John the Baptist had a very special relationship with Jesus. Although they were physically related, their spiritual relationship was much more important. John the Baptist was sent by God as the prophetic Elijah. His mission was to prepare the way for the Savior, Jesus, and testify about Him. Before Jesus preached the gospel, John the Baptist prepared the way for Christ by conducting baptisms of repentance. He also clearly testified that Jesus was the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn 1:29).
The Birth of John the Baptist
When King Herod was ruling Judea, Zechariah, a priest, and Elizabeth, a descendant of Aaron, were married and living in Judea. They both observed God’s commandments and regulations, but they did not have children because Elizabeth was barren.
One day, while Zechariah was serving as a priest in the temple, an angel appeared and told him that his wife would bear him a son, and he was to give him the name John (Lk 1:13–17). Surprised, Zechariah asked, “How can we have a son when my wife and I are old?” After this, his tongue hardened and he could not speak. Once his baby was circumcised on the eighth day after his birth, he was able to speak again.
Once his tongue became loose, he praised God and people talked about the events that took place throughout the village. The neighbors were filled with awe and wondered what kind of person the child would become. Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied that his child would become a prophet of the Most High and would prepare the way before the Savior (Lk 1:76–77).
John the Baptist Fulfilled the Mission of Elijah
When John the Baptist grew up, he walked the path of the prophetic Elijah. He ate locusts and wild honey and cried out in the desert to repent. His attire resembled the prophet Elijah’s as he wore clothing made of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist (2 Ki 1:8; Mk 1:6).
Many people came to him and he baptized those who confessed and repented of their sins (Mk 1:4–5). When people asked if he was the Christ, he answered, “There is One who comes after me” (Jn 1:26–27). When Jesus finally came, being moved by the Holy Spirit, he baptized Him and testified that He was the Savior (Jn 1:36).
The appearance of John the Baptist was the fulfillment of the prophecies of Isaiah and Malachi:
A voice of one calling: “In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God . . .” You who bring good tidings to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!” . . . He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young. Isa 40:3, 9, 11
“See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty.Mal 3:1
Fulfillment of the Prophecy of Elijah: John the Baptist & the Second Coming Christ
According to prophecy, God Jehovah came to this earth with the name “Jesus.” John the Baptist, who was a prophetic Elijah, preached in the desert to repent and testified about Jesus. Jesus also said that the prophetic Elijah was John the Baptist.
“For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come.”Mt 11:13–14
The Pharisees, who were the religious leaders at that time, knew well that Elijah would come before Christ (Mt 17:10–13; 11:13–14); however, they did not realize that the prophetic Elijah was John the Baptist. This was because they thought that since Elijah went up to Heaven in a chariot of fire and horses in the Old Testament (2 Ki 2:11), the prophetic Elijah would come in the same way. They thought they understood and believed in the Bible well, but they were spiritually blind and did not clearly see how the prophecies were fulfilled (Jn 9:39–41).
While the world was ignorant of God’s will, Elijah and Christ were already born. Elijah cried out for the coming of the Savior at the Jordan River, and Christ was teaching the words in the temple. Rather than saying, “I am God,” Jesus revealed that He was the Christ through the prophecies in the Bible and the testimony of the prophets. John the Baptist faithfully fulfilled his prophetic role as the one who was entrusted with the mission to proclaim Jesus as the Savior. When we look in the Bible, we can find out that the prophecies about Elijah in the Old Testament were not completely fulfilled by John the Baptist.
“See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers . . .” Mal 4:5–6
God said that He would send Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the LORD (i.e., The Day of Judgment). The Bible records many prophecies about Elijah who will appear in the last days. The perfect fulfillment of the prophecy of Elijah will be accomplished by Second Coming Christ.