When the disciples came down from the Mount of Transfiguration, they didn’t know that Jesus fulfilled all of the prophecies they grew up learning. They didn’t realize that John the Baptist was the fulfillment of Elijah’s coming. It was like putting the pieces of the puzzle together. The light bulb was going on. The fullness of who Jesus was is becoming clear. They had just encountered His glorified state up on the mountain, heard His Father declare how pleased He was, and witnessed Moses and Elijah with Jesus.
Matthew 17:10-12
And the disciples asked him, “Then why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” He answered, “Elijah does come, and he will restore all things. But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him.
Don’t Feel Guilty
Christians feel guilty for what they don’t know. It is either self-imposed or heaped upon them by people who have no clue. Jesus never puts that burden on His followers. He wants us to grow in faith and love. The disciples were new to their faith. They had been taught the Old Testament law and the religious rituals of the Pharisees, but they were on a crash course of theology with Jesus. He extended them a lot of grace to get their footing, and He does the same to you.
They Didn’t Know
You are probably reading this because you want to grow in your faith and knowledge of God’s Word. That’s a good thing. Don’t get overwhelmed. Keep at it; over time, you will mature in your faith and grow in your knowledge. Don’t stay static. Seek the Lord, and you will find Him.