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 For Jews, Elijah represents a longing for a type of messiah they
never got.
If you think about it, Elijah represents what we think we want in a
messiah, too. Elijah solved problems: He provided a starving widow
with an endless supply of oil and flour. When the widow’s son died,
Elijah promptly raised him from the dead. Jesus did some of that,
but he certainly did not solve everybody’s problems, and he doesn’t
solve all our problems.
Another thing about Elijah is that nobody messed with him. He had a
terminator side to him. The scraggly prophet strolled into the city
of Samaria and took on a thousand prophets in their fancy white
robes. When a company of soldiers came to arrest him, fire dropped
from heaven to incinerate them.
Not Jesus. When the powers strung him up on a cross, he said,
“Father, forgive them.”
Elijah also gave absolute proof. On Mount Carmel he outduel 850
pagan priests. He showed without a doubt that God is God. In
contrast, Jesus declined every opportunity to prove himself. He said
“a wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign.”
Finally, Elijah did not die. He was whisked away into heaven on a
chariot of fire. Jesus died on a cross and cried “Eli, Eli, Lama
Sabachthani.” People thought he was calling for Elijah’s help.
 Elijah is what a lot of people want in a savior: He can solve my
problems, protect me, give absolute proof, and offer an escape route
from life’s messiest problems.
But you know what? Elijah’s ministry did not achieve the desired
results. Despite all the fireworks, his ministry accomplished
little. People weren’t changed. All his power made barely a dent in
the nations’ faith.
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God knew to come in power and force would not bring genuine change.
The only way to significantly change people is not to force them
from above, but to change them from below and become servant. He
became one of us, to be with us, and to die for us.
So instead of a lightning bolt, we get a manger. Instead of a
messiah of power, we get a messiah of service & humility. And that
is real power.
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