The Triumphal Entry of Jesus Christ

Again and again, the Old Testament prophets had prophesied about the things that the Messiah would do when He would come in His first coming. Now the prophet Zechariah prophesied concerning the ministry of the Messiah and in particular about His triumphal entry to the city of Jerusalem. Zechariah gave a word of comfort to the Jews who were waiting for their King. He said, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, o daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy king cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass” (Zech. 9:9).

With regard to this verse, there are three important things which we should take note of. Calvin rightly commented, "The sum of the whole is, that the prediction by which God gave to his chosen people a hope of redemption were not vain or void; for at length in due time Christ, the son of David, would come forth, - Secondly, that this king would be just, and saved or preserved; for he would restore things into order which were in a disgraceful state of confusion, - and thirdly, he adds, that this king would be poor; for he would ride on an ass, and would not appear in great eminence, nor be distinguished for arms, or for riches, or for splendour, or for number of soldiers, or even for royal trappings which dazzle the eyes of the vulgar: he shall ride on an ass."
This is to say that the prophecy of Zechariah reveals that the Messiah would be a King when He enters Jerusalem. Nevertheless the last part of Zech. 9:9 shows that when the King comes He would be poor and riding on an ass.

When Mark recorded the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem, he emphasised that Jesus was sitting upon a colt (Mark 11:7). Therefore when the people saw Jesus, they shouted, “Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord” (Mark 11:9). They knew that Jesus was the one prophesied by Zechariah. Nevertheless soon after this event, the Jews were waiting for Jesus to bring victory and liberty to the nation of Israel as a King appointed by God. When they realised that Jesus did not do as they wished, they rejected Him. Nonetheless, those who believed in Him knew that in His first coming, the Messiah would come as a poor and a servant. But in the Second Coming of Christ, He would come as a King who would fulfil what the Scripture said concerning Him.

Jesus Is The Priest After The Order Of Melchizedec

The prophecy of the second function of the threefold titles of the Lord Jesus Christ is expounded in a very distinctive way. Earlier on He was described as a Prophet (Deut. 18:15), and here as a Priest. The Old Testament priesthood is disputable for as a priest, he must be from the line of Aaron, the Levite. This is an absolute truth given to the nation of Israel. It is the commandment of the Lord.

A careful study of the Old Testament will show that the coming Messiah is definitely not from the line of Levite. The Messiah is from the line of Judah, the line of kingship for Israel. Old Testament history records that there has never occurred in the history of Israel a priest from the line of Judah. It was from only the line of Aaron, the Levite appointed by God, that the line of priesthood came. Anyone who tried to take the position of priesthood other than those from the line of Aaron was an abomination to the Lord.

However, a study of Ps. 110:4 that says, “The Lord hat sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek,” shows a special characteristic of the coming priest. First, He is “a priest for ever.” There was never such a priest from the line of Aaron. Every priest in the Old Testament was limited by time and none was forever. And second, He is a priest “after the order of Melchizedek.” In the whole of scripture, the name of Melchizedek is mentioned only on three occasions namely in Gen. 14:18-20; Ps. 110:4 and Heb. 5:5-10, 6:19-7:28. Apart from these passages, the scripture says nothing about him. And it is important to take note that Aaronic priesthood was never referred to as after the order of Melchizedek.

Long before Aaron was appointed High Priest, Melchizedek was. Gen. 14:18-20 records that Abraham acknowledged Melchizedek as a high priest to whom he offered a tithe. His priesthood was most special and the Scriptures do not record from which line he had come. Nevertheless, the Psalmist shows that the coming Priest was from the order of Melchizedek.

In addition, Gen. 14:18-20 explains that Melchizedek was the only priest who had ever lived that held a position of both priest and King. He was a unique priest and king. Thus, when the Psalmist said, “Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek,” truly, the coming Priest, the Messiah would follow the order of Melchizedek, for Melchizedek was a type of Christ.

When the writer of the book of Hebrews in Heb. 5:5-6 quoted the prophecy of the Psalmist, he added the idea of Sonship to the priesthood. In other words, he did see that the Christ who is the Son of God would be called also a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. As Barnes rightly opines, "To say that he was of the same order of Melchicedec was to say that he was of the same rank or station. He was like him in his designation to the office. In what respect he was like him the apostle shows more fully in [Hebrews] chapter vii. One particular in which there was a striking resemblance, which did not exist between Christ and any other high-priest, was, that Melchisedec was both a priest and a king. None of the kings of the Jews were priest, nor were any of the priests ever elevated to the office of king. But in Melchisedec these offices were united, and this fact constituted a striking resemblance between him and the Lord Jesus. . . . The meaning, is that Melchisedec was of a peculiar rank or order, that he was not numbered with the Levitical priests, and that there were important features in his office which differed from theirs. In those features it was distinctly predicted that the Messiah would resemble him."

Jesus was Rejected By His Own People, The Jews

The life and ministry of Jesus Christ were well documented and prophesied in the Old Testament. Various books of the Old Testament give indisputable information on the first coming of the Messiah, beginning from the book of Genesis right through to the book of Malachi. Prophet Isaiah in particular provides an excellent account of the first coming of the Messiah. He begins with the birth of the Messiah (Is. 7:14) and continues right through with the suffering that the Messiah would bear in His first coming (Is. 53).

The Jews were overwhelmed by the idea of the coming of the Messiah. They knew that “His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever” (Is. 9:6-7). This prophecy occupied the minds of the Jews to the extent that they could not differentiate the first coming from the second coming of the Messiah. What Isaiah said in Is. 9:6-7 would certainly be fulfilled by the Messiah, but would not be a hundred percent so in His first coming. The Jews did not have any idea of the Messiah coming in two great periods. What they knew was that Christ would come as a King to bring victory and liberty to the nation of Israel. But the Jews made a great mistake on this issue, for they did not realize that the Messiah would come first in the form of a servant. He was a suffering servant.

The prophet Isaiah in his writings in Is. 53:3 said, “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief: and we hid as if were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” The Jews could not understand or accept this verse. Whatever reason these may be, prophet Isaiah prophesied the suffering of the Messiah in His first coming.

This prophecy was fulfilled during the life of Christ. When He came to this world to bring victory of salvation, He was despised, mocked and rejected by His people. The Jews were supposed to know this truth beforehand, for they had been chosen by God to be the nation from which the Messiah would come. But the Jews could not see the real function of the Messiah in His first coming. They were blinded by their sins. John the apostle recorded that when Jesus Christ came unto His own, they reject Him (John 1:11). Calvin rightly said, “Christ therefore first offered Himself to them as if they were His own household and belonged to His kingdom in their own right.” Nevertheless the Jews could not see the light and rejected their Saviour.” As Keil added, "The nation, which acknowledges with penitence how shamefully it has mistaken its own Saviour, laments that it has put no faith in the tidings of the lofty and glorious calling of the servant of God. . . . The heathen receives with tidings of things which had never been heard of before; whereas Israel has to lament that it put no faith in the tidings which it had heard long, long before, not only with reference to the person and work of the servant of God, but with regard to His lowly origin and glorious end."

Thus, when the Jews nailed the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross, it was the final proof of their rejection of Him to be their Saviour. He was despised during His ministry and the last hours of His life on the cross. Nonetheless, Isaiah the prophet had prophesied the things that would be undergone by the Messiah before His death in His first coming.

Jesus Heals The Broken-Hearted

The writings of the prophet Isaiah in one of the Old Testament books provide a clear prophecy of the first coming of the Messiah. He did not only prophesy the birth of Jesus Christ (Is. 7:14) but also the life (Is. 53:1-12) and His ministry (Is. 61:1-3). The writings of Isaiah were chosen to be the light for Old Testament believers in order that they might know the coming Messiah who would bear the iniquities of the world.

What did Isaiah prophesy concerning the ministry of the coming Messiah? Isaiah recorded in Is. 61:1, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.” This verse emphasizes the ministry of the prophet who has the Spirit of God toward those who are destitute, the poor and the brokenhearted. People who were in these situations were often oppressed by the rulers and the authorities. People who were financially poor were cheated and those who were poor in Spirit, were never fed with the truth. Corruption was rampant in the lives of the chosen people of God.

A close study of Is. 61:1 will show clearly that what the prophet Isaiah prophesied did not concern those who were merely financially poor but rather spiritually poor. Barnes rightly commented on this issue, "By the poor are meant all those who are destitute of comfort of this life, and who therefore may be more readily disposed to seek treasures in heaven; all those are sensible of their sins, or are poor in Spirit (Matt 5:3); and all the miserable and the afflicted (Is 58:7). . . . The Pharisees and Sadducees despised the poor, ancient philosophers neglected them; but the gospel seeks to bless them – to give comfort where it is felt to be needed, and where it will be received with gratitude."

Nevertheless the question remains: Who would do this ministry for God’s people? The people of Israel before and after the captivity were still the same and remained so in the New Testament time. Prophet after prophet had come and gone, yet the broken-hearted were never healed. Sorrow upon sorrow remained in the midst of the people and none there showed any mercy.

Luke 4:18-19 quotes from Isaiah 61:1. Jesus Christ quoted this when He was asked to read a portion of Scripture in one of the Synagogues in Nazareth. God the Father showed Him the verse from Is. 61:1 to be read in public. The hearers agreed with what Jesus had read, for they knew it would be fulfilled when the Messiah came. However the situation was changed when Jesus Himself declared, “This day is this Scripture fulfilled in your ears” (Luke 4:21). The Jews realized that Jesus was referring to Himself. Soon, the worshipers shouted and mocked at Him for they knew that He was the son of Joseph.

The fulfillment of this prophecy given was not declared by other prophets or apostles, but rather Jesus Himself. The claim that Jesus made in Nazareth was truly proven during the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. As Geldenhuys said, "God had sent Him to heal those who were broken-hearted and found themselves in spiritual distress; to proclaim deliverance to those who were captive in the power of sin and in spiritual wretchedness; to give back to the spiritually blind the power of sight; to cause those who were downcast and inwardly bruised to go forward in triumph; and thus to ‘proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, i.e. to announce the Messiah age – the period ushered in by His appearance, in which God will grant His salvation to His people."

Jesus Is The Prophet Like Moses

The Old Testament books provide every true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ wonderful information on promises and prophecies. They were given to God’s people with the purpose that they might be able to search the truth from the plain writings given in the Scriptures. Various names, titles and identities of the coming Saviour had been provided in order that they might know who the Messiah would be.

The prophet Moses prophesied the coming Prophet before the Israelites were to enter the Promised Land. He said to them, “The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken” (Deut. 18:15). When Moses gave this prophecy the Israelites might not have been aware of the Prophet Messiah. They might be thinking that it would be one of the prophets that would come immediately after the death of Moses. But a study of the lives of those prophets after Moses will convince us that none was like Moses.

The prophet Moses was a unique prophet. He was so different from other prophets. The Lord Himself said in Num. 12:6-8 “If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches: and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold.” In addition, the ministry of Moses was specially characterized by the miracles he performed before the Egyptians and the children of Israel (Ex. 7-12). Above all, Moses was given the special privilege to receive the Law from the Lord for the people of Israel. As Kaiser rightly remarks, “Yet Moses, the prophet, was unique in his miracles, his direct access to God’s revelation, his giving of the Law, his actions as deliverer, and his office as judge over the people.”

Then, who was the Prophet mentioned by Moses in Deut. 18:15? A study of the books of the New Testament would show that the prophet here was the Messiah. The office of prophet was one of the three functions that the Messiah would fulfill in His first coming. Others were as priest and king. The prophetship of Jesus Christ was unique, just as Moses’ was. The life and ministry of Jesus Christ shows similarity to Moses’. However, Jesus’ ministry was far excellent, for He is the Deliverer of our salvation.

It is important to take note that the preaching of Peter in Acts 3:20,22 confirms what Moses said in Deut. 18:15. Peter said, “And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you. For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A Prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you at your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.” Peter knew that the prophet whom Moses meant here was the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. He is the Messiah. Thus, it was for this reason Peter quoted Deut. 18:15 in his preaching recorded in Acts 3:22. Nevertheless when the priest, the captain of the temple and the Sadducees heard Peter’s preaching, they were grieved (Acts 4:1-3).

In addition, the apostle John recorded that when the people saw the Lord Jesus Christ perform the miracle of feeding five thousand people, they exclaimed, “This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world” (John 6:14). On another occasion, when Philip believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, he proclaimed to Nathanael saying, “We have found him, of whom Moses in the Law, and the prophets, did write” (John 1:45). The same thing happened when the Samaritan woman met Jesus, she concluded that Jesus was that prophet (John 4:19,29). Nothing can be said against this truth. We have to admit that the Old Testament books had described the coming Messiah to be a Prophet like Moses. It is a fact that this can only be applied to the Lord Jesus Christ, for Moses was a type of Christ.

Jesus Speaks In Parables

The ministry of Jesus Christ was often characterized by the miracles He performed. These miracles were performed to prove that Jesus was the Messiah. Such wonders done by Jesus had never happened before in the midst of the Israelites. The prophets and the high priests had never done such great miracles. No one can do such works accept the Lord is with Him (ref. John 3:2).

The ministry of Jesus Christ was not only known for His miracles but also for the parables that He uttered in His teaching. In the four gospels, Jesus spoke in parables frequently to convey the message that He received from the Father. Parables were the most effective way for Him to declare the truth. Some of the parables might be easy to understand but some might not. Nevertheless such ministry was not accidental but had been planned by God the Father.

In the Old Testament there is a prophecy given to the people of Israel concerning the ministry of Jesus Christ. Asaph recorded in Ps. 78:2-4 saying, “I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: which we have heard and known, and our father have told us. We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praise of the Lord, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.” When Matthew recorded the ministry of Jesus Christ, he did emphasize that the parables spoken by Christ to the multitudes were the fulfillment of the prophecy given by Asaph. Although many scholars might not agree to this truth, Matthew did. He showed the prophecy of Asaph as the absolute truth that Christ spoke parables. “That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet” (Matt. 13:35). Lenski rightly said, “Aside from inspiration, the honest assumption would be that Matthew made no mistake such as this: and another equally strong assumption would be that; if he had, those about him would have detected and at once corrected it.” Hendriksen further said, “by the inspiration of the Spirit, Matthew sees in this use of parables as fulfillment of prophecy, once focusing the attention upon Jesus as being indeed the Messiah who was to come.” In other words, Asaph was a type of Christ.

The parables spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ would remain unsolved riddles to those who do not believe in Him but are “highly illuminating illustrations for those having or receiving the solution (believers).” The ministry of Jesus Christ is well recorded in the Old Testament that He would speak in parables to the multitudes. To them who believe in Him, His parables would be a light, on the other hand it would be unsolved riddles or mysteries to those who reject Him.

The Galilian Ministry Of Jesus Christ

The ministry of Jesus Christ was not only revealed to the people whom the Lord had chosen during the last three and half years, but just as His birth had been proclaimed in the Bible hundreds of years before His actual birth to this world, it had been prophesied: what He would do and where He would serve. One of the prophets who prophesied about this ministry is the prophet Isaiah. He said that Jesus Christ would be fulfilling His ministry in the province of Galilee to be known as the Galilean ministry. The four gospels record that in this region of Galilee, Jesus Christ had done a great work to show the people that He is the Messiah whom the Lord had promised to their forefathers.

The context of Isaiah chapter 9 tells us about the condition of the nation of Israel at that time, particularly the Northern Kingdom which rejected God’s Word through the prophet Isaiah. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali because of their disobedience and unbelief were the first targets of the Assyrians to hold captive. Nevertheless, the prophecies informs that these lands would also be the first to see the new and great light that God would focus on Israel (cf. Isaiah 60:1-3). When the Lord gave His word to the prophet Isaiah in chapter 9:1-2, the Lord, despite their rejection of His Word, continued to give graciously the light again. In Matt. 4:13-16, Matthew wrote of the fulfillment of the prophecy given by Isaiah. As Grogan said, “Matthew rightly saw the fulfillment of this in the ministry of Jesus in Galilee (Matt. 4:15-16; cf. Luke 1:79; John 8:12; cf. John 7:52 with its reference to Galilee.”

Based on this study, the light that would come to the nation of Israel would not rise upon the land of Judah first, though Christ was from the line of Judah, but rather upon other parts of the land, the region of Galilee. During the invasion of the Assyrians the land of Zebulun and Naphtali suffered the most. Nevertheless Keil said, “these countries would be the very first that would be remembered when that morning dawn of glory should break. Matthew informs us (ch. Iv.13 sqq) in what way this was fulfilled at the commencement of the Christian times.” A study of the ministry of the Messiah in the four gospels will show that the Lord had enlightened the people of God in the region of Galilee by spending more time in this region and performing more miracles. In fact Jesus spent most of His time together with His disciples in the region of Galilee.

Looking at the chronological order of the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, it will be noted that soon after the early Judean and Samarian ministries of Christ, His ministry was focused on the land of Galilee. There were three periods of great ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ in Galilee during which miracle after miracle were performed in the midst of the people. In addition, it was during these ministries that the Lord Jesus Christ revealed Himself as the Messiah through His teachings and miracles performed in the midst of the people.

Jesus Is Declared The Son Of God

Many people think that the Sonship of God was given to the Lord Jesus Christ only after He was manifested in the flesh. Traditionally, Old Testament believers had never thought of the Messiah being the Son of God. On the other hand, the New Testament books have recorded the account of how the Lord Jesus Christ claimed to be the Son of God. It is important to take note that the declaration of Jesus Christ as the Son of God was not proclaimed only by His disciples such as Peter and Paul, but also God the Father Himself who testified on two occasions. He testified firstly, during the baptism of Jesus Christ (Matt. 3:16) and secondly, while Jesus Christ was praying on the Mount of Transfiguration (Mark. 9:7). God the father knew His Son and declared Him to the people that they might believe in Him.

The only passage in the Old Testament that testifies the Sonship of God is found in the book of Psalm. However, although the revelation of the Sonship of God appeared only once in the Old Testament, various books have frequently recorded the appearance of the second person of the Trinity, often called “theophany” or pre-incarnation of Christ which testified His existence and deity.

The declaration of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God did not occur only after He was manifested in the flesh. In the Old Testament, hundreds of years before Jesus Christ came to this world, God the father had declared that the Messiah was His Son. This is an absolute truth. Before the Messiah appeared as the Son of God in the New Testament, the Old Testament believers had seen the Lord’s theophany, or pre-incarnation which testified His existence and deity.

Ps. 2:7 says, “I will declare the decree: the Lord hath saith unto me, Thou art my son; this day have I begotten thee.” What did David mean by this verse? Theologians may have different interpretations. However, it is a fact that the second person of the Trinity would no longer be in the form of a spirit as are the first and third person but He would be a visible person.

In addition, this verse declared to the Old Testament believers that the Messiah, the Savior of the world, is called the Son of God long before His manifestation in the flesh. Perhaps, it was hard for Old Testament believers to understand such a truth although God did not reveal His truth and revelation in just a single verse. God the Father had declared this in various parts of the Old Testament books concerning the first coming of His Son. It was their duty to search the Scripture in order to know this truth that the Son of God who was ‘in the form of God’ transformed into ‘the form of a servant and made in the likeness of men’ (Phil 2:6-7). Thus, Psalm 2:7 is one of the passages that tells us the second person of the Trinity would come as the Son of God in the human flesh. Christ is the only begotten and the well-beloved Son of the Father – “a relationship unshared by any other, and absolutely unique – a revelation of which was given to Peter by the Father leading him to exclaim, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

Although Jesus Christ himself did not claim to be the Son of God, but rather the Son of man, it does not mean that He rejects the idea of being the Son of God. Jesus proved that He was the Son of God who came to bear the iniquity of all men through the life He lived, the truth He taught and the work He wrought. In fact Jesus said to the unbelieving Jews, “If you do not believe in me, believe the works I have done” (John. 10:37-38).

The writers of the New Testament books such as Luke did acknowledge in their writings, for example in Acts 13:33 that “God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second Psalm, Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee.” Paul here explains to the people in Antioch that Jesus Christ is the One whom God the Father has promised to come to this world, and whom He declares to be His Son. Through this promised Messiah, those who believe in Him will be justified from all things (Acts 13:39). As Pounds rightly said, "Where is the evidence that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of this passage? On three different occasions, the Gospel writers recorded the words from heaven, "this is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." It is not "one of my sons, but "My Son, My only one."

On another occasion, the Apostle Paul, a Jewish scholar, shows no doubt that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came to fulfill what His Father had commanded Him to do. Paul said in Rom. 1:3-4 “Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” The writer of Hebrews said, “For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee? And again, I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son” (Heb. 1:5).

Jesus Is Preceded By A Forerunner and Elijah

The verse in Mal. 3:1 is actually related to what has been studied in Is. 40:3-5. Both passages refer to the same person, namely the herald of the Messiah, John the Baptist. Nevertheless details in Mal. 3:1 describe John the Baptist as a forerunner of the coming Messiah. In this sense, John the Baptist was the person appointed by the Lord to hold several responsibilities before the Messiah revealed Himself to the people as the Prophet and the Saviour of the world. In preparation of the coming of the Messiah in the midst of the Jews, He first sent His messenger to do the necessary things to stir the hearts of the people so that they would ponder over the nearness of the coming of the Messiah. John the Baptist needed to prepare the hearts of the people morally and spiritually for the coming of the Messiah.

In this regard, John the Baptist as the context of Malachi 3 demanded, displayed his function as an intercessor, “by whom God’s wrath might be mitigated, which the Jews had extremely provoked. This office John the Baptist undertook, who prepared the Jews to hear the voice of Christ.” It was the Lord Himself who prepared John the Baptist to be the way-preparer and furerunner for the coming of Jesus Christ. It was probably because the Lord Himself knew the heart of every man that when His Son came to this world, they would not welcome Him. This was clear at the time of His birth in Bethlehem. None of the Jews realised the coming of the Messiah. In fact, when the news came to them, they did not accept the birth of the Messiah as that of the true Messiah. For this reason, there was a real psychological need among the Jews for one such as John the Baptist to be the forerunner of the Messiah so that the message the Messiah would bring would be welcomed by those who have heard the preaching of John the Baptist.

Mal. 3:1 says, “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me; and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to this temple, even my messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.” The first phrase “I will send my messenger” is actually referring to John the Baptist himself as a way-preparer. In this same verse there is clear indication that another messenger would come suddenly to the temple. He is the messenger of the covenant, namely the Messiah. Thus, what John the Baptist had done as recorded in the gospel was not deleted by the Lord Jesus Christ. Instead, He continued and improved upon what John the Baptist had done among the Jews. As Calvin said, "He called John the Baptist at the beginning of this verse a messenger, the messenger of Jehovah; and now he calls Christ a messenger, but he is the messenger of the covenant, for it was necessary that the covenant should be confirmed by him."

It is important to note that when the way-preparer or the forerunner was preparing the way for the messenger of the covenant, the Messiah was in the world. He knew what John the Baptist was doing and confirmed what John had taught to the people. But as a herald and forerunner, John the Baptist must clear a way, “the self-satisfaction which prevents them from feeling the need of salvation and the impenitence which keeps them from acknowledging this need.”

The ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ was truly predicted in the Old Testament. His herald must precede Him to prepare a way for Him in order that His coming would become a blessing to His people. The ministry of John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, was testified by all the gospels (Matthew 3:2, 7-12; Mark 1:4-8; Luke 3:7-18; John 1:6-8, 19-36; 3:22-36).

In another occasion, the prophet Malachi also depicted that John the Baptist was not only as the way-preparer, forerunner but also Elijah. These three names were granted to John the Baptist to indicate that his ministry was so important to usher the coming of the Messiah that the Jews might know the Messiah was in their midst. This truth declared how near the coming of Jesus Christ and His manifestation in the midst of the Jews was. When a Jew saw these three functions of a herald in the person of John the Baptist, he should know that the Messiah was nigh. This truth declared how near the coming of Jesus Christ and His manifestation in the midst of the Jews was. When a Jew saw these three functions of a herald in the person of John the Baptist, he should know that the Messiah was nigh. Nevertheless, having been proclaimed this message and informed that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, the Jews persisted in their wickedness.

The Lord Jesus Christ Himself had declared during His ministry, “Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he” (Matt. 11:11). When one reads this verse, he can only say that the Lord Jesus Christ acknowledged the ministry of John the Baptist as His herald to usher His coming. In fact He did mention that John the Baptist was the one whom the Lord had promised in the Old Testament to be the Elijah (Mal. 4:5). It is confirmed by the Lord Jesus Christ when He said in Matt. 11:14 “This is Elias, which was for to come.” This verse is clearly referring to John the Baptist himself. As Calvin confidently put it in another way, “But Christ himself took away all doubt on this point, when he said, that John the Baptist was the Elijah, who had been promised; (Matt. 11:10) and the thing itself proves this, had not Christ spoken on the subject.”

The Lord Jesus confirmed that what the prophet Malachi had said in Mal. 4:5 referred to John the Baptist himself. However, in the beginning of John the Baptist’s ministry, the Jews asked him whether he was Elijah, and John actually denied it in the literal sense of the word “prophet.” Elijah need not necessarily come literally to this world in order to fulfill this prophecy. When the Lord Jesus said that John the Baptist was the Elijah who was to come, He did not mean that John would come as a literal reincarnation of Elijah or a literal reappearance of Elijah. Instead, he came, “in the spirit and power of Elijah, and it is in this sense that we are to understand the second coming of Elijah.

The ministry of John the Baptist was more excellent than a prophet, because through John himself God reminded the Jews to “turn the hearts of men and restore them to a holy unity of faith.” God intended to raise up John the Baptist for the purpose of restoring the worship toward the True and the Living God for in the time of John, the truth was corrupted and the worship of God vitiated though the Jews did not worship idols, but their hearts were far from the Lord.

Based on this study, it can be summarized that it was prophesied that John the Baptist would come in the spirit and power of the prophet Elijah. His purpose must first be to turn the hearts of the Jews so that when the Messiah comes within their midst, their hearts would be well-prepared to welcome their only Saviour who would save them from their sins. It had been promised to their forefathers that John the Baptist would be sent to precede the coming of the Messiah. The coming of Elijah in the person of John the Baptist would truly be a real sign for the Jews. However what they were supposed to know hindered them. Instead, they killed him who testified the coming of the Messiah.