Where’s the fire from the heavens?
…answered Jesus, “…Elijah has already come and people did not recognize him…” Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.
(Matthew 17:12-13)
The “old” Elijah brought down fire from the heavens. Impressive. Very impressive, actually. It took place though with the anticipation that people would not only acknowledge the Lord as God but also come back to him. It never happened. No one repented. Then later a new prophecy arose foretelling the coming of a “new” Elijah. Would this Elijah do even greater miracles to bring about that sought after change of heart?
So John went throughout the whole territory of the Jordan River, preaching, “Turn away from your sins and be baptized, and God will forgive your sins.” As it is written…:“Someone is shouting in the desert: ‘Get the road ready for the Lord; make a straight path for him to travel! …The whole human race will see God’s salvation!’”
(Luke 3:3-6)
Just words. There is no record of John the Baptist performing any miracles. Not one. What a contrast with the “old” Elijah! And he’s just there to clear the way for someone else. Unimpressive. To say the least. In any event, the account continues…
Crowds of people came out to John to be baptized by him. “…Do those things that will show that you have turned from your sins.”
The people asked him, “What are we to do, then?”
He answered, “Whoever has two shirts must give one to the man who has none, and whoever has food must share it.”
Some tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what are we to do?”
“Don’t collect more than is legal,” he told them.
Some soldiers also asked him, “What about us? What are we to do?” He said to them, “Don’t take money from anyone by force or accuse anyone falsely. Be content with your pay.”
(Luke 3:7-16)
People came in droves to John the Baptist in a spirit of repentance! Somehow, someway, John’s words did what no fire from heaven could: bring about the willingness to change one’s behavior. And did you notice how practical the expression of that repentance was to be? It forms the very foundation of all of what’s to come. Whoever you are. Whatever your religion. And the account continues:
People’s hopes began to rise, and they began to wonder whether John perhaps might be the Messiah. So John said to all of them, “I baptize you with water, but someone is coming who is much greater than I am. I am not good enough even to untie his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
(Luke 3:15-16)
Could this “new” Elijah be referring to a “new” fire from the heavens? And a “Messiah”?