John was not the Elijah of the Old Testament (John 1:21; Luke 9:30). But John was like that prophet in many ways. Those who knew the Old Testament could see John, not only as a true prophet, but as a new “Elijah” (Matthew 11:7-14; 21:26).
- Like Elijah, John spent much time in the desert (1 Kings 17-19; Luke 1:80; Matthew 3:1).
- Like Elijah, John dressed in rough clothes (2 Kings 1:8; Matthew 3:4).
- Like Elijah, his preaching was full of courage. He had “the spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17).
He spoke out against all sin, even the king’s sin (Luke 3; Matthew 14). John commanded the Jews to prepare for the Lord’s coming with the words of the prophet in Isaiah 40:3, He said,
“I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said“ (John 1:23).
How could they make the way straight? How could they prepare for the King?