How much do you know about the prophet Elijah? I hope you are not one of those Christians who read only the New Testament and Psalms - are you? :) Of course not. You've heard sermons about Elijah. After all he is the "lead performer, the center of attention" in the last few chapters of I Kings and in II Kings. He displays amazing bravery and wonderful miracles are done for him and through him.
Now how much do you know about the "second Elijah"? I just read familiar words about the shocked, older, childless priest being told by an angel about the son he and his wife will be given. I read again the description of how important their son would be.
"He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink,and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Luke 1:14 - 17
It suddenly struck me: John the Baptizer was a great man, a powerful servant of God, the "second Elijah" yet how little we really know about him and his ministry. Jesus said of him:
Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence,[a] and violent people have been raiding it.For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. Matthew 11:11 - 14
Yet there is not one chapter of Scripture where John is featured as "the center of attention, the lead performer." There are a few verses that describe his lifestyle and his powerful outdoor ministry calling people to repentance and preaching the Kingdom. We know he was feared by King Herod and killed because Herod's wife hated him. But the spotlight does not shine on the second Elijah.
Why not? Of course the answer is obvious. In the Old Testament, God is the major actor, the chief character, the protagonist. Yet He often works in the background, He works in and through people like the prophet Elijah.
But in the Gospels we read the wonderful story of God entering human history in the person of Jesus Christ. He takes center stage in all of history - and in the Gospel records. There is no room and no reason to make John or Peter or any other person a star performer. There is One and only One lead Performer in the Gospel story - our Lord and Saviour.
John the Baptist knew that his role was to be a supporting actor. When John's disciples complained to him that Jesus and his ministry were becoming more popular than John, John replied,
"He must become more important, while I become less important." John 11:30
So it should be with all who follow Jesus. From the most popular Christian musician, athlete, church leader or preacher down to those known only by a few - all of us need to remember, there is only One Lead Performer. We all point to Him. Our goal in life is to help more people see His importance.
Now how much do you know about the "second Elijah"? I just read familiar words about the shocked, older, childless priest being told by an angel about the son he and his wife will be given. I read again the description of how important their son would be.
"He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink,and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Luke 1:14 - 17
It suddenly struck me: John the Baptizer was a great man, a powerful servant of God, the "second Elijah" yet how little we really know about him and his ministry. Jesus said of him:
Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to violence,[a] and violent people have been raiding it.For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. Matthew 11:11 - 14
Yet there is not one chapter of Scripture where John is featured as "the center of attention, the lead performer." There are a few verses that describe his lifestyle and his powerful outdoor ministry calling people to repentance and preaching the Kingdom. We know he was feared by King Herod and killed because Herod's wife hated him. But the spotlight does not shine on the second Elijah.
Why not? Of course the answer is obvious. In the Old Testament, God is the major actor, the chief character, the protagonist. Yet He often works in the background, He works in and through people like the prophet Elijah.
But in the Gospels we read the wonderful story of God entering human history in the person of Jesus Christ. He takes center stage in all of history - and in the Gospel records. There is no room and no reason to make John or Peter or any other person a star performer. There is One and only One lead Performer in the Gospel story - our Lord and Saviour.
John the Baptist knew that his role was to be a supporting actor. When John's disciples complained to him that Jesus and his ministry were becoming more popular than John, John replied,
"He must become more important, while I become less important." John 11:30
So it should be with all who follow Jesus. From the most popular Christian musician, athlete, church leader or preacher down to those known only by a few - all of us need to remember, there is only One Lead Performer. We all point to Him. Our goal in life is to help more people see His importance.
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