John the Baptist's Parents

John the Baptist—Matthew Chapter 3 jumps right into His ministry.

Luke—provides a better framework of John's life

Gives details about John’s Parents

When does the dawning of John the Baptist story begin?

Furnishes us with a time line to some of the events . You see this in verse 5

Herod was edomite (Esau) or Idumean

The one figure in ancient world we have more primary evidence from original sources that anyone else in the world More than: Paul, Jesus, Julius Caesar, Alexander

Josephus two whole book scrolls

the paranoid tyrant who ended up killing three of his sons on suspicion of treason, putting to death his favorite wife (of his ten wives!), killing one of his mothers-in-law, drowning a high priest, and killing several uncles and a couple of cousins. He also plotted to kill a stadium of Jewish leaders, and of course ordered the slaughter of the innocent male children recorded only in

Dr. Maier about the paranoid tyrant who ended up killing three of his sons on suspicion of treason, putting to death his favorite wife (of his ten wives!), killing one of his mothers-in-law, drowning a high priest, and killing several uncles and a couple of cousins. They also talk about Herod’s plot to kill a stadium of Jewish leaders, and whether there are any doubts in Dr. Maier’s mind about the historicity of the slaughter of the innocent male children recorded only in

There was deep spiritual ware raging, God needed a man that would prepare the way of the Lord

King Herod the Great give creditability to the gospels.

These events happens 15 months before Jesus is born.

A few things within the first few verses that have significance.

John’s Father was Zechariah

Zechariah belonged to the priestly order of Abijah

we will find that the number of priest had grown so King David divided them into 24 divisions

By the time Zechariah’s became priest there were over 20K priest, far too many to minister at the temple at one time.

Divided into the 24 groups and roughly at about 1K in each group.

Each group served in the temple twice a a year for one week.

Of the one thousand priest service during the week how many would served the burning incense?

So 1K would gather around and cast lots. and select the 7 (Highest Honor & only once)

. For Zechariahs this was probably the most significant event of his life

So for Zechariahs this was probably the most significant event of his life

While performing his duty the Angel shows up

God will often show ups when you are performing everyday, ordinary tasks

Moses (shepherding) and the bush

Disciples were fishing

during our regular rhythms of life is when we have to keep our eyes open

2 Life application

Nothing just happens. Everything in your life is orchestrated by to shape, develop, or speak to you

16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed

16 You saw me before I was born.

Every day of my life was recorded in your book.

Both God and Bad (help discover something about you) (3 Hebrew Boys)

Every moment was laid out

before a single day had passed

Every day of my life was recorded in your book.

Every moment was laid out

before a single day had passed

Another Significant part of the text is the mention of both Zechariah/Elizabeth as righteous people ()

The mother of Zechariah/Elizabeth were both righteous

Both Zechariah/Elizabeth were both righteous

Luke also mentions that they were both old and that Elizabeth was barren.

Why is

Both of these details are going to rather important

Zechariahs- Hebrew meaning is the Lord has remembered

divided into courses

The name Zechariah in Hebrew means the Lord has remembered

Nothing just happens, our lives are orchestrated by God

Zechariahs- Hebrew meaning is the Lord has remembered

Marries

The name Elizabeth in Hebrew means God's promises

This important because names help paint a picture. We believe the bible is God’s Holy Word so every word means something

Zechariah’s Marries Elizabeth and they become, so when you take their names and put them together

When you take their names and put them together

When you put Zechariah and Elizabeth name together what do you get? It says God remembers God's promise

This pretty significant because the the big question the Jewish had was does God remember his promise?

To understand this we have to look at Malachi 5:5.

The promise was that God would send a prophet that would preceed the messiah

400 years later

They are wondering if God has remembered

Malachi 5:5

400 years and beginning to wonder to if the promise would come to passed

Another promise

Elizabeth- no baby meant that there was some sin in their life. The bible was clear that they are righteous.

Elizabeth- no baby meant that there was some sin in their life. They were both righeous. What did we missed? Do you remember your promise

Elizabeth/Zechariah were probably wondering what they did wrong? What did we missed? They most likely asking God do you remember your promise?

God answers prayer in his own way and in his own time. He worked in an “impossible” situation—Elizabeth’s barrenness—to bring about the fulfillment of all the prophecies concerning the Messiah. If you want to have your prayers answered, you must be open to what God can do in impossible situations. And you must wait for God to work in his way and in his time.

What is God communicating through their names? He remembers his promise

Compares John’s Luke/Malachi

God answers prayer in his own way and in his own time. God will often test our trust and faith in him?

And you must wait for God to work in his way and in his time.

It's not that God had forgotten but he wanted to do something special

Look at

What does incense represent in the bible?

It is not a coincidence that he was burning the incense

In the Bible the burning of incense is a strong picture of prayer (; ).

Fear came upon him. Its not everyday that an angel appears

READ VERSES 13-23

GOD’S TIMING

Zechariah - was a priest, part the temple leadership,

Did Zechariah’s believe the angel? See v.22

Zechariah’s response to the angel’s word was doubt. Zechariah wanted more than the word of this heavenly visitor; he wanted a sign: How can I know this will happen? V.18

V.18 Gabriel answered

Life application: For some of us God is spoken, showing you a sign and you still have not moved? Your unbelief has kept you from experiences everything god has for you

but failed to believe God. (v.21)

Mute and Deaf (v. 22)

Zechariah saw only the obstacle—he and Elizabeth were both past childbearing years, so he reminded the angel of this fact as if it had somehow been overlooked.

Moses and the wrong questions. Your abilities do not limit God

You have to get past perceived limitations

Zechariah is an example of a unbeliever believer

God answers prayer in his own way and in his own time. He worked in an “impossible” situation—Elizabeth’s barrenness—to bring about the fulfillment of all the prophecies concerning the Messiah. If you want to have your prayers answered, you must be open to what God can do in impossible situations. And you must wait for God to work in his way and in his time.

You believe in God, but you don’t believe God

Big difference

Compare Johns prophecy to Malachi

What happen to Zechariah’s as a result of his unbelief?

He was unable to speak for God. All this happen in the temple and he was unable to speak for the Lord? He lost his story.

Be silent- Until the day Because you did not believe my words

Because he doesn't believe the word he can't speak for God, he can't speak of the testimony

We can lose our story?

My dad what good is a christian walk without a story

What is interesting is that Zechariah, although he had unbelief

He also can't hear from God --- The made signs

What happens right after Zechariah leaves the temple? (TESTOSTERONE)

Does Zachariah receive rejection/does he receive wrath, no he receives, Do YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT JOHN MEANS is John the grace and mercy of God (Encouraging).

However he does not get to experience everything that God intended for him. Its not what it could have been

What does John mean?

John Means the grace and mercy of God

Facts about John

No wine or liqour

spirit and power of Elijah

John coming in the spirit of Elijah is significant, why?

John means the grace or mercy of the Lord

God answers prayer in his own way and in his own time. He worked in an “impossible” situation—Elizabeth’s barrenness—to bring about the fulfillment of all the prophecies concerning the Messiah. If you want to have your prayers answered, you must be open to what God can do in impossible situations.

It's not that God had forgotten but he wanted to do something special

Zechariah

Priest

Temple leadership

Zechariah was an unbeliever believer, Contrast his response with that of Mary, who saw the opportunity and merely asked how God would perform the miracle (1:34).

Unbelieving believer

I know what your saying, but I've been around a bit

Believes in God but doesn't believe God

I want to do something, but it can't apply to me

Before we get to that :

V39 (Pregnant and runs to Elizabeth) ---Underline verse 45 believed

But had prayed, do we believe what we pray

Proabortion and against abortion

6 motnhs pregnant - John experienced and expressed emotion

Even in the womb he can recognized the presence of God

Its not a fetus, but a baby

Jeremiah has one message and message is that there is judgement coming chapter 19 (why is god is laying judgment) 4 “ ‘For Israel has forsaken me and turned this valley into a place of wickedness. The people burn incense to foreign gods—idols never before acknowledged by this generation, by their ancestors, or by the kings of Judah. And they have filled this place with the blood of innocent children. 5 They have built pagan shrines to Baal, and there they burn their sons as sacrifices to Baal

In america we do it inside the womb, Isreal had killed a few thousands, but in our country 60 million. We sacrifice baby Remind people that they still have John mercy and grace ( Go forward in forgiveness)

Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I know this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years.” NLT Zechariah’s response to the angel’s word came perilously close to doubt. Zechariah wanted more than the word of this heavenly visitor; he wanted a sign: How can I know this will happen? Zechariah saw only the obstacle—he and Elizabeth were both past childbearing years, so he reminded the angel of this fact as if it had somehow been overlooked.

Top 3 reasons

1. Can't afford it

2. Dramatically change my life

Contrast his response with that of Mary, who saw the opportunity and merely asked how God would perform the miracle (1:34).

3. I'm not sure about the relationship

Look at verse v5 5 They have built pagan shrines to Baal, and there they burn their sons as sacrifices to Baal. I have never commanded such a horrible deed; it never even crossed my mind to command such a thing!

30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.

Because he doesn't believe the word he can't speak for God, he can't speak of the testimony

He also can't hear from God --- The made signs

Does Zachariah receive rejection/does he receive wrath, no he receives John and what is John the grace and mercy of God (Encouraging). However he does not get to experience everything that God intended for him. Its not what it could have been

Believe God but believing in God

Zechariah finish he goes home, and get his groove on v24

V.26 few months after this- Mary receives the message from the same angel, how can I it be since i am a virgin. Okay how is it going to happen.

V.38 according to your word, Mary was a believer who believed in God and believed God (Contrast to Zechariah's priest)

V45 believed in (Zecharias misses out)

Proabortion and against abortion

6 motnhs pregnant - John experienced and expressed emotion

Even in the womb he can recognized the presence of God

Its not a fetus, but a baby

Jeremiah has one message and message is that there is judgement coming chapter 19 (why is god is laying judgment) 4 “ ‘For Israel has forsaken me and turned this valley into a place of wickedness. The people burn incense to foreign gods—idols never before acknowledged by this generation, by their ancestors, or by the kings of Judah. And they have filled this place with the blood of innocent children. 5 They have built pagan shrines to Baal, and there they burn their sons as sacrifices to Baal

In america we do it inside the womb, Isreal had killed a few thousands, but in our country 60 million. We sacrifice baby Remind people that they still have John mercy and grace ( Go forward in forgiveness)

Top 3 reasons

1. Can't afford it

2. Dramatically change my life

3. I'm not sure about the relationship

Look at verse v5 5 They have built pagan shrines to Baal, and there they burn their sons as sacrifices to Baal. I have never commanded such a horrible deed; it never even crossed my mind to command such a thing!

V45 believed in (Zecharias misses out)

She can't stop talking about God v46-56 HE HAS

HE HAS

God speaks to he verse 42 speaks through Elizabeth

Mary is an example of a believing believer

They have to learn not to operate with the information we have. More information, still get John, but we miss out

If you want your kid to be excited in church, telling them to be moral is not compelling. (My dad believed in God, live a life of faith, allowed me to see him work in excellence) Trusting him and believe in God and show up in your life and you have those faith stories. Nothing compelling about going to church and being moral

I'm not hearings, not speaking.

Recognize that your in that place—John was ultimately born, asked for a tablet. He came back to the last thing that God said. Did he speak to you and trust me, put me first in this area of your life , need you do this step out in this way. Going in circles

Zecharias speak immediately

John the Baptist's Parents

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