The Birth of John the Baptist
The Coming of John the Baptist
Luke 1:13-17 (KJV 1900)
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.
Luke 1:5–7 (KJV 1900)
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.
Zacharias was of the course (family) of Abia or Abijah his wife Elisabeth both were of the house of Aaron. They lived holy lives they were both righteous yet there was one thing that was painful to them and not that they were old it was that they were without children.
Matthew 5:45 (KJV 1900)
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
Jews felt that having a child was a great sign of Gods pleasure as babies were a gift from God. Yet being unable to bear children was a sign he wasn’t pleased with you. The woman carried the “blame” for this. And now they were without hope because of their age.
Luke 1:8–10 (KJV 1900)
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.
There were 20,000 Priests and 1 Temple Priests were given the honor of burning the incense only one time in their life! And they were to pray for Israel as well for the messiah to come, but this was also one time you would be alone with God and you had the chance to ask your prayer.
While in the Holy Place alone with the people outside praying at the sound of a bell things would get silent and everyone would pray
Luke 1:11–17 (KJV 1900)
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.
When should anyone look to see a miracle? When should we expect an angel? While in prayer would be a good answer but Zacharias was caught by surprise!
John means God is gracious
Luke 1:18–19 (KJV 1900)
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.
Zachariass answer was how shall I know this what he was saying was how can this be.
Luke 1:20–22 (KJV 1900)
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.
Gabriel struck Zacharias dumb! Not only couldn’t he speak he couldn’t hear!
Luke 1:62 (KJV 1900)
62 And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.
The Lord chastens or disciplines the ones He loves!
Hebrews 12:5–6 (KJV 1900)
5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Luke 1:23–25 (KJV 1900)
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.
When he finally came out unable to speak the people knew he saw a vision!