Lesson 18, Q8

Q8, Read Malachi 4:5 and Luke 1:17.

a.      (Challenge) In what way did John the Baptist fulfill Malachi’s prophecy?

Malachi 3:1 God says “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me.

Malachi 4:5 ⁵ “See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes.

Isaiah 40:3, A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
the way for the Lord;
make straight in the desert
a highway for our God.

Luke 1:17, an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah and told him that he will have a son…

¹⁷ And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

John 1: 19-23

John the Baptist Denies Being the Messiah

19 Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.” 21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’” (Isaiah 40:3)

John 1:76, And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,

In Malachi’s prophecy a messenger (Elijah) will be sent by God (to make straight the road) before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. So John fulfilled that, However, John was killed then but Jesus says, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. 12 But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and then the disciples understood that He was talking to them about John the Baptist. So Malachi’s prophecy is partially fulfilled until Jesus’ second coming before then Elijah will come again.

b. How did John the Baptist’s history foreshadow future events in Jesus’ life?

Jesus says, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” So Jesus will be killed at their hands. But Jesus also said John will restore all meant Jesus will be restored in future as well.

c. What phrase used by Jesus seems to indicate Elijah’s coming is in one sense still future to us? (See Matthew 17:11.)

See Q8a, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things.