Hating the Message of the King

The appearance of Elijah at Christ's Transfiguration sparks a question in the disciples' mind. Based on OT prophecy, the common teaching of that time was that Elijah personally and literally come before the Day of the Lord. How would that be? Jesus explains that John the Baptist is the one intended by the OT prophecies. He takes that opportunity, however, to emphasize the real point. Men who hate God's Word manifest that hatred against those who carry God's Word. How the Jews treated John the Baptist is also how they would soon treat Jesus. So they treated God's prophets in all times, and will continue to do so until the Last Day. The natural man hates God's word; but the one in whom God has engendered a new heart loves God's Word as the only light and hope we have.