What does John 1:21 reveal about the expectations of the Jewish leaders? Setting the Scene John 1:21—“Then they asked him, ‘Who are you then? Are you Elijah?’ He said, ‘I am not.’ ‘Are you the Prophet?’ He answered, ‘No.’” Context of Their Question • A delegation of priests and Levites has come from Jerusalem to vet John the Baptist (John 1:19–20). • They are responsible for guarding doctrinal purity (cf. Deuteronomy 13:1–5) and are eager to identify any messianic claimant. • Their two specific inquiries—“Elijah” and “the Prophet”—unveil the categories shaping first-century Jewish messianic expectation. Why Elijah? • Malachi 4:5–6 had promised, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.” • Many leaders took this literally: the same Elijah, returned from heaven, would appear as a herald. • Their question shows they expected visible fulfillment—Elijah’s actual reappearance, not merely a ministry “in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17). • John denies being Elijah in person, even though Jesus later explains he fulfills the role typologically (Matthew 11:14). Who Is “the Prophet”? • The phrase echoes Deuteronomy 18:15, 18: “The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your brothers.” • Jewish interpreters sometimes distinguished “the Prophet” from the Messiah, envisioning: – Messiah (a royal deliverer) – Elijah (a forerunner) – “the Prophet” (a new Moses-figure who would reveal God’s word) • By asking if John is “the Prophet,” they show an expectation of multiple eschatological figures, each with a unique role. Layers of Messianic Expectation • National deliverance from foreign domination (cf. Acts 1:6) • Restoration of prophetic revelation after centuries of silence • Visible, miraculous signs (John 10:41 hints John did none, so leaders probe his identity) • A literal fulfillment of prophetic texts, underscoring their high view of Scripture’s accuracy—though they miss its fuller meaning in Christ (John 5:39). Contrast with John’s Role • John identifies himself instead with Isaiah 40:3—“A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord’ ” (John 1:23). • He is not the focus; he points to Jesus, “the Lamb of God” (John 1:29). • His refusal to claim titles the leaders propose reveals humility and clarifies that all prophetic hopes converge on Christ alone. What John 1:21 Reveals about the Leaders’ Expectations • They anticipated literal, recognizable fulfillments of Malachi 4 and Deuteronomy 18. • They distinguished between at least three eschatological figures: Messiah, Elijah, and the Prophet. • They were prepared for a prophetic forerunner but struggled to see that God could fulfill promises in unexpected ways. • Their questions display both diligence in testing claims and blindness to the bigger picture—the incarnate Word standing among them (John 1:26). Takeaways for Us Today • Scripture’s promises are sure, yet God’s methods may overturn our assumptions—calling for humble, open-hearted study. • All prophetic lines—Elijah’s return, the new Moses, the promised King—find their end in Jesus (Acts 3:22–23; Luke 24:27). • Like John, believers are voices, not the light; our task is to direct all expectations to Christ alone (John 1:7–8). |
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