What does "Elijah does come first" teach about God's redemptive plan? The Setting: Disciples Puzzled after the Transfiguration Mark 9:12 — “Elijah does indeed come first, and he restores all things. Yet how is it written about the Son of Man, that He should suffer many things and be rejected?” • Only moments earlier, Peter, James, and John saw Jesus transfigured in glory (Mark 9:2-8). • They had also just glimpsed Moses and Elijah speaking with Him. • Coming down the mountain, they ask why the scribes insist Elijah must arrive before Messiah (cf. Malachi 4:5-6). • Jesus affirms the prophecy—“Elijah does indeed come first”—and immediately links it to His own coming suffering. Prophecy Anchored in Malachi Malachi 4:5-6 — “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…” • God promises a recognizable forerunner. • This forerunner’s task: spiritual restoration—turning hearts back to covenant loyalty. • The prophecy stands as the final word of the Old Testament, leaving Israel waiting for centuries. John the Baptist: The First Fulfillment Matthew 17:10-13; Luke 1:16-17 • Jesus identifies John as the prophetic “Elijah” who came to prepare the way (Matthew 17:12-13). • Gabriel told Zechariah John would go “in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17). • By preaching repentance and baptizing in the wilderness (Mark 1:4), John called Israel to heart-level restoration—the very work Malachi foretold. • Many rejected John; likewise many would reject Messiah. God’s plan, however, moved forward unhindered. Why a Forerunner Matters for Redemption 1. Assurance of Divine Timing – God does nothing randomly. The arrival of Elijah/John confirms the precise schedule He revealed centuries earlier. – Galatians 4:4 — “When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son…” 2. Hearts Prepared for the Savior – Repentance clears the soil for gospel seed. A messenger of repentance signals that salvation is near (Isaiah 40:3-5). – Those baptized by John were primed to follow Jesus (John 1:35-37). 3. Validation of Jesus’ Identity – If Elijah’s coming is visible and historical, the Messiah standing next must also be real and promised. – Fulfilled prophecy bolsters faith (John 13:19). 4. Pattern of Suffering then Glory – Jesus ties Elijah’s restoration work directly to His own rejection and suffering (Mark 9:12). – Scripture repeatedly shows: the path to redemption runs through pain before triumph (Isaiah 53; Luke 24:26). Still Future? An Eschatological Echo • Revelation 11:3-6 describes two witnesses with Elijah-like power before Christ’s return. • Malachi links Elijah to “the great and awesome Day of the LORD,” language often pointing to the final consummation. • Many therefore expect a future Elijah figure—or the literal Elijah himself—before Jesus’ second coming, signaling worldwide repentance and final restoration (Acts 3:19-21). What “Elijah Does Come First” Reveals about God’s Redemptive Plan • God’s word is exact: He names the messenger centuries ahead, and history obeys. • Redemption unfolds in ordered stages—announcement, repentance, atonement, restoration. • The Lord is patient, granting opportunity for hearts to turn before judgment arrives (2 Peter 3:9). • Prophecy fulfilled in John the Baptist guarantees prophecy yet unfulfilled will also come to pass, including Christ’s return and the ultimate renewal of all things (Revelation 21:5). Living Response • Trust the reliability of every promise God has made. • Embrace the call to repentance that always accompanies God’s saving acts. • Anticipate Christ’s return with confidence, knowing the same God who sent Elijah has fixed the hour when redemption’s story is completed. |
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