Mark 9:13
But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him. But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.
Mark 9:13 belongs to the narrative of Christ's work in Mark 6 to 13, which is to be compared with the parallel stories in the other Gospels and taken home to the heart as a lesson of life. It shows Christ just as willing now to forgive the sinful, to heal and restore the sick, and to comfort those in trouble. What is recorded is only a small part of what He wrought, yet it was written to give comfort to every class of people, because though written by Hebrews the Bible is for all peoples and God is the God of all who seek Him.
The verse belongs to the section that records the transfiguration and the events which immediately follow it, given alongside Luke 9:28-42 as the parallel account of the transfiguration. This section shows the fulfillment of the promise that there be some standing there which shall not taste of death till they see the Son of man coming in His kingdom. It belongs to the account of Moses appearing with Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration, and Moses's appearance there does not prove that the soul is immortal. Jude 9 explains that the devil disputed over Moses's body, seeking to thwart God's purpose, and that Moses's body was resurrected before he appeared on the mount.
The transfiguration account is a miniature representation of the kingdom of glory in fulfillment of the promise Christ made six days before. It shows the glorified King with Elijah representing those who shall be translated when the Lord comes in glory and with Moses, who had been resurrected, representing those who will be raised from the dead at that time. Elijah had already come in the person of John the Baptist, and people treated him as they pleased, fulfilling what had been written about him. Elijah had already come in the person and work of John the Baptist, fulfilling the expectation that Elijah would come first. John was treated as people wished, and his rejection fulfilled what had been written concerning him.
John the Baptist is a type of those who will be alive when the Lord appears. As John prepared the way for Christ's first advent, those he represents prepare a people for Christ's second coming. The verse falls within the account of Christ's transfiguration and His ministry afterward to a needy, demon-haunted multitude. From that sequence comes the lesson that spiritual glory is given for service to those in need.