The writer of the Gospel of Mark, John Mark, used many different literary devices while writing. His use of foreshadowing throughout his Gospel created interesting comparisons between the Old Testaments, as well as through his own Gospel. Foreshadowing is a premonition or warning that will eventually come true. Through the foreshadowing of the Old Testament and New Testament, Jesus fulfilled the prophecies made by prophets such as Elijah and John the Baptists, and directly shows the features that the Old Testament prophecies sought .
In the first chapter of Mark, John the Baptist was described as “clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He fed on locusts and wild honey.” (24) This comparison paralleled the description of Elijah, who “…wore a hairy garment with a leather belt around his waist.” (2 Kings 1:8) Both John and Elijah were important prophets who preached about the coming of Jesus. They both paved the way for his coming through their evangelization of the Messiah. Through John and Elijah, people were on the lookout for Christ.
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In the ninth chapter of Mark “[the Apostles] asked [Jesus], ‘why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?’ He told them, ‘Elijah will indeed come first and restore all things, yet how it is written regarding the Son of Man that he must suffer greatly and treated with contempt? (11,12)” Jesus revealed himself as the Messiah to Peter when Jesus questioned Peter on who he believes Jesus is. Some priests and scribes believed Jesus to be Elijah or John the Baptist, however Peter knew that Jesus was truly the Messiah (Mark 8:27-29) Jesus was much more than just another prophet, Jesus was the Son of God, and savior of