Pam Padgett ... teacher
After Jesus was transfigured and spoke with Moses and Elias, the
disciples asked Jesus about the scribes teaching of Elias coming.
Jesus answered that Elias would first come and restore all things, and
indeed had already come, although he was not recognized. The disciples
understood this was John the Baptist.
Matthew 17:10 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why
then say the scribes that Elias must first come? 11 And Jesus answered
and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all
things. 12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew
him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall
also the Son of man suffer of them. 13 Then the disciples understood
that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.
I was reminded of the angel telling Zacharias about the son Elizabeth
would conceive. This son was John the Baptist. The angel said that
John would come in the spirit and power of Elias, preparing and turning the children of Israel to God ...
Luke 1:13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for
thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and
thou shalt call his name John. 14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness;
and many shall rejoice at his birth. 15 For he shall be great in the
sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he
shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. 16
And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, 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.
The things spoken by the angel about John the Baptist fulfilled the word of God given to Malachi concerning Elijah (Elias) ...
Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
We are told of John the Baptist turning the children of Israel to God,
restoring them to God, as he preached to repent of sin and bring forth fruits in line
with their repentance ...
Matthew 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist,
preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the
kingdom of heaven is at hand. 3 For this is he that was spoken of by the
prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 4 And the same
John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his
loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then went out to him
Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, 6 And
were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw
many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto
them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath
to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: 9 And
think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I
say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children
unto Abraham. 10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the
trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn
down, and cast into the fire.
The work John the Baptist did fulfilled the word of God spoken by Isaiah ...
Isaiah 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the
wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a
highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every
mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made
straight, and the rough places plain: 5 And the glory of the LORD shall
be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the
LORD hath spoken it.
Although John the Baptist was not recognized by the people of his time, his coming and the work he did fulfilled the word of God spoken by His prophets and an angel and was confirmed by Jesus. The word of God will come to pass.