ELIJAH – TYPOLOGY – 3
You are looking at a the ruins of a fortress in Jordan, called Mukawir. This is where John the Baptist was beheaded. In this presentation we are looking at the relationship between him and the historic Elijah.
Malachi 4:5 “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.”
Not far from Jerusalem is a little village called Ein Karem. According to some scholars this is the place where John the Baptist grew up.
How did Jesus explained the work of this great prophet?
Luke 1:17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
Matthew 11:10 This is the one about whom it is written: “‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’
Matthew 11:14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.
We are back at Samaria where Elijah confronted Ahab who transgressed the law of the Lord. Did John the Baptist had the same courage as Elijah?
Mark 6:17,18 For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”
On Mount Carmel the prophet Elijah built an altar and sacrificed an innocent animal. He not only rebuked sin and upholds the law, he also pointed people to the Lamb of God who come and take away the sin.
Here on the banks of Jordan John the Baptist called people to repentance. Here he upheld the requirements of God’s holy law.
Luke 3:8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.
I had a spiritual experience when I visited the site where John the Baptist preached and baptized. He not only upheld the law, he also pointed people to the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world.
John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
John 1:36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
You are looking at a seal of Jezebel which was discovered at Samaria. He caused Elijah much grief. She wanted to kill him. Did John the Baptist have the same experience?
Here at Mukawir John the Baptist met his fate because of Herodias
Mark 6:19 So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him.
Here at Mukawir I looked at an empty cistern. It could be that John was jailed in a similar place. Let’s listen to the account:
Mark 6:24 She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” “The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.
The message of Elijah and of John the Baptist will be preached again. The end time Elijah’s will uphold the law of God and point sinners to the Lamb of God that takes away the sin. You cannot afford to miss the last presentation in this series.