Elijah and John the Baptist

Comparative studyYOSHINOBU NAMIHIRA MD ,FACG

3000 HALLS FERRY ROAD

VICKSBURG , MS 39180

PH 601-638-9800,FAX 601-638-9808

E MAIL: NAMIHIRA @VICKSBURG.COM

1.Fearless and bold before the king

• Elijah stood before the king Ahab and was bold , fearless and delivered the verdict/ prophecy; there is no rain ( severe famine, drought) for 3.5years( 42 mo).

• John said to king Herod,” it is not lawful to have for you to have your brother Phillip’s wife ,Herodias”

1.Fearless and bold before the king (2)

• In response to king Ahab’s accusation, he replied ,”I have not troubled Israel,but you and your father’s house have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and you followed the Baal.”

2.Message to the church and people

• Elijah’s message to all the people “How long do you falter between the opinions? If the Lord is God and follow Him;but if Baal, then follow him”

• REVIVAL MESSAGE• WAKE UP !• 1kings 18:21

• John’s message “ Repent, for the kingdom is at hand”

• Repentance• Matt 3:2

3.Simple diet

• Elijah’s case:• Raven;bread and

meat• The brook cherith:

water• for his nutritious

sustenance• 1 kings 18:4-6

• John ate locusts ( carrob) and wild honey

• Not gorgeous meal !• Matt 3:4

4.Simple dress

• Elijah wore a very modest clothes

• foods provided by raven, water by the river,

• John’s clothe was very modest.

• Camel’s hair• a leather belt• Matt 3:4

5.Discipling others

• Elijah discipled Elisha and took Elisha to Gilgal, Bethel, Jericho, for field training, visiting the school of prophet

• At the Jordan river, Elijah was taken to heaven by fiery chariot

• 2 kings 2:1-11

• John discipled and trained many followers in the field.

• People came all over the places

• Jerusalem,• Judea• all the region of the

Jordan river

6.The Jordan river

• Elijah took his mantle , rolled it up and struck the water (jordan) and it (the Jordan river ) was divided this way and that, so that two ( Elijah and Elisha ) crossed over on dry ground

• John baptized Jesus at the Jordan river

• “Behold the Son of God who takes away the sins of the world”

• Announcement of the coming Son of God ( Jesus)

• John was the herald for Jesus

6.The Jordan river(2)

• Met the school of prophet on the other side of the Jordan

• 2 kings 2:8

• Jesus ; bride(#1),main figure

• John ; bridegroom (#2),subtitle, secondary,

• Who are you?• Christ?• Elijah?• Prophet?

7.Spirit of humility• Elijah went up to the

top of mount Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground , and put his face between the knees

• Said to his servant,” go up now, look toward the sea

• Seven times, he said,”Go again”

• 1 kings18:42-43

• I (John) am “the voice of one crying in the wilderness;

• Make straight the way of the Lord”

• It is He ( Jesus) who , is coming after me (John) is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose

• John 1:21-27

6.The Jordan river(3)

• He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of bridegroom who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine( John) is fullfilled

6.The Jordan river(3)

• He must increase , but I must decrease

• John 3:29-30• After the Jesus’s

baptism at the Jordan river, Jesus’s ministry expanded but John’s ministry diminished

8.woman, period of persecution

• Elijah lived under the religious persecution by woman

• Jezebel , wife of king Ahab and her daughter massacred the prophets of the Lord

• Herodias,and her daughter together plotted to kill John who was in prison by kind Herod the tetrach

• The mother ,Herodias, asked her daughter and her daughter asked for the head of John on a platter at the time of birthday party.

8.woman, period of persecution(2)

• Obadiah,(Ahab’s servant) hid the 100 men of the Lord’s prophet in the cave and fed them with bread and water

• 1 kings 18:4

• The mother ,Herodias, asked her daughter and her daughter asked for the head of John on a platter at the time of birthday party.

• Pagan woman and her daughter persecuted the God’s people

8.woman, period of persecution(2)

• Jezebel attempted to kill Elijah after the great victory at the MT. Carmel

• Elijah fled from Jezebel for fear of his life

• 1 kings 19:2-3

• Woman, and daughter

• Babylon the great harlots and abomination of the earth

• Religious persecution of God’s people for 42 mo

• 42 mo=3.5 years

8.woman, period of persecution(3)

• Period of famine( no rain, drought)= 3.5 years= 42 mo !

• 3.5 literal years=• 42 mo=1260

prophetic years!• Revelation13:5• Day=year principle• Ezekiel 4:6• Number 14:34

9.Ran before the king

• Elijah ran before ( ahead of) the king Ahab toward the entrance of Jezreel from Mt. Carmel at the time of “ heavy rain” after his prayer was heard by the Lord.

• John ran before the King (Jesus) and served as a herald for Jesus.

• He (John) prepared the way of the Lord

• Made His Paths straight

• Matt 3:3•

9.Ran before the king(2)

• filled up the holes and cut the bumps on the road in preparation for the King’s coming, arrival, traveling on the road)

• John made it ready for His coming (Jesus)

10.Content of message

• You (king Ahab) and your father’s house have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and you followed the Baals

• How long will you falter between the two opinions?

• “Behold the lamb of the God who takes away the sin of the world”

• John 1:29• “repent, for the

kingdom is at hand”• Confession of sins• Matt 4:17

10.Content of message(2)

• If the Lord is God , then follow Him.;but if Baal, then follow him.

• Elijah pointed the people’s attention to the Lord

• 1 kings 18:18;21

• John turned the attention to Jesus

• pointed focus of attention to Jesus

11.Moment of discouragement

• Elijah fled from pagan woman , wife of king Ahab, Jezebel for his dear life.

• John was in prison by king Herod at the suggestion of his wife Herodias

• John was discouraged because of no sings of help from Jesus

11.Moment of discouragement(2)

• “I have been zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, torn down your altars,and killed your prophets by the sword.I alone am left; and they seek to take my life”

• “John , calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus,saying “ Are you the Coming one,or do we look for another ?”

• Luke 7:19

11.Moment of discouragement(3)

• Elijah was depressed, and discouraged.

• He is complaining!

• John was clearly depressed and wondering and complaining.

• Moment of discouragement and doubt !

12.Scope of work, influence

• At the Jordan river, • Elijah : taken to

heaven by fiery chariots

• Elisha: took over the responsibility and work of Elijah and greatly expanded

• After the Jesus baptism at the Jordan river by John

• Jesus' scope of work, ministry greatly expanded all throughout Judea, Samaria, Jerusalem beyond the Jordan river

12.Scope of work, influence(2)

• But John the bapist’s scope of work, influence, ministry markedly diminished and eventually vanished.

• “He (Jesus) must increase, but

• I must decrease”• John 3:30

John 3:30

•“He (Jesus) must increase, but

•I must decrease”

• A spirit of self denial

• self sacrifice

• Thinking highly of other

• Give priority to other

• Self restrain

• Complete opposite of human nature-self magnification, self glorification, self elevation

Conclusions