Thematic Bible




Thematic Bible



and he will be His forerunner in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn fathers' hearts to the children, and cause the rebellious to walk in the wisdom of the upright, to make a people perfectly ready for the lord."


"Some say John the Baptist," they replied; "others Elijah; others Jeremiah or one of the Prophets."

"Why then," asked the disciples, "do the Scribes say that Elijah must first come?" "Elijah was indeed to come," He replied, "and would reform everything. But I tell you that he has already come, and they did not recognize him, but dealt with him as they chose. And before long the Son of Man will be treated by them in a similar way."

"Elijah," He replied, "does indeed come first and reforms everything; but how is it that it is written of the Son of Man that He will endure much suffering and be held in contempt? Yet I tell you that not only has Elijah come, but they have also done to him whatever they chose, as the Scriptures say about him."

"What then?" they inquired; "are you Elijah?" "I am not," he said. "Are you the Prophet?" "No," he answered. So they pressed the question. "Who are you?" they said--"that we may take an answer to those who sent us. What account do you give of yourself?" "I am the voice," he replied, "of one crying aloud, 'Make straight the Lord's way in the Desert,' fulfilling the words of the Prophet Isaiah." read more.
They were Pharisees who had been sent. Again they questioned him. "Why then do you baptize," they said, "if you are neither the Christ nor Elijah nor the Prophet?"


Six day later, Jesus took with Him Peter and the brothers James and John, and brought them up a high mountain to a solitary place. There in their presence His form underwent a change; His face shone like the sun, and His raiment became as white as the light. And suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them conversing with Him. read more.
Then Peter said to Jesus, "Master, we are thankful to you that we are here. If you approve, I will put up three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." He was still speaking when a luminous cloud spread over them; and a voice was heard from within the cloud, which said, "This is My Son dearly beloved, in whom is My delight. Listen to Him." On hearing this voice, the disciples fell on their faces and were filled with terror. But Jesus came and touched them, and said, "Rouse yourselves and have no fear." So they looked up, and saw no one but Jesus. As they were descending the mountain, Jesus laid a command upon them. "Tell no one," He said, "of the sight you have seen till the Son of Man has risen from among the dead." "Why then," asked the disciples, "do the Scribes say that Elijah must first come?" "Elijah was indeed to come," He replied, "and would reform everything. But I tell you that he has already come, and they did not recognize him, but dealt with him as they chose. And before long the Son of Man will be treated by them in a similar way." Then it dawned upon the disciples that it was John the Baptist about whom He had spoken to them.

Six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter, James, and John, and brought them alone, apart from the rest, up a high mountain; and in their presence His appearance underwent a change. His garments also became dazzling with brilliant whiteness--such whiteness as no bleaching on earth could give. Moreover there appeared to them Elijah accompanied by Moses; and the two were conversing with Jesus, read more.
when Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, we are thankful to you that we are here. Let us put up three tents--one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." For he knew not what to say: they were filled with such awe. Then there came a cloud spreading over them, and a voice issued from the cloud, "This is my Son, dearly loved: listen to Him." Instantly they looked round, and now they could no longer see any one, but themselves and Jesus. As they were coming down from the mountain, He very strictly forbad them to tell any one what they had seen "until after the Son of Man has risen from among the dead." So they kept the matter to themselves, although frequently asking one another what was meant by the rising from the dead. They also asked Him, "How is it that the Scribes say that Elijah must first come?" "Elijah," He replied, "does indeed come first and reforms everything; but how is it that it is written of the Son of Man that He will endure much suffering and be held in contempt? Yet I tell you that not only has Elijah come, but they have also done to him whatever they chose, as the Scriptures say about him."

It was about eight days after this that Jesus, taking with Him Peter, John, and James, went up the mountain to pray. And while He was praying the appearance of His face underwent a change, and His clothing became white and radiant. And suddenly there were two men conversing with Him, who were Moses and Elijah. read more.
They came in glory, and kept speaking about His death, which He was so soon to undergo in Jerusalem. Now Peter and the others were weighed down with sleep; but, keeping themselves awake all through, they saw His glory, and the two men standing with Him. And when they were preparing to depart from Him, Peter said to Jesus, "Rabbi, we are thankful to you that we are here. Let us put up three tents--one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." He did not know what he was saying. But while he was thus speaking, there came a cloud which spread over them; and they were awe-struck when they had entered into the cloud. Then there came a voice from within the cloud: "This is My Son, My Chosen One: listen to Him." After this voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They kept it to themselves, and said not a word to any one at that time about what they had seen.


"John," he said, "administered a baptism of repentance, bidding the people believe on One who was to come after him; namely, on Jesus."

as it is written in the book of the prophet Isaiah, "The voice of one crying aloud! 'In the Desert prepare ye a road for the Lord: make His highway straight. Every ravine shall be filled up, and every mountain and hill levelled down, the crooked places shall be turned into straight roads, and the rugged ways into smooth; and then shall all mankind see God's salvation.'"

"Elijah was indeed to come," He replied, "and would reform everything.

As it is written in Isaiah the Prophet, "See, I am sending My messenger before Thee, Who will prepare Thy way"; "The voice of one crying aloud: 'In the Desert prepare a road for the Lord: Make His highways straight.'" So John the Baptizer came, and was in the Desert proclaiming a baptism of the penitent for forgiveness of sins. read more.
There went out to him people of all classes from Judaea, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem of all ranks, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, making open confession of their sins. As for John, his garment was of camel's hair, and he wore a loincloth of leather; and his food was locusts and wild honey. His announcement was, "There is One coming after me mightier than I--One whose sandal-strap I am unworthy to stoop down and unfasten. I have baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; no wine or fermented drink shall he ever drink; but he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from the very hour of his birth. Many of the descendants of Israel will he turn to the Lord their God; and he will be His forerunner in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn fathers' hearts to the children, and cause the rebellious to walk in the wisdom of the upright, to make a people perfectly ready for the lord."

And you moreover, O child, shall be called Prophet of the Most High; For you shall go on in front before the Lord to prepare the way for Him, To give to His People a knowledge of salvation In the forgiveness of their sins, Through the tender compassion of our God, Through which the daybreak from on high will come to us, read more.
Dawning on those who now dwell in the darkness and shadow of death--To direct our feet into the path of peace."

He came as a witness, in order that he might give testimony concerning the Light--so that all might believe through him. He was not the Light, but he existed that he might give testimony concerning the Light.

John gave testimony concerning Him and cried aloud, saying, "This is He of whom I said, 'He who is coming after me has been put before me,' for He was before me."

So they pressed the question. "Who are you?" they said--"that we may take an answer to those who sent us. What account do you give of yourself?" "I am the voice," he replied, "of one crying aloud, 'Make straight the Lord's way in the Desert,' fulfilling the words of the Prophet Isaiah." They were Pharisees who had been sent. read more.
Again they questioned him. "Why then do you baptize," they said, "if you are neither the Christ nor Elijah nor the Prophet?" "I baptize in water only," John answered, "but in your midst stands One whom you do not know-- He who is to come after me, and whose sandal-strap I am not worthy to unfasten." This conversation took place at Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

I did not yet know Him; but that He may be openly shown to Israel is the reason why I have come baptizing in water." John also gave testimony by stating: "I have seen the Spirit coming down like a dove out of Heaven; and it remained upon Him. I did not yet know Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, "'The One on whom you see the Spirit coming down, and remaining, He it is who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.' read more.
"This I have seen, and I have become a witness that He is the Son of God."

There is Another who gives testimony concerning me, and I know that the testimony is true which He offers concerning me. "You sent to John, and he both was and still is a witness to the truth. But the testimony on my behalf which I accept is not from man; though I say all this in order that you may be saved. read more.
He was the lamp that burned and shone, and for a time you were willing to be gladdened by his light.

Before the coming of Jesus, John had proclaimed to all the people of Israel a baptism of repentance. But John, towards the end of his career, repeatedly asked the people, "'What do you suppose me to be? I am not the Christ. But there is One coming after me whose sandal I am not worthy to unfasten.'