come first?” NIV The appearance of Elijah on the mountain caused a question in the disciples’ minds. Based on Malachi 4:5–6, the Jewish scribes believed that Elijah had to appear before the Messiah to usher in the messianic age. Elijah had appeared on the mountain, but he had not come in person to prepare the people for the Messiah’s arrival (especially in the area of repentance). The disciples fully believed that Jesus was the Messiah, but they wondered where Elijah was, for he must come first.