This week I'm discussing the birth of John the Baptist and why people would rejoice about his birth and mission. In order to do this I read Luke 1:1-80 and the Bible Dictionary entry on John the Baptist.
I first want to say how amazing it is that he was prophesied of by Isaiah. Isaiah was an amazing prophet! In Isaiah 40:3 he says "The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God." Wow!
John was such a great man, preparing even some members of the Twelve. Interestingly the Bible Dictionary tells us that his ministry was recognized in three dispensations, I never thought about that!
Zacharias was spoken to by the angel Gabriel in the temple where he burn incense. The angel said to 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 awine 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 aElias, 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."
John was going to pave the way for the Savior, what a big job. His birth was the start of a new time and people now had a sense of when the Savior would come. They had a lot to be happy about. John the Baptist was going to make an example with Jesus Christ. They were able to show others how you come into the gospel. He was able to make a difference and clung to his beliefs. He is a great example of the way we should model our lives.
No comments:
Post a Comment