Surviving the Baptism of John
John the Baptist as Elijah resuscitated
John the Baptist as Elijah
Jesus referred to John the Baptist as Elijah.
12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.
13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John.
14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.
(Mat 11:12–14 NIV)
This is in reference to a prophecy, the details of which are not of interest. Luke also has a story where Jesus mentions Elijah:
25 I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land.
26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon.
(Luk 4:25–26 NIV)
I suggest that we examine the story of Elijah and the widow in Zarephath so as to better appreciate the connection between John the Baptist and Elijah.
9 “Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food.”
10 So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, “Would…
