# 17 The Fixation With Elijah

Joh 1:19 Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" 20 He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ." 21 And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No."

 22 Then they said to him, "Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?" 23 He said: "I am 'The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Make straight the way of the LORD,"' as the prophet Isaiah said."

I want to talk a little bit more about Elijah today and maybe we can also learn a little something about the Holy Spirit. John rightly denies that he is Elijah. He IS THE “Elijah” that was to come before the “great and dreadful day of the Lord” (Mal 4:5) but not the miracle working physical replica the religious leaders were expecting. Rather, he was  Elijah in “spirit and power.” (Luke 1:17)

But the people kept looking for the miracle working Elijah of their minds. In fact, many speculated that Jesus was Elijah (Mt 16:14)

The fixation of the miraculous power of Elijah also showed up when Jesus was on the cross! Mt 27:46 -49 says, “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"  47 Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, "This Man is calling for Elijah!"  48 Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink.

 49 The rest said, "Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him."

In light of the reverence and expectations that the Jewish people had for Elijah, imagine what would happen if John would’ve answered in the affirmative! The people would’ve started demanding miracles from John, and worse yet, they would’ve worshiped him, and that would’ve defeated the very purpose for which John was sent!

He was not to be the Light, but a witness to the Light!

Remember John the Baptist was “filled with the Holy Spirit” from his mother’s womb! (Luke 1:15) and remember the humble nature or character of the Holy Spirit! The Holy Spirit does not call attention to Himself. His ultimate goal is to direct attention, or “turn the spotlight” on Jesus, for the glory of God!

This is a good lesson for all of us. Who or what are we directing people to by our words and deeds? If it’s not Jesus, then we likely need a good dose of humility.  For as we humble ourselves, we make room for the Holy Spirit to do His thing through us! Namely, to point others to Jesus Christ, because there is salvation in no other name!