Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. (Mark 1:6)

When the prophet Elijah is announced to King Ahaziah he is described as "a hairy man with a leather belt around his waist." (2 Kings: 1:8). John the Baptist is purposefully identified with Elijah and may have identified himself in this way.

Malachi, in describing a day of divine judgment, had proclaimed, "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD." (Malachi 4:1-5) John, as Elijah, was the herald of this day of the Lord.

Elijah encountered a society in the midst of physical and spiritual famine. In faithful partnership with God Elijah worked to restore his community to spiritual fertility. In the Jewish pantheon Elijah joined Moses as the principal agent of restoration.

Above is the Elijah Window at Union Church by Marc Chagall