Thematic Bible




Thematic Bible



He will go before Him in the spirit and the power of Elijah to turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the upright, to make ready for the Lord a people perfectly prepared."


They answered, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

The disciples asked Him, "Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" He answered, "Elijah does come and will get everything ready. But I say to you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but treated him as they pleased. Just so the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands."

He answered them, "Elijah does come first and gets everything ready, but how is it that the Scripture says about the Son of Man that He will suffer much and be rejected? But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and people treated him just as they pleased, as the Scripture says about him."

So they asked him again, "What are you then? Elijah?" And he answered, "Of course, I am not." "Are you the prophet?" He answered, "No." Then they said to him, "Who are you? Tell us, so that we can have an answer to give to those who sent us. What have you to say for yourself?" He said, "I am a voice of one shouting in the desert, 'Make the road straight for the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said." read more.
Now the messengers belonged to the party of the Pharisees; so they asked him, "Why are you baptizing then, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?"


Six days after this, Jesus took Peter and James and his brother John, and led them up on a high mountain, by themselves. And in their presence His appearance was changed and His face shone like the sun, and His clothes turned as white as light. Then Moses and Elijah appeared to them and kept talking with Him. read more.
And Peter interrupted, and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here! If you consent, I will put up three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, a bright cloud cast its shadow over them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, my Beloved, in whom I am delighted. Keep on listening to Him!" When the disciples heard it, they fell upon their faces, for they were terribly frightened. Then Jesus came and touched them, and said, "Get up and do not be so afraid." They looked up and saw no one but Jesus Himself. And as they were going down the mountain, Jesus warned them, saying, "Never mention to anyone what you have seen until the Son of Man is raised from the dead." The disciples asked Him, "Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" He answered, "Elijah does come and will get everything ready. But I say to you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but treated him as they pleased. Just so the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands." Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them about John the Baptist.

Six days after this, Jesus took Peter, James, and John with Him, and led them up on a high mountain, alone by themselves. And in their presence His appearance was changed, and His clothes were shining as white as white could be, yea, whiter than any earthly bleacher could bleach them. And Elijah appeared to them, accompanied by Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. read more.
Then Peter interrupted and said to Jesus, "Teacher, it is good for us to be here. So let us put up three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah." For he did not really know what to say, he was so frightened. Then a cloud came and was circling over them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my Son, my Beloved; keep on listening to Him!" And as quick as a flash, on looking around, they saw no one with them but Jesus by Himself. And while they were going down the mountain, He cautioned them not to tell anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man should rise from the dead. And they held that caution fast in their minds, as they continued to discuss among themselves what rising from the dead meant. Then they asked Him, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah has to come first?" He answered them, "Elijah does come first and gets everything ready, but how is it that the Scripture says about the Son of Man that He will suffer much and be rejected? But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and people treated him just as they pleased, as the Scripture says about him."

Now about eight days after Jesus said this, He took Peter, John, and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while He was praying, the look on His face changed, and His clothes turned dazzling white. And two men were talking with Him. They were Moses and Elijah, read more.
who appeared in splendor and were speaking of His departure which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but all at once they became wide awake and saw His splendor and the two men who were standing with Him. And just as they were starting to leave Him, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah" -- although he did not know what he was saying. But as he was saying this, a cloud came and was circling over them, and they were frightened as the two visitors entered into the cloud. Then a voice came out of the cloud and said, "This is my Son, my Chosen One; continue to listen to Him!" When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found to be alone. And they kept silence and told no one anything that they had seen at that time.


Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, He set out for Galilee.

At that time Herod the governor heard the reports about Jesus, and said to his attendants, "This is John the Baptist. He has risen from the dead, and that is why the powers are at work through him." For Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him out of the way by putting him in prison, just to please Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, read more.
for John had said to him, "It is not right for you to have her as wife." Although he wanted to have him killed, he was afraid of the people, for they regarded him as a prophet. But when Herod's birthday came, Herodias' daughter danced before the guests. Herod was fascinated by her, and so passionately promised to give her anything she might ask for. And she, prompted by her mother, said, "Give me John the Baptist's head right here on a platter." And the king was sorry, but on account of his oath and his guests, he ordered it to be given her. And he sent and had John beheaded in prison. And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she took it to her mother. Then John's disciples came and carried off his corpse, and buried him, and went and reported it to Jesus.

But when Herod heard of Him, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has risen from the dead." For this very Herod had sent and seized John and bound him and put him in prison, just to please Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because Herod had married her. For John kept saying to Herod, "It is not right for you to be living with your brother's wife." read more.
So Herodias had it in for him and wanted to have him killed. But she could not have it done, for Herod stood in awe of John, because he knew that he was an upright and holy man, and so he protected him. When he heard him speak, he was very much disturbed, and yet he liked to hear him. When a holiday came and Herod on his birthday gave a banquet to his state officials, his military officers, and other leading men of Galilee, Herodias' daughter came in and danced for them, and fascinated Herod and his guests. So the king said to the girl, "Ask me for anything you want, and I will give it to you." And he promised her on oath, "I will give you anything you ask for, up to half of my kingdom." She left the room and asked her mother, "What shall I ask him for?" And she answered, "The head of John the Baptist." Then she rushed at once before the king, and made this request, "I want you this very minute to give me John the Baptist's head on a platter." The king, although exceedingly sorry, yet on account of his oath and his guests, did not like to refuse her, and so at once ordered a soldier of his guard to bring his head. The soldier went off and beheaded John in the prison and brought back his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard of it, they came and carried off his corpse and laid it in a tomb.

But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and people treated him just as they pleased, as the Scripture says about him."

So with many and varied exhortations John continued to proclaim the good news to the people. But Herod the governor, because he was repeatedly reproved by him for Herodias his brother's wife, and for all the wicked deeds that Herod had done, added this on top of it all, that he put John in prison.


There is someone else who testifies to me, and I know that the testimony which He gives to me is of force. You yourselves sent to John, and he has testified to the truth. However, I do not accept mere human testimony, but I am saying this that you may be saved. read more.
John was the lamp that kept on burning and shining, and you decided for a time to delight yourselves in his light.

For John came to you walking in the way of uprightness, and yet you did not believe him. The tax-collectors and prostitutes did believe him, but you, even though you saw that, would not change your minds afterward and believe him.

But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and people treated him just as they pleased, as the Scripture says about him."

But I say to you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but treated him as they pleased. Just so the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands." Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them about John the Baptist.