What does Luke 1:17 mean?
One of the more popular prophecies of the Old Testament was the claim that Elijah would return, prior to the arrival of the Messiah (Malachi 4:5). This was tied to the prediction that a prophet would act as a herald for the Promised One (Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1).Zechariah, who has just learned that his wife's soon-to-be-conceived son will fulfill this role (Luke 1:11–16), will recognize this connection. After the child—later known as John the Baptist—is born, Zechariah will allude to this herald's role (Luke 1:76). Interestingly, Jesus will point out that this role as Elijah has a conditional aspect. John the Baptist will not literally be Elijah, in some form of reincarnation (John 1:19–21). Had the people of Israel fully accepted John's message, he would have fulfilled this very function (Matthew 11:14). Instead, most people would turn away from the complete truth of the gospel (John 6:66).
Still, John's ministry would be powerful and effective. His preaching would prepare others to understand the messages taught by Jesus (Mark 1:4; Luke 3:2–3). Even after his own death (Mark 6:17, 27), and Jesus' ascension into heaven (Acts 1:8–9), John's preaching would be part of the early church's process of evangelism (Acts 13:24–25; 19:4).
