on and on! Why!?! Here, the disciples ask a question: Why? And Jesus answers with scripture and truth. Elijah was predicted to come before the Messiah.

The wilderness wastelands of Israel.

Listen! It's the voice of someone shouting, "Clear the way through the wilderness for the LORD! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God!”  Isaiah 40:3

 

"Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming," says the LORD of Heaven's Armies. Malachi 3:1

John the Baptist is the Elijah of that era, but he was not recognized as such. Jesus is the Lord, the Messiah that was predicted. Both were treated with contempt. People chose—yes, made the deliberate decision to abuse them—to kill them. But as Jesus foretold—He rose from the dead. Keep reading for the rest of the story!

            Why? God had a plan for Jesus to suffer as a sacrificial lamb for the sins of all mankind. He endured for each one of us! We are unworthy—but He did it anyway. Can you accept Jesus and what He did for you? Why? Or Why Not?

            What do we learn about Jesus from these short scripture passages?

 

Prayer – Lord Jesus, I am overwhelmed that You gave up Your life—that You were so completely obedient to our Heavenly Father that You would die for me! Why? Thank You. Those words hardly seem enough. I am eternally grateful.

 

Verse of Salvation ~ A psalm of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation--so why should I be afraid? The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? Psalm 27:1

 

© 2026 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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