Jesus disciples knew that the prophet Elijah must come first before Christ. That’s why they were a little confused and asked Jesus: “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” You are telling us that you are the Son of God, that you are the Messiah, so does that mean that we missed Elijah? But Jesus told them that Elijah already came, but not like they expected him to. This time Elijah came in the person of John the Baptist. But when he was asked if he was Elijah, he said: No, I am not. John knew that he was not Elijah. Yet, the gospels reveal some interesting facts about him. The angel that had spoken to his father, Zacharias, said that John would come in the spirit and power of Elijah. Although he was not Elijah, his ministry would be like that of Elijah. John the Baptist’s ministry was carried out in the spirit of Elijah’s. John was the ‘new’ Elijah, the one who was proclaiming the Messiah and preparing others for His coming. In these last days of Advent, let us listen to the words of John the Baptist and prepare ourselves for the Lord.
