Breaking the Word

A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light… And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites (to him) to ask him, "Who are you?" he admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, "I am not the Messiah."… He said: "I am 'the voice of one crying out in the desert, "Make straight the way of the Lord,"' as Isaiah the prophet said." Some Pharisees were also sent. They asked him, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet?" John answered them, "I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie." This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. (Jn 1:6-8,19-28)

People were expecting a Messiah. People knew well how he would come and what he would do. He would be a king from the house of David of course. He would overthrow all injustice and rule over Israel. People were wonderstruck with the work he was doing. They almost thought that he was the expected one. But John was very clear and sure that he was not the one.

Was he Elijah? The Prophet Malachi declared that God would send Elijah the Prophet to prepare the people before the great and terrible day of the Lord. (4: 5). We know well that Elijah had purified the people on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 19). He directed the people to believe in one true God. Later he was taken up to heaven. So it was believed that he would come back again and prepare the people. He denied that as well.

Was he a prophet? In Deuteronomy 18:15-18 God promised to raise a prophet Like Moses to lead the people. People expected someone to come and settle the mess that was in Israel and lead the people. He denied that as well. Like this there were many expectations. He accepted that he was only a voice that has come to prepare the way of the Lord. (Is 40: 1-8) “I am only a voice”: this is his humility and his true greatness.

Then the disciples asked him, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" He said in reply, "Elijah will indeed come and restore all things; but I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased. So also will the Son of Man suffer at their hands." Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist. (Mt 17:10-13)

"Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?". The Prophet Malachi declared that God would send Elijah the Prophet to prepare the people before the great and terrible day of the Lord. (4: 5). We know well that Elijah had purified the people on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 19). He directed the people to believe in one true God. Later he was taken up to heaven. So it was believed that he would come back again.

Prophet Malachi’s prophecy was that this prophet would return to prepare the way of the Lord. Similar idea is found in the book of Sirach (48: 10) where the author speaks the work of Elijah as the work of restoring the tribes of Jacob. Using the texts like this the scribes had developed that prophet Elijah should come again to restore the people.

John the Baptist had come and did the very same work which the people expected Elijah to do and which the scribes were waiting to be completed. When John had come and preached the disciples and the people did not see in him the prophecy of Malachi. They expected a prophet would bring thunderbolts and destruction and so on. John came totally in a different form and speech. God’s timetable and God’s working is not controlled by man’s reasoning and understanding.