The Prophet Elijah
To understand the biblical meaning of prophet, one has to distinguish it from the popular notion that a prophet predicts the future. A person who claims to do that is more along the lines of an oracle" -- someone who is asked a question, consults the divinity, and gives a response.
The word prophet comes from a Greek word that means one who speaks on behalf of another. In the Judaeo-Christian tradition, the another is God. Thus, prophets are those who speak on behalf of God. They have the gift of seeing things from Gods perspective and their primary focus is on the present. Insofar as they talk about the consequences of the present course of action, they also look to the future. It would be best to say: Prophets forewarn; they dont foretell.
The prophet Elijah (mentioned in the Gospel passage in the next post) was one of the greatest prophets in Israel, even though he left no written works. He was a solitary figure, and lived in caves.
Elijah was noted for his emphasis on Yahweh as the one and only God. When King Ahab married Jezebel (a pagan), she introduced rituals to the god Baal. Elijah strongly objected, and he had to flee for his life.
In the three-year cycle of Sunday scripture readings during Advent, the first reading always describes the words and/or actions of one of the prophets.
The 2nd Book of Kings describes Elijah, in his final days, talking with the prophet Elisha when a flaming chariot and flaming horses came between them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Thus it was believed that he did not taste death.
Some 300 years later in the books of Malachi, God says Lo, I will send you Elijah, the prophet, before the day of the Lord comes. Jewish theologians took this to mean that Elijah would return before the Messiah came.
So the disciples ask: If Elijah hasnt returned, how could Jesus be the Messiah? Jesus gives the answer: John the Baptist is the Elijah figure prophesied by Malachi.
The Gospel writers do not give us a biography of Jesus, but answer the question: Who is Jesus?
All four Gospels answer: He is the Messiah. He is the Son of God. He has come to begin the final preparation for the kingdom of God.
Picture Jesus saying to you (as he once said to the disciples): Who do you say that I am?
Give your answer not in the abstract, but to him