Who are You?

Matthew 17:9-13

Do you recall when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask John the Baptist, “Who are you” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”  And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?”  He said, “I am not.”  “Are you the Prophet?”  And he answer, “No.”  So they said to him, who are you?  We need to give an answer to those who sent us.  What do you say about yourself?”  He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” (John 1:20-23)  It is clear John does not see himself in any of these roles, he is not Christ, and he believes with all his heart that he is not Elijah, or the Prophet, he is just a guy who wears funny garments, eats bugs, wild honey and lives in the wilderness of Judea.  John has a message from God, it’s the same message that the prophet Isaiah foretold; “Make straight the way of the Lord.”

If you were one of those who had been with Jesus when He was transfigured, you might have questions; especially after Jesus commanded them, “Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.”  “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, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist.

A little background on Elijah may be needed, for Elijah, who did not die as all others have with the exception of Enoch, but was taken up into heaven in a whirlwind, “As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.” (2 Kings 2:11)  And the prophet Malachi foretold that Elijah was coming back, in Malachi 4:5, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.” 

Now if you are one of the disciples coming down from the mountain where Jesus has just been transfigured before you and you see Moses and Elijah with the Lord, and you understand what Malachi has stated, are you a little confused?  They may not have heard John’s confession that he is not Elijah, but as Jesus talks with them they understand that he was speaking to them about John the Baptist. 

It is important to look at both Elijah and John’s mission from God, John’s ministry was the Wilderness of Judea, and God told Elijah to hide by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan.  And he is told by God to drink from the brook, and that God has commanded ravens to feed him.  And when Jezebel told him she was going to kill him that day, do you recall that he went a day’s journey into the wilderness and sat under a broom tree.  Both men were under the control and obeyed the call that God placed on them, and “Malachi 4:5 promised that the Day of the Lord, a time of divine judgment for the wicked but healing and joy for God’s people, would be preceded by the sending of Elijah.  Jesus explained that John the Baptist fulfilled this role and that his ministry signaled the dawn of the Day of the Lord.” (Taken from SCHB page1632 notes 11:14)

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice