The Messianic Signs

Elijah & John the Baptist

English Standard Version Chapter 4

5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes.

Mark 1:1–8:26 Commentary

6:15 Ἠλίας, “Elijah”: It should be observed how Elijah appears in the same context as John the Baptizer (see the parallel in 8:28, as well as 9:13; cf. 1:6). Even more important is the association of Jesus with this collocation of Elijah and John the Baptizer—it is a question about Jesus, after all. See also 8:27–28 and especially 9:11–13. This strengthens the connections between the death of John the Baptizer and the ministry and mission of Jesus. Along with a reference to “a prophet like one of the prophets” (6:15), the reference to Elijah (see Mal 3:23 [ET 4:5]) solidifies the identity of Jesus as, among many other things, a prophetic figure (see the commentary on 1:2; see also 6:4 and the commentary on 6:34).

6:17 γάρ, “for/you know”: This conjunction gives the reason for Herod Antipas’ statement and introduces the next thirteen verses as a flashback (see the second textual note on 6:17).

6:18–19 John the Baptizer is similar to OT prophets who rebuked kings; see, e.g., Nathan rebuking David (2 Sam 12:1–15) and Elijah rebuking Ahab (1 Ki 17:1; 18:1–19; 21:17–24). Moreover, Herodias plays a role similar to Queen Jezebel, who, in the Elijah narrative, condemns God’s prophet (1 Ki 19:1–3).

Feeding 5,000

Come Out

Isaiah 49:9 ESV

saying to the prisoners, ‘Come out,’ to those who are in darkness, ‘Appear.’ They shall feed along the ways; on all bare heights shall be their pasture;

Sheep without a Shepherd

Numbers 27:15–18 ESV

Moses spoke to the Lord, saying, “Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation who shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the Lord may not be as sheep that have no shepherd.” So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him.

Ezekiel 34:11–16 ESV

“For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.

A Prophet Raised Up

Deuteronomy 18:15 ESV

“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—

How much bread do you have?

Isaiah 49:10 ESV

they shall not hunger or thirst, neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them, for he who has pity on them will lead them, and by springs of water will guide them.

Desert to green grass

Isaiah 35:1 ESV

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus;

Reclining at the table, ανακλινω