John the Baptist - Part 1: His birth

John the Baptist

Part 1 -  Concerning Zacharias, the priest; his wife Elisabeth, a visit by the angel Gabriel, and the birth of the baby called John

One of the best known men in the bible, John's coming is foretold in Malachi 3:1 "Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: ......." and in Isaiah 40:3 "The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD...".   Where Matthew, Mark, and Luke announce John as an adult with his ministry underway, the gospel of Luke shows us that John was chosen by God before his birth, to prepare the people for the coming of the Lord.

We begin in Luke chapter 1, where we are told of John's parents, a priest named Zacharias, and his wife, Elisabeth, who was of the line of Aaron.  God's Word tells us that they were Luke 1:6 "both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless."  But V7 "..they had no child, because Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years."  This is very important.  They had no idea that they were to fulfill a special purpose in the plan of God, but they followed the Lord in obedience to Him.  Are we following the Lord in obedience?  How do we know what special purpose the Lord may have for our lives which will be revealed as we daily follow the leading of the Spirit..

The fact that Elisabeth was barren and well on in years is a reminder of Abraham's wife Sarah, who bore Isaac well past the age of child bearing.  All things shall be possible with God in order to accomplish His plan and purpose.



One day, while Zacharias was burning incense in the temple of the Lord,  the people were praying outside, and V11 "there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord, standing on the right side of the altar of incense".  The right side is the side of power.  The Lord Jesus is now sitting on the right hand of God.  When Zacharias saw him he was V12 "troubled, and fear fell upon him." but the angel comforted Zacharias and told him V13-17 "Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.  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.  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 make ready a people prepared for the Lord." There is so much in these preceding verses. The angel told Zacharias much the same as he will tell Mary, who gave birth to Jesus.  The angel told Zacharias to "Fear not" 1:30  He told Zacharias what the baby should be called, "John" just as V31 Mary is told to call her baby "JESUS" (capitalized KJV)  the angel told Zacharias "he shall be great in the sight of the Lord" which is similar to what the angel told Mary V32 "he shall be great, but instead of "in the sight of the Lord" to Mary he said "he shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest:" and the angel said that the baby will be filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother's womb.  This is the only time that a person, and an unborn person, will be filled with the Holy Ghost in this way. But V18 "Zacharias said...whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man,and my wife well stricken in years." Zacharias did not believe the angel, and has consequences to bear and now we find out who the angel is.. V19 "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."  Gabriel, who is the same angel who appeared to Mary V26-27 "the angel Gabriel was sent from God.......to a virgin...whose name was Mary." Because Zacharias doubted, he is told V20 "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."  God's plan and purpose will be fulfilled, whether or not the person chosen for this purpose is willing.  This is a good lesson for believers to this day, if you are led to do something, do it, don't doubt it.

The people wondered why Zacharias was so long in the temple, and when he came out, V22 "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." and when his ministration was finished, he went to his own house, and V24 "his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months" but in V25 we find that Elisabeth gives God the glory for this miracle "Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men."  In the six month of Elisabeth's pregnancy (V36)  the virgin Mary was visited by Gabriel and told that she would bear the Saviour of the world..Mary is told that her cousin Elisabeth has conceived a son, and so Mary went to the city of Juda to the house of Zacharias and Elisabeth.. V41 "and when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost." When Gabriel had previously announced his birth to Zacharias he was told that the baby would be "filled with the Holy Ghost even from his mother's womb." (V15)

At this beautiful event, Elisabeth is filled with the Holy Ghost: and she spoke with a loud voice  V42 "Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb  and whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy."  And so Mary stayed with Elisabeth for three months, then returned home, and after that V57 "Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son"

On the eighth day, the day of the baby's circumcision, those that did the procedure wanted to call him Zacharias after the baby's father, but Elisabeth intervened and said that V60 "he shall be called John" And Zacharias, by a writing tablet because he was mute, confirmed the baby's name was to be John, and at that moment,  V64 "his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God."

In V66 the people that saw and heard these things marveled saying "what manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him." Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied regarding his son, that V76-79 "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...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 much information here, that John would be a prophet of the Highest.. and a prophet spoke only truth.  That he would go before the Lord.. just think, after waiting since the day when Adam sinned, and the deliverer was promised,  the day of the redeemer was at hand.. how the bible uses such simple phrasing to announce such life changing events!  To prepare the hearts of the people to receive the teachings and miracles of the Lord.  To bring "knowledge of salvation," not that John himself would bring salvation but "knowledge" that it is sin that separates from the Lord;  to bring light in the darkness, the knowledge to the people that the promised Lord was about to appear! to guide them to a way of peace, peace through confessing their sins, and believing the word of the Lord.... 

And then we learn that V80 "the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel"  This teaches us that John lived a separated life, growing in the spirit no doubt through prayer, until the day that his ministry began.  This begs the thought, dear reader, are you in a place of quietness and separation through the leading of the Lord?  Do you wonder why the Lord has placed you in a place of quietness?   Spend this time with Him, praying and reading His Holy Word, and committing your days to Him.  Then He will surely make known to you, the special purpose He has for your life, whether large or small, to bring glory to His name.

(continued in Part 2 - John's Ministry)

vcg/August 2015