Right before Jesus came into the world, John the Baptist was born. And his coming forth into the world was very similar to how Jesus came. For John also came into the world, being filled with the Holy Spirit of God. Speaking of John’s birth, the angel Gabriel said to Zacharias, 1“he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.” Because his parents were righteous in the sight of God, Elizabeth was blessed to bring forth a son and a prophet of God, at that. Speaking of the mission of John, the angel of the Lord continued, 1“and many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” What a wonderful promise given to Zacharias, about his future son, especially when his wife was very old. This was a miracle indeed. However, I am amazed that a person such as Zacharias did not believe. Therefore, he was struck dumb and could not speak. This was to be the case until shortly after the birth of John. Now time passed that Elizabeth met up with Mary and they each broke the news of their babies together.
At the time of John’s birth, the immediate family were in the room and wanted to call the baby Zacharias but Elizabeth said no, and that his name would be John. They didn’t agree with her and asked Zacharias to give his answer. Which he then wrote on a tablet and said, 1“his name is John. And they marvelled.” This was when he was able to speak again and immediately he began to praise God and to prophesy. In praises, he said, 1“blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people.” The people were stunned and knew the baby would be special. Here are a few things that was prophesied of John, while 1“Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost”. He said, 1“thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God”. He continued, 1“to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” There is so much to gain from these verses. But a few take-aways are that God punishes those that do not believe. However, when they do, immediately His blessings flow back into their lives. And like Zacharias, we can also be filled again with the Spirit of God.
Let us pray:
Lord God, I am so grateful to have You in my life. I know that for many years that I chose to live apart from You and am sorry. I regret those days and am so grateful for Your mercy. Thank You for taking a wretched person, such as I, back into Your fold. I am amazed at Your great love and compassion for my life. I do not deserve the things You’ve done for me and still do for me. Surely, You could have given up on me a long time ago but instead You were patient and waited till the right time to move into my life. I may have wasted many years to serve You but the time I have with You now, I cherish. Thank You for coming into my life and delivering unto me the Spirit of God. You have filled me with a wild fire and now I want everyone to hear my story amd come to know You, Jesus. I pray that others do know that there is still hope for them. May they come to know that You are reaching out for them as You’ve reached for me, all these years. Just like I was, many people are stubborn but I still have hope in them. I know that their will come a time when many people will reach out to You, Lord. I just pray that they don’t lose that hope but continue in the faith. Our faith In You saves us. May I never lose that hope and trust in You, God. I love You. Amen.
Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.
1Luke 1:1-25,57,80 (KJV)
1 Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,
2 Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;
3 It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,
4 That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.
6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.
8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,
9 According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.
11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.
13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.
15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.
16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.
19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
20 And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.
21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.
22 And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.
23 And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.
24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,
25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.
57 Now Elisabeth’s full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.
58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
59 And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.
60 And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.
61 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.
62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
63 And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.
64 And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.
65 And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.
66 And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.
67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,
68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
72 To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
73 The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
76 And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
77 To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,
78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
80 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.
