In Luke's Gospel, the OT prophets Elijah and Elisha are featured in fascinating ways. THREAD:

In Luke 1:17, Zechariah learns that his son John will prepare the way for the Messiah, going "before him in the spirit and power of Elijah"

In Luke 3:19-20, John--like Elijah--speaks truth to political leaders and faces opposition and persecution.

In Luke 3:21-22, Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River. In 2 Kings 2, both Elijah and Elisha are present at the Jordan. And Elijah's significance gives way to that of Elisha. Elisha will be greater than his predecessor. In that way, Elijah is a forerunner for Elisha.

After Jesus' baptism in Luke 3:21-22, he goes into the wilderness full of the Holy Spirit (4:1). In 2 Kings 2:15, the spirit of Elijah rested on Elisha, and Elisha returned from the Jordan River in the power of the Spirit.

In Luke 4:25-26, Jesus recounted an episode in Elijah's life, and in 4:27 he recounted an episode in Elisha's life. Like Elijah and Elisha, Jesus was not being received as a prophet by the people who should be receiving him. People besides Israelites were experienced God's works.

The cleansing of a leper (Luke 5:12-16) and the raising of the dead (7:11-17) remind us of the ministries of Elijah and Elisha (1 Kgs 17; 2 Kgs 4-5).

The healing of the centurion's servant from a distance (Luke 7:1-10) reminds us of Elisha and Naaman (2 Kgs 5).

When Jesus raised up a widow's dead son and "gave him to his mother" (Luke 7:15), there is an allusion to the scene in 1 Kings 17:23, where Elijah gives a raised son to his widowed mother ("and delivered him to his mother").

As people discussed the identity of Jesus, Herod the tetrarch knows that "Elijah had appeared" (Luke 9:8). The disciples of Jesus confirmed that some people were linking Jesus to Elijah (Luke 9:19).

The miracle of feeding the 5000 (Luke 9:10-17) alludes to Elisha's miracle of multiplying bread for people (2 Kgs 4:42-44).

At Jesus' transfiguration, Elijah actually appears before the glory-shining Christ (Luke 9:30). Elijah had a mountain encounter with the Lord in the OT.

In Luke 9:54, James and John were in the Samaritan region and asked about calling down fire from heaven onto the Jesus-rejecting village. This recalls 2 Kings 1, when Elijah called fire down from heaven onto a Samaritan area (2 Kgs 1:2-14).

Luke refers to the days leading to Jesus being "taken up" (Luke 9:51), and being "taken up" was fulfilled at his ascension (Luke 24; Acts 1). Being "taken up" from the earth recalls Elijah, for Elijah ascended to God in 2 Kings 2.

1 Kings 19 gives the call of Elisha, when Elijah covers him with his mantle, meaning "Follow me" (19:19). Elisha asked to tell his family farewell before following (19:20). This scene is echoed when Jesus calls a person to follow who asks to bid his family farewell (Luke 9:61).

In 1 Kings 19, Elijah comes up to call Elisha while Elisha is plowing a field. And in Luke 9:62, in a scene about calling a person to follow Jesus, Jesus says, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62).

The preceding examples show how--both explicitly and implicitly--the figures/stories of Elijah and Elisha are used in Luke 1-9. There may even be more instances than these.

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