1 Kings 19:19 – 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.

Elijah’s mantle is a picture of the anointing on Elijah’s life that would be passed on to Elisha. Signs, wonders, and miracles were not the result of Elijah’s holiness or righteousness, they were the results of the power of God on his life. James told us that Elijah was a normal man like us but the Lord had chosen to use him to display His power to his generation. This mantle pictured the anointing that would come upon his disciple Elisha. Just as Elijah moved in the anointing the same would be true in Elisha’s life when Elijah was caught up into heaven. Here are some thoughts from the Ancient Christian Commentary on this passage.

“So he set out from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He passed by him and threw his mantle over him. With his mantle Elijah took Elisha from farming to prophesying. From the symbolic point of view, Elisha represents the type of the apostles to whom our Lord said in the Gospel, “So stay here in the city of Jerusalem until you have been clothed with power from high.” Therefore the mantle of Elijah signified the gifts of the Spirit which the apostles would receive. After receiving the garment from the prophetical hand, at the same time you have received the privilege, when you were transformed from worker into a prophet through the radiance of the Spirit that was glorified.”

This mantle reminds us today of the importance of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. Just as Elijah was caught up into heaven Jesus also was caught up into heaven. Elijah was a picture of the heavenly ministry of Jesus. Today, Jesus is seated at the right hand of God where He serves as our heavenly High Priest and Baptizer in the Holy Spirit. Just as the mantle of Elijah fell from the sky on Elisha, the mantle of the Spirit falls on us today. This is God’s power poured out so that we can effect this generation. Without the power of God we are really helpless, with God’s power all things become possible. Today we cry out with Elisha, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah!”.