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December 16

Title: The Second Coming of Elijah (sort of)

Text: Malachi 4:5-6

Moses and Elijah were Israel’s greatest prophets. Some scholars say it is because Moses represents the Law and Elijah represents the prophets. That could be. I think the answer is simpler. Moses took on Pharoah and rescued Israel from slavery. Elijah took on the prophets of Baal, rescuing the nation from paganism. They took on the gods of their day. They stood in the gap. They pushed back the armies of darkness. They became legends. 

But that was a long time ago. By the time the prophet Malachi showed up on the scene, the presence of God had left the temple and Israel was a shell of its previous glory. Things were pretty bleak. Yet Malachi gave another prophecy.

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.” (Malachi 4:5-6)

Elijah is returning! I bet the people were excited about that. But now a couple thousand years later we realize it is the spirit of Elijah that Malachi was talking about. John the Baptist was endowed with the spirit of Elijah. Powerful. Spoke the truth to both peasants and royalty. A real prophet of old. 

John the Baptist came to prepare the way. He was called the greatest man born of a woman—by Jesus HImself. The truth is we are all John the Baptists. We are called to point people to Jesus. Are you? I hope so. Christmas is almost here.