Jesus also directly calls John the Baptist Elijah and a prophet
Matthew 11:7-14
As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written,
“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you.’
Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.
The space of time between the Sermon on the Mount and the passing John would have been a couple of months. When Jesus delivered the sermon it was most likely in Jerusalem during the spring feasts, when all the Jews were required under the Law to be there. Since he was from Galilee he heads north afterwards, stopping to make a few converts in Samaria, which would have been shocking to some of the pious. The Kidron valley holds at least 40,000 but when he got to Galilee the crowds are getting even larger. He could have just preached to the pious but he preached to publicans, prostitutes and even Samaritans. So in the wake of the swelling crowds, he described as sheep without a shepard, so he calls the Twelve. He had no more trained the 12 to go out and preach then Herod has John the Baptist was beheaded. This closes the prophetic age and the New Testament age begins.
The prophetic age began with Elijah and Elisha, in time they would lead 50 prophets to take the message of God's judgment on Israel, and eventually, Judah. Even while they preached dire judgment the prophets always proclaimed the restoration of the kingdom, and mind you, they started preaching when Israel was at it's peak. This was not a pleasant message, the prophets mourned for the sins of Israel which is why they wore such uncomfortable clothing, they were grieving.
Now the long promised Messiah had finally arrived, for a thousand years they had faithfully preached of his coming. As John said, 'he must increase and I must decrease' (John 3:30), he says this immediately following Jesus Sermon on the Mount and Jesus conversation with Nicodemus. Just as we look forward to the return of Christ the nation of Israel had long yearned for the coming of the Messiah. The prophets had held their charge, they faithfully preached the Word of God and with the commission of the Apostles, they would now hear the good news.
When the prophetic age began Elijah and Elisha performed more miracles then Israel had seen since Moses and Joshua. Those miracles confirm the message that was going out in all three ages of revelation, a new level of revelation had begun. Jesus did not come mourning, this was a time of celebration, thus the contrast between the preaching of John and the ministry of Jesus.
I don't want to belabor this point but it is very important to realize, the prophets yearned for this day with every fiber of their being. Being called to be a prophet in the Old Testament was to spend your life in perpetual mourning, they suffered bitter persecution. With the coming of the Messiah their mourning could finally turn to joy.
Grace and peace,
Mark
