Prophesying at the birth of his son, John the Baptist, the priest Zechariah confirmed that John would be born in the spirit and power of the prophet Elijah, as foretold by the prophet Malachi four hundred years earlier. Zechariah also prophesied that John would have a great spiritual impact upon the children of Israel, preparing them for the arrival of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Zechariah spoke of John after his birth:
16 He will turn many of the sons of Israel
to the Lord their God.
17 And he will go before Him
in the spirit and power of Elijah,
to turn the hearts of fathers
to their children,
and the disobedient
to the understanding of the righteous,
to make ready for the Lord a prepared people. Luke 1:16-17 (HCSB)
Elijah was a well known prophet to the people of Israel, famous for his working of miracles and for his confronting of evil. Elijah strongly opposed Ahab, evil ruler of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, and his demonic wife, Queen Jezebel. This opposition did not sit well with the king and his wife.
17 Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, “Is that you, O troubler of Israel?” 1 Kings 18:17 (NKJV)
God would then set up a showdown with the false god of Baal. He placed Elijah center stage, having him to call down fire from heaven in the dramatic encounter, demonstrating the Lord’s absolute dominance over all other gods. Baal’s prophets were thoroughly defeated, then were killed at Elijah’s direction. This further infuriated their patroness, Queen Jezebel.
1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” 3 And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 1 Kings 19:1-3 (NKJV)
God would deliver Elijah from the clutches of Jezebel, but, as he was now physically and spiritually spent, he desired to end his ministry. The Lord agreed and would take Elijah directly to heaven, alive, in a fiery chariot. Unlike virtually all other people in history, excepting perhaps ancient Enoch, Elijah did not experience death before being taken up by God.
At the very end of the last book of the Old Testament, the prophet Malachi writes that Elijah would one day return to earth. Jesus later taught that John the Baptist was at least a partial fulfillment of that prophecy. (He may return again in the last days).
Like Elijah before him, John was well known by the crowds. Multitudes were drawn to him from great distances to hear his messages. John taught of their need for repentance from sin, and many, convicted by the Holy Spirit, believed, then were baptized in the Jordan River. In this way, they were cleansed and made ready for the imminent arrival of their Messiah, Jesus.
Like Elijah, John also did not shy away from confronting an evil king. But as a result of his opposition, John was imprisoned.
3 For Herod had arrested John, chained him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, 4 since John had been telling him, “It’s not lawful for you to have her!” Matthew 14:3-4 (HCSB)
The Lord had spared Elijah from the homicidal efforts of Queen Jezebel, but John would not enjoy the same outcome. An evil scheme by Herodias strongly manipulated the king, and, to save his own pride, he had John beheaded.
The news of John’s death reached Jesus during a particularly difficult stretch of ministry, for both for Himself and His apostles. He tried to retreat to give His followers some time of rest and recovery in the hill country, but the press of the crowds would not permit it. Meanwhile, John’s disciples came to Herod to claim John’s body, and he was buried. As John had prophesied at the height of his ministry, he would eventually decrease, and Jesus would continue to increase. But God had carefully chosen John to fill this vital role since the earliest times. Speaking to His disciples, Jesus confirmed that John the Baptist was, indeed, the Elijah to come, as written of by Malachi.
12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been suffering violence, and the violent have been seizing it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John; 14 if you’re willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who is to come. Matthew 11:12-14 (HCSB)
Reflection
Like John the Baptist, God has a plan and purpose for our lives, established from the beginning of time. There will be times of joy and glory in our daily efforts, but also times of grief and hardship. In the end, the Lord will use all of it to achieve His purposes and to build and grow the kingdom of God.
Father God, thank You for using us to help build Your kingdom under the leadership of Jesus Christ. May we go forward today in the power of the Holy Spirit to live worthy and pure lives. Forgive us for all the times that we have failed, and use us to be a blessing to You and to those around us. We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Have a blessed and beautiful day in the Lord.
Daily Meditations from the Genealogy of Jesus 