LIFE SCRIPTS

And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.
Matthew 17:10‭-‬13 KJV

There is a striking resemblance between Elijah and John the Baptist. Both served as prophets, both lived in times of great sinfulness, both seemed to be fugitives of the political system, both seemed to be very direct and confrontational towards the powers that be, both roamed like destitute children with God miraculously providing for them and both boldly called people to depart from their sins and serve the true and living God. These are attributes of people who are forerunners and trailblazers. They cut through the thicket and redirect people towards righteousness in an age of sin. Their tough message to people to change their ways and turn to God is probably the reason Christ refers to them as ones who came to ‘restore all things’. However, inasmuch as they were great messengers of God and operated in significant moments, they faced dramatic challenges. There lifestyles looked outlandish, they often might have been confused with deranged men, they seemed not to have an established home and they were trailed and sought by the leaders of the day. They lived in isolation coming out only to challenge people to turn to God or when confronting the Kings of the day. The suffered in the hands of disbelieving men. Christ informs us that He’ll go through the same. He reminds us that if the people rejected His forerunners, nothing will make them accept Him. This is a wake up call to us as believers. If the Christ suffered, how much more us who bear His name? When we carry the name of Christ, it is a sure ticket for the wicked one and his agents to strike. However, our comfort is in the greatness of our God. He who is in us is greater than he who’s in the world.