John the Baptist presented himself as Prophet Elijah. He appeared suddenly like Elijah that people could not explain.

John the Baptist used to put on clothes which were similar to those of Elijah. It was made out of camel's wool and he wore leader belt as well (Matthew 3:4).

John the Baptist used to feed on locust and wild honey. This was similar to Elijah being fed by the ravens in the wilderness during the 2-3 years drought.

John the Baptist started his ministry when he was in the wilderness the way Elijah had done before.

Elijah's heart of mercy towards the widow and her son both of whom were Gentiles were similar to Jesus' attitude towards the gentiles. Jesus treated them the same wiry; as the Jews.

Elijah's miracle of multiplying a handful of flour and the drop of oil in the wilderness is seen as Jesus' feeding miracles. He multiplied seven loafs of bread and a few small fish that fed four thousand people (Mark 8: 1 ff).

Elijah's restoration of the widow's son back to life was similar to Jesus' miracle of raising Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:35ff).

Elijah was one of the personalities that appeared to the three disciples during the transfiguration of Jesus (Mark 9:4ff).

Elijah was a prophet of monotheism and the same way Jesus emphasized the worshipping of the one true God.

Peter in his confession about who Jesus was said that he was being talked about as the new Elijah (Mark 8:27ff).

Elijah called upon the people of Israel to repent their sins and in the same way John the Baptist and Jesus Christ put emphasis on repentance.

At a time of Jesus' death, some people thought that he was calling Elijah as they heard him say "Eloi Eloi …" They waited to see whether Elijah could come to bring him down from the cross (Mark 15: 34-36).

St. James gave an example of Elijah on his teaching about patience and prayer He showed that Elijah prayed and waited patiently for God to act (James 5:17).

The Jews had a common belief and thinking that before the coming of a messiah, Elijah would first appear.

Jesus gave reference to Elijah to make his point clear that prophets were never welcome in their hometowns. He showed his followers how Elijah was persecuted by the people he served (Luke 4:24).

Jesus also gave reference to the widow that Elijah met in the wilderness as he was trying to emphasize his point on the Sabbath day before he was rejected (Luke 4:25 ff).

Elijah disappeared from the earth-in the same way Jesus went to heaven. He was taken to heaven by whirl wind in the same way Jesus ascended.

Revision Questions

1. Discuss the importance of Elijah in the New Testament?

2. To what extent can Jesus be referred to as the new Elijah?

To a large extent Jesus can be referred to as the new Elijah.

Like Elijah, Jesus performed a feeding miracle. Elijah had multiplied a handful of flour which sustained the life of a widow and her son and in the same way Jesus multiplied a loaf of bread, and fish to feed four thousand people.

Both regarded prayer as being very important in their ministry. Elijah prayed to God during the Mount Carmel contest. In the same way Jesus prayed in Gethsemane before he was arrested.

Both were persecuted, and mistreated by their own, people during their, ministries and were therefore the suffering servants. Elijah was persecuted by Jezebel and Jesus by the Pharisees.

Jesus just like Elijah experienced life in the wilderness where they spent forty days. Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness during which he was tempted and Elijah walked for forty days to Mount Sinai.

Just like Elijah, Jesus was sent because of the sinfulness of human beings. Elijah's appearance was because the Israelites had turned against the Sinai covenant and Jesus came because man had been overtaken by sin.

Both Elijah and Jesus put emphasis on the observation of and a return to monotheism. Elijah urged the people of Israel to worship one God and so did Jesus.

Both completed their mission. Elijah succeeded in turning the Israelites back to monotheism especially during the Mount Carmel contest and Jesus' death on the cross, he brought salvation to mankind especially when he said "It is finished" (John 19:30)

Like Elijah, Jesus was taken to heaven alive. Elijah was taken by a whirl wind and in the same way Jesus ascended into heaven.

Jesus like Elijah is expected to come back. The Jews expected Elijah to be back and in the same way prior to his ascension, Jesus promised his disciples that he would be back.

Jesus like Elijah had a mysterious birth. He was conceived and born by the power of the Holy Spirit and Elijah's birth remained unknown to the people of Israel.

Like Elijah, Jesus remained obedient to his mission. Both were sinless as they carried out their work. When Jesus was tempted, he knew that it was will of the father who sent him.

Like Elijah Jesus called for repentance so that the people they served could be put right with God. Elijah urged Israel to abandon her sinful ways and turn back to God and Jesus also urged his followers to repent in preparation for judgement.

Just like Elijah, Jesus was opposed by the people he served. The Israelites turned against Elijah and so were the Jews who rejected Jesus as a messiah.

Like Elijah, Jesus considered faith as being very important in the service of the Lord. Elijah had faith in God during the Mount Carmel contest and emphasized that it was more important than following the laws when serving God.

However, to a smaller extent, Jesus' personality was quite different from that of Elijah.

Jesus was born by the power of the Holy Spirit while Elijah appeared to have been born by human parents.

Jesus was both divine and human and therefore God himself but Elijah was purely a human being.

Elijah was sent to serve a specific group of people, the Israelites, while Jesus came as a universal saviour.

Elijah was taken into heaven alive without having died but Jesus went through the process of death and resurrection before ascending into heaven.

Jesus brought salvation to the people he served by dying on the cross. Elijah only made a call for the people to realize their sinful nature and turn back to God.

Elijah was simply a prophet but Jesus was a prophet, a messiah and therefore a saviour.