August 14: SPIRIT AND POWER (part 1)
Elijah was taken to heaven in a fiery chariot (2 Kings 2:11). Based on the LORD’s statement – “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD” – orthodox Jews, when celebrating the Passover seder each spring, to this day include an empty chair at the table for Elijah, who would come to prepare the way for the Messiah. The words “great and dreadful day” refer to the LORD’s second coming! The Jews missed His first coming, due to a lack of preparedness, having ignored the prophecies about his humble birth and ignominious death. Clinging to their own ideas of a great military commander, they were agitated, even insulted, by the lowly and humble demeanor of Christ.
Luke recorded the angel Gabriel’s announcement to Zacharias about the son who would be born to him and Elizabeth: “He will go before [the Messiah] in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1:17) Gabriel was speaking of John the Baptist who, like Elisha in Elijah’s wake, would also address the people in the spirit and power of Elijah to prepare the way – that is, remove obstacles – for a better reception of the Messiah. Remember that Elisha had asked for a double portion of [Elijah’s] spirit (2 Kings 2:9) for the work that lay ahead of him. This request was honored. At Elijah’s dramatic departure, Elisha tore his clothes and accepted the mantle that fell from Elijah, symbolizing the acceptance of a continuing ministry for the Lord in the Holy Spirit’s power.
Now when the Apostle John wrote his gospel account, he wrote of John the Baptist, sent to bear witness of the Light, that is Jesus (John 1:6)! As a forerunner, John the Baptist prepared many listeners for the coming ministry of Jesus. When the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” (v.19) John the Baptist confessed, “I am not the Christ.” (v.20) And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” (v.21a) But Jesus had said of John the Baptist, “And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Matthew 11:14-15) Are Jesus and John contradicting each other? Impossible!
John’s answer to the priests and Levites was “no,” because their question sprang from a deception. The elite Jewish leaders had attended Alexandria University in Egypt where Greek philosophy was taught. It had a corrupting effect on the Jews. Both Egyptians and Greeks taught that souls cannot die which only perpetuates the serpent’s lie (compare Genesis 3:4 to Ezekiel 18:4). They were asking John if he was a reincarnation, or rebirth, of Elijah. Remember Gabriel’s words to Zacharias that John would go in the spirit and power of Elijah meaning the Holy Spirit’s power. Elijah’s name symbolizes preparation that includes clearing away obstacles, and Satan’s teaching of inherent immortality is a major obstacle. It undermines the greatness of the gift of immortality given to God’s faithful ones at the second coming of Christ. After John was beheaded, [Jesus’] disciples asked Him… “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” Jesus answered… “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to them whatever they wished…” Matthew 17:11-12a (see also 16:6,12)
…to be continued