John the Baptizer the Elijah
Matthew 1:18-25
Gracious Lord, we thank you for bringing us this far. By your Holy Spirit, help us to understand your mysteries and come to the saving knowledge and faith in your Son Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
Amen!
Mr. Kyei from last week’s discuss, we need to know the person whom John the baptizer is. We shall make reference to Matthew 1:18-25 kindly read that for us
The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’”
In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he restored sight. And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them.
And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see?
A reed shaken by the wind?
What then did you go out to see?
A man dressed in soft clothing?
Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. What then did you go out to see?
A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, “‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’
I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John.
Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
The word of God, thanks be to God
Mr. Kyei, friends and cherished listeners.
Isaiah and Malachi are helpful in our understanding of who John the fore runner of Jesus is.
Malachi is an interesting script. In chapters 3:1, 23and 24; also chapter 4 vers 5and 6: it is recorded
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers. Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse.”…
Friends the book of Malachi is the last book in the Hebrew Bible, when I say the Hebrew Bible am equally referring to the Old Testament.
Mr. Kyei What then do we know about Elijah!…
He is taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire.
So if the day of the Lord will come, Malachi is telling us that Elijah return first come. This point had been a stumbling block for the Jews till date. It will be easy for the camel to enter the eye of the needle than they accepting Jesus as the God who was to come and had come to save mankind.
I say so because the Jews who have mastered the Hebrew bible quoted Malachi asking Jesus: if you say you are the one, how come that Elijah hadn’t come yet, because we know he should return first to prepare the way of the Lord. There Jesus answered them saying Elijah has already come; John the Baptizer is He the Elijah who is to come.
Interesting to note Rev. let me ask. Who is that prophet Elijah in Malachi?
John the Baptizer: The New Testament indicates that some people thought Jesus was perhaps the Elijah, rather Jesus makes it clear that John the Baptizer is “the Elijah” who was promised to come in Malachi Chapters 3 and 4 and perhaps other parts of scriptures.
You see the impulse for the work of John is referred to “The Spirit of Elijah”
In Matt chapter 3:2 we heard of John the Baptizer calling people to repentance saying using the 8 words: Repent the kingdom of God is at hand and Jesus in Matthew 4:17 following preached the same 8 words of John saying “Repent the kingdom of God is at hand”.
Jesus is the one to come and He came to do His work as fore told by John the Baptizer His forerunner.
Last week, we heard this but kindly read for us Luke chapter 3: 1 – 6 for us
Luke 3: In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being Tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip Tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias Tetrarch of Abilene, 2 during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight,
and the rough places shall become level ways, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’ ”
The gospel writers were each inspired to write in their own style and also to address issues in contest. Hence they all spoke of one thing but in different forms. In other not to digress too much, I will say that Jesus is the one. The real person who is to come and He came. It is Jesus who we await His second coming.
Rev. Why are you so specific, even if John the Baptizer with all the grace and signs could send his disciples to inquire of Jesus if He is the one or we should expect someone else. I do ask this question deliberately because I know others out there have fanny view about Jesus.
Thanks you Mr. Kyei for the question: you have given me the opportunity to be very specific. Jesus answered in Matt 1: “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”
The work of the God is a spiritual thing. It is the spirit that works through His gifts. Jesus who is the least in Heaven has the whole God head dwelling in Him bodily hence Jesus did more miracles than any other person. Jesus performed those miracles as an outward sign for us to see and to come to faith in Him as the Messiah, the Savior of the world.
Jesus indeed is the one who is to come and came because his forerunner John the Baptizer worked in the spirit of Elijah. Zealously John preached the word of God with all the boldness it deserved. John called the people brood of vipers. John boldly pointed to King Herod his sin which he has committed with Herodias; his brother Philips’ wife.
Rev can you through more light on your last statement
For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias. John had been telling Herod, ‘It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife’ after all the sin you have committed. Herodias had a grudge against John, and wanted to kill him. Remember Elijah and the false prophets of baal. How Jezebel wanted Elijah dead.
Oh I see. So that is why Herodias told the daughter to request for John the Baptizers head.
I too enjoy philosophy and reasoning… when Peter cut Marcus’ ear in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus fixed it back and said “He who draws the sword shall die by the sword. “Philosophy should lead us to understand that Elijah beheaded 450 prophets of baal… Jezebel wanted to behead Elijah before he was taken to heaven in a chariot of fire… John the 2nd Elijah was beheaded by Herod on the account of a woman… He who draws the sword shall die by it.
We leave in a sinful world and the world loves its self and is ready to kill the prophets who will point out sinful acts.
We make what is false to be true and what is true to be false.
Jesus bore witness about John rightly saying it is of him who it is written, I will send my messenger before to prepare the way. John indeed came to prepare the Way for Jesus. John baptized Jesus and seeing the sign of the Holy Spirit resting upon Him declared Him the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
Friends: look for no other person because Jesus is He who was promised in Gen 3:15 ff right there in the Garden of Eden to come and crush the head of satan through His suffering and death…
Jesus is the God who abides with us on earth because John the Baptizer is the Elijah who came to smoothen the path and broke mountains and filled valleys, ahead of time
Hear the following witnesses of Jesus about John in
Matthew 11: 13-15
For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.
And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.
He who has ears, let him hear.
Matthew 17: 11-13
Jesus replied, “Elijah does indeed come, and he will restore all things. But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him whatever they wished. In the same way, the Son of Man will suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that He was speaking to them about John the Baptizer
Mark 9:13
But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.”
Luke 7:27, 28
This is the one about whom it is written: ‘Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before You.’ 28I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John, yet even the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
Summary
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers. Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse.”
The Jews in Jesus’ time were expecting a prophet of wrath to arrive.
It is rightly stated: From the days of John the Baptizer until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subject to violence, and the violent lay claim to it. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, John is the Elijah who was to come.
Jesus identifies John the Baptizer as:
The greatest prophet
John is the prophesied prophet who was to come and came in the spirit and power of Elijah.
John in his nature was not doubting Jesus as the Messiah, No! John sent his disciples to Jesus to confirm to all believers and the world that no matter the challenges we face in life, we should look to no one but Jesus alone…
Dear ones; Jesus has the power of healing us whilst we leave here on earth, and more than that Jesus has the power to raise us from the dead on the last day.
Friends: Jesus referred to himself being the least in the kingdom of God is not because he is inferior to the Father and the Holy Spirit. No! Jesus is lease because in Psalm 8:5 and Hebrews 2:7 it is Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit who was made a little lower than the angels to be borne by Mary as man. …Jesus has been adorned with all the glory and have subjected unto Him everything.
It is Jesus who all powers and authority in heaven and on earth are given to. So at the mention of the name Jesus, all knees in heaven and on earth and in the underworld bows and every tongue confesses Jesus is Lord.
Rev. one important question: people say baptism should be done in the name of Jesus as the apostles did in Acts rather than in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.. your comment on that Rev.
Amongst the God-head it is only Jesus who has body and for that matter it is only He who has two natures. The Father and the Holy Spirit are Spirits. Jesus is 100% Spirit and 100% human. Jesus is God-man. (Ref Colossian 2:9 and Ephesians 3:19)
I will say due to Jesus’ dual nature, God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit dwells in Him fully.
For evidence sake kindly read Colossians 2:8-10
See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ. 9For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form. 10And you have been made complete in Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
So you see when the Book of Acts is talking about the holy Spirit coming upon the disciples and they baptized in the of Jesus; it is the same as saying they baptism in the Name of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Because in Jesus we have the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Will you believe what Jesus commanded us to do or will you believe what the apostles did? For me I will accept both because Jesus game the disciples who were later called the apostles power to act and to do.
Trust in your baptism and trust in Jesus till everlasting life in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen!
The Lord bless you and keep you, in your baptismal faith!
The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you!
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace!
Amen!