Elijah’s Return

Elijah’s Return

⁴⁷ Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, “This Man is calling for Elijah!” ⁴⁸ Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink. ⁴⁹ The rest said, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him.”

Matthew 27:47-49

It’s understandable why the people thought he was calling Elijah. Jesus had just finished saying ‘Eli, Eli…’ But Elijah was all the way back in the Old Testament. Why would they wonder if Elijah could come and save him? It’s actually a very important part of Judaism.

Every Passover, Jews open their doors and put an extra cup of wine at the table. The hope is that one day Elijah will come in and partake with them. Elijah’s return in seen as a sign of the Messiah’s return. It all comes from this scripture:

⁵ Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet, Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. ⁶ And he will turn, The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”

Malachi 4:5-6

Remember that the Bible says that Elijah never died but was taken up to heaven alive. That with Malachi created the idea that Elijah would return before the coming of the Messiah. That is also why John the Baptist is called Elijah by Jesus.

¹¹ “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. ¹² And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. ¹³ For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. ¹⁴ And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come.

Matthew 11:11-14

Unfortunately all those waiting would never see Elijah come. They had missed the signs of what the Bible was really saying. Elijah came through John and the Messiah had come through Jesus but here they were watching their Messiah die on a cross without knowing it. May we not copy the same errors in our day. May we study and know what God is showing us.

God bless,

Pr. Steven Couto