The answer is: Elijah

Mark 15:35

In Mark 15, as Jesus hangs on the cross, some bystanders misconstrue his cries. When he calls out, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—an Aramaic phrase meaning "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?"—it's like opening a spiritual door filled with profound echoes and interpretations.

The crowd, mishearing this deep lament, thinks he’s calling for Elijah. Here's where it gets fascinating! Elijah was perhaps one of the most revered prophets in Judaism, often associated with powerful divine actions and miraculous interventions. The Jews at that time held the belief that Elijah would return to herald the coming of the Messiah. Interestingly, he famously ascended to heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11), which might have contributed to their assumption that he could somehow descend to help Jesus.

In reading this moment, we can sense a tension in the atmosphere. The bystanders aren't just witnessing a man in agony; they’re part of this grand narrative linking Jesus to prophetic traditions that go far back in their scriptures.

Also noteworthy—some bespoke paraphernalia from Jewish tradition involves leaving a chair set for Elijah at Passover meals, signaling hope in his eventual coming, making this misunderstanding in Mark resonate even deeper. What a vivid encapsulation of expectation, misunderstanding, and the quest for meaning that carries resonances so powerful across human experiences!