In the previous post on this topic we discussed that even Jesus' disciples required that Jesus repeat to them the idea that John the Baptist had the providential role of standing for the Elijah the prophet Malachi had prophesied about coming prior to the appearance of the Messiah.
In this one we will examine how much more difficult it must have been for the people to accept that proclamation.
What would make the people's decision more difficult to accept?
The Divine Principle explains that "(s)ince the disciples already believed that Jesus was the Messiah, they willingly accepted his testimony that John the Baptist was Elijah. Yet how could others who did not know Jesus accept this controversial claim?"
Why would it be so controversial?
The answer is easy: John the Baptist himself denied that he was Elijah.
Just as Jesus simply said: John is the Elijah that was to come, and did not go into any detail as to how John was Elijah; John simply said no, when he was directly asked by an official group from the religious leaders: are you Elijah?
When one two different people give contradicting answers to the same questions generally one assumes that one person is not saying the truth. It is as simple as that.
Who would the people trust more in this case?
To determine this we need to see how the people saw Jesus vs. how they saw John. In their minds John was not preparing the way for Jesus. If anything they saw them as working separate and possibly competing ministries. We find in the Fourth Gospel that the disciples of John understood Jesus' move to baptize people across from where John was as a competing move. John 3:26 says “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, He is baptizing and all are coming to Him.” In other occasions the disciples of John argued with Jesus about fasting. Matthew 9: 14 Then the disciples of John came to (Jesus), asking, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”
The people and also the religious leaders interpreted these situations as those of rival groups.
Consequently, when Jesus said that John was Elijah, and John denied it, the people had to choose who would they believe.
Finding out who would the people trust more requires that we place ourselves on their situation.
We have to stop thinking like Christians, or people who live at a much later time and make effort to comprehend the mentality of the nation of Israel when all of this was taking place.
How did the people see Jesus? How did they see John the Baptist?
We have plenty on the Gospels to get an excellent idea on this issue.
How the People saw Jesus:
1. Jesus came from the home of a carpenter and must have had a low educational level.
2. Jesus made big claims such as being the Lord of the Sabbath while appearing to break the Sabbath laws. (Matthew 12:1, 5:17)
3. Jesus was a friend of fishermen, tax collectors, and even prostitutes and sinners. (Matthew 11:19)
4. Jesus claimed to be equal with God (John 14:9) and that no one could enter heaven except through him. (John 14:6)
5. The Jewish leadership rebuked him, mocked him and considered him to be possessed by the devil.
How the Jewish People saw John
1. John came from a prominent family. He was the son of Zechariah, a high priest. (Luke 1:13)
2. The religious leaders knew of the miracles associated with John's birth.
3. John led an exemplary life, surviving on locust and wild honey while carrying out a ministry of national faith renewal. (Luke 3:15; John 1:20)
4. The religious leadership sent an official group to question John as to the possibility of him being one of the three people of the messianic expectations: the Messiah, Elijah, of the prophet.
Consequently, if we place ourselves in the position of Jesus' time we can see how much more easier it was for them to accept John's word as believable and Jesus' proclamation as very doubtful. Some may have even though that Jesus simply said that in order to borrow the popularity of John and support his claim that he was the Messiah.
Should John been aware of who he was? The Gospel of Luke tells us that John's own father was told by the angel of the Lord that his son is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children. Hence, John's father knew John was to play the role of the expected Elijah. In addition, John clothed himself in a manner reminiscent of the Old Testament prophet. Jesus also described John as more than a prophet. As someone speaking for God, John must have known what role he was to play in God's providence.
Finally, even if John was confused as to his role once Jesus said that John was Elijah, John should have clearly simply repeated Jesus' words. God directly revealed to John that Jesus was the Messiah, as such John should have united completely with Jesus.
John's failure to acknowledge his providential messianic role created a huge stumbling block before Jesus. As the Jewish people were awaiting for the arrival of Elijah prior to the coming of the Messiah, they could not accept Jesus' messianic claim.
John's failure contributed to the people being ignorant as to the true identity of Jesus and eventually sending him to the cross.
What would have happened had John confirmed Jesus' identification of him as the Elijah? The people would have believed in Jesus and would not have crucified him. The prophecies about the establishment of an everlasting kingdom would have been fulfilled.
When the Son of Man comes we need to ask ourselves if we will act in the same manner as John acted and not unite with him, thus preventing God's prophecies of the great victory of the coming Lord, or will we act in faith and help in the building of God's kingdom.
In this one we will examine how much more difficult it must have been for the people to accept that proclamation.
What would make the people's decision more difficult to accept?
The Divine Principle explains that "(s)ince the disciples already believed that Jesus was the Messiah, they willingly accepted his testimony that John the Baptist was Elijah. Yet how could others who did not know Jesus accept this controversial claim?"
Why would it be so controversial?
The answer is easy: John the Baptist himself denied that he was Elijah.
Just as Jesus simply said: John is the Elijah that was to come, and did not go into any detail as to how John was Elijah; John simply said no, when he was directly asked by an official group from the religious leaders: are you Elijah?
When one two different people give contradicting answers to the same questions generally one assumes that one person is not saying the truth. It is as simple as that.
Who would the people trust more in this case?
To determine this we need to see how the people saw Jesus vs. how they saw John. In their minds John was not preparing the way for Jesus. If anything they saw them as working separate and possibly competing ministries. We find in the Fourth Gospel that the disciples of John understood Jesus' move to baptize people across from where John was as a competing move. John 3:26 says “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, He is baptizing and all are coming to Him.” In other occasions the disciples of John argued with Jesus about fasting. Matthew 9: 14 Then the disciples of John came to (Jesus), asking, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”
The people and also the religious leaders interpreted these situations as those of rival groups.
Consequently, when Jesus said that John was Elijah, and John denied it, the people had to choose who would they believe.
Finding out who would the people trust more requires that we place ourselves on their situation.
We have to stop thinking like Christians, or people who live at a much later time and make effort to comprehend the mentality of the nation of Israel when all of this was taking place.
How did the people see Jesus? How did they see John the Baptist?
We have plenty on the Gospels to get an excellent idea on this issue.
How the People saw Jesus:
1. Jesus came from the home of a carpenter and must have had a low educational level.
2. Jesus made big claims such as being the Lord of the Sabbath while appearing to break the Sabbath laws. (Matthew 12:1, 5:17)
3. Jesus was a friend of fishermen, tax collectors, and even prostitutes and sinners. (Matthew 11:19)
4. Jesus claimed to be equal with God (John 14:9) and that no one could enter heaven except through him. (John 14:6)
5. The Jewish leadership rebuked him, mocked him and considered him to be possessed by the devil.
How the Jewish People saw John
1. John came from a prominent family. He was the son of Zechariah, a high priest. (Luke 1:13)
2. The religious leaders knew of the miracles associated with John's birth.
3. John led an exemplary life, surviving on locust and wild honey while carrying out a ministry of national faith renewal. (Luke 3:15; John 1:20)
4. The religious leadership sent an official group to question John as to the possibility of him being one of the three people of the messianic expectations: the Messiah, Elijah, of the prophet.
Consequently, if we place ourselves in the position of Jesus' time we can see how much more easier it was for them to accept John's word as believable and Jesus' proclamation as very doubtful. Some may have even though that Jesus simply said that in order to borrow the popularity of John and support his claim that he was the Messiah.
Should John been aware of who he was? The Gospel of Luke tells us that John's own father was told by the angel of the Lord that his son is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children. Hence, John's father knew John was to play the role of the expected Elijah. In addition, John clothed himself in a manner reminiscent of the Old Testament prophet. Jesus also described John as more than a prophet. As someone speaking for God, John must have known what role he was to play in God's providence.
Finally, even if John was confused as to his role once Jesus said that John was Elijah, John should have clearly simply repeated Jesus' words. God directly revealed to John that Jesus was the Messiah, as such John should have united completely with Jesus.
John's failure to acknowledge his providential messianic role created a huge stumbling block before Jesus. As the Jewish people were awaiting for the arrival of Elijah prior to the coming of the Messiah, they could not accept Jesus' messianic claim.
John's failure contributed to the people being ignorant as to the true identity of Jesus and eventually sending him to the cross.
What would have happened had John confirmed Jesus' identification of him as the Elijah? The people would have believed in Jesus and would not have crucified him. The prophecies about the establishment of an everlasting kingdom would have been fulfilled.
When the Son of Man comes we need to ask ourselves if we will act in the same manner as John acted and not unite with him, thus preventing God's prophecies of the great victory of the coming Lord, or will we act in faith and help in the building of God's kingdom.
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