Probably one of the most helpful things learned from Elisha’s life is the authority of his and Elijah’s miracles and how they prepare the way for Messiah.
The Jews were very aware that the Messiah was due to arrive. In fact, there were over a dozen people claiming to be the Messiah at the time Jesus appeared in Jerusalem! When Jesus was questioned He was often asked if He or John the Baptist were Elijah, or the prophet, or the Messiah.
Elijah and Elisha had specific roles to fulfill among the Kings of Israel, those who ruled during the years of their lives and public ministries. But even more stunning is the way Elijah and Elisha give us a clear picture of what kinds of things would surround the Messiah! He would do things that had never been heard of or seen since the foundation of the world.
As Jesus performed miracles and even raised the dead, the Jews should have had no doubt Who was standing among them. The miracles of Elijah and Elisha are personal and shocking, and they would only be eclipsed when Jesus arrived on the world stage hundreds of years later.
Check these out – and see how they prepare the way for Christ/WE SHOULD HAVE SEEN HIM COMING!
ELIJAH (1 Kings 17 – 2 Kings 8)
Shut the rains from heaven Jesus/faith rain from the Father
Flour and oil for a widow Jesus/kind provider for the desperate
Raising a widow’s son from the dead Jesus/death conqueror
Defeating the prophets of Baal Jesus/One True God
Ending the draught Jesus/Living water from heaven
Fire and lightning Jesus/Judge over the earth
Parting the waters of the Jordan waters Jesus/Water walker
ELISHA (2 Kings 2:14-13:14-19)
Parting the waters of the Jordan
Purifying Lord of the waters Jesus/the Living water
Lord over nature (bears) Jesus/reversing nature
Lord of the flood Jesus/power against powerful
Lord of the womb Jesus/Author over life
Lord over death Jesus/King over death
Antidote to to the poison of sin Jesus/healer of the poisoned
Feeding of many Jesus/feeding the multitudes
Lord over leprosy Jesus/healer of lepers (sin)
Floating the iron axehead Jesus/reversing the weight of sin
Lord over blindness and sight Jesus/restorer of sight
Prophet over the future Jesus/prophet-priest-King
Is God a miracle worker and how does this make your faith unique?
Elijah
A prophet song