The Bystanders at the Cross and Their Expectations about Elijah

The bystanders at the cross are acting and speaking sincerely, not in jest. Mishearing Jesus, they think that he is calling for Elijah. This leads them to suspect that Jesus might really be the Messiah after all and that Elijah might suddenly appear from heaven, taking Jesus down from the cross and vindicating his messianic status. This pericope can be seen as presupposing a number of ideas relating to Elijah's eschatological role: Elijah will precede, anoint, identify/herald, and empower the Messiah.