JOHN GROWS UP

 

 Elizabeth looked up and said, “Oh, Zechariah, how are we so blessed?  Our son has grown to be so tall and has lived up to everything the angel had said.  I don’t know how he lives on honey and …”

“Now, now,” Zechariah said.  “He has followed the path God placed him on.  I admit the neighbors tease about his attire and diet, but, in my heart, I see the hand of God.  He is so outspoken and does not back down, even from the Pharisees.  As a priest, I have never seen anyone so determined that everyone should hear his message.  He is filled with the Holy Spirit.  Yes, I know --- since Mary visited.”

He continued, “It seems the people are listening to him.  Israel needs to be prepared for the Lord and I do believe our John is just the man to accomplish this.  Our son.  Gabriel did say he would bring many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.”

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There he sat.  Under a tree.  Was it safe to approach him?  They had heard rumors, but gossip is not reliable.  Looking at him, the group stopped and whispered, “Do we go back?”  One person said, “His clothes.  He doesn’t look like a prophet.  He …..”.

“What does his clothes have to do with it?  We came to hear what he has to say.  My neighbor said he has a message we need to hear.  Said it would change our lives.  I am going to talk to him.  Are you coming?”  With that, he started toward the man sitting under the tree.

Not knowing what to expect, because they had heard about the passion in his voice that would boom and sometimes condemn, he walked up to the man and said, “Are you John?”

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My mind can picture all of this and I hope yours can too.  I want you to see that John was real.  He had parents who loved and worried about him.  He was alive.  He was humble.  He took the responsibility God gave him seriously.  Every action.  Every word.  Every body lowered into the water.  Every soul washed with the water of baptism.  Every time John shouted, “You brood of vipers!” or “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance” the people listened.  They listened as John exhorted them and as he proclaimed the Good News.

John was the voice calling in the wilderness.  The crowds came.

 Find Your Wings, Mark Harris

https://youtu.be/-4NS7gChzvk?si=X27i4HNZUTqUN21h

 GABRIEL WAS RIGHT

 

Of course, the angel of God would be right.  Elizabeth,. even in her old age, became pregnant.  The baby was conceived the old-fashioned way. 

A BABY…A BABY BOY 

After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion.

Luke 1:24

Can you see her?  Elizabeth is looking out the window.  “A son,” she said out loud.  “A son we are to name John.  After all these years, the Lord has done this for me.  His favor has taken away my disgrace.  No longer will the people look at me as if I am being punished by God.” 

The Lord has granted the prayers of Zechariah and Elizabeth.  She is pregnant.  I believe she chose to stay in seclusion for the first five months, because she was past childbearing years and was not sure how this pregnancy would change her body.  During this time, I am sure Elizabeth offered many prayers of gratitude.  I am sure Zechariah saw her instant faith in the news Gabriel delivered instead of his doubt and questioning.  This seclusion would give them time to say prayers of gratitude for this gift:  a son.  

AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR

At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.  When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.  In a loud voice she exclaimed:  “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!  But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?  As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.  Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Luke 1:39-45

Can you see Elizabeth touching her stomach?  Can you see the wonder and questioning in her eyes?  Can you see her go to Mary and wonder why she is so blessed that Mary came to her?  Do you think she realized her child was destined to ….. 

At this point, I do not believe Elizabeth or Mary truly understood the future of the children they carried.  BUT, I can see two women, with great faith, sitting and sharing their emotions and their questions.  I can picture them sitting in a garden, offering prayers, and wondering what was ahead of them.

In the book of Esther, Mordecai told Esther, “Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this.”  As I read articles about John The Baptist, I realized Elizabeth had not previously conceived a child because she was being punished by God.  Elizabeth had not conceived because she was to carry a child who was being born for just such a time as this. 

IT IS TIME

Elizabeth was ready and gave birth to a son.  On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child and Elizabeth said, “He is to be called John.”  Zechariah, still not able to speak, wrote, “His name is John.”

 

You Will Always Be My Son, Caleb and Kelsey

https://youtu.be/FUsLT0hIOus?si=CITwAF-M6OGgMYK4

THE BIRTH OF A BABY FORTOLD

 

I want to introduce you to Zechariah, a Jewish priest, and his wife, Elizabeth.  This couple was righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all the Lord’s commandments and regulations.  Elizabeth had never conceived and was now very old.

NOT A NORMAL DAY

Elizabeth sent Zechariah on his way.  It was a great day for him.  What an honor to be the one serving God.  She could picture him entering the sanctuary of the Lord.  It would be a long week until she welcomed him home, and they would discuss his week over the evening meal.

Zechariah looked back one more time.  He knew she would still be watching him.  She always watched until he was out of sight.  He pictured her beginning the day's household chores.  Taking a deep breath, he turned his mind to his task.  The order of Abijah was on duty this week, and he was chosen, by lot, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense.  This was an honor and each priest was only assigned this task once in his lifetime.

Turning the corner, he saw the crowd was gathering.  Today, the crowd seemed rather large.  He knew they would be praying during the burning of the incense and nodded to them as he closed the door.  His service to God would now begin.

The ketoret was a special blend of eleven herbs and balms, which was measured precisely.  This would be burned twice a day on the golden altar that stood in the Temple.  Ketoret means “bonding.”  The incense brings a pleasant odor to the temple, boosts the dignity and respect of the Temple, and represents the essential connection each person has with God.  With great reverence, Zechariah took the ketoret and placed it on the incense altar. 

As he looked up, he saw an angel of the Lord standing to the right of the incense altar.  He was overcome with fear, but the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer.”  The angel continued to tell him that Elizabeth would have a son.  A son they were to name John. 

Zechariah listened as the angel told about the life John would have.  This is where things go a bit off track for Zechariah.  He questions the angel, Gabriel.  The angel that stands in the presence of God.  The angel God sent to bring the good news about the future birth of his son.  Gabriael, being more than a bit upset, caused Zechariah to be silent.  Silent until after the birth of baby John.

The people were waiting when Zechariah came out and wanted to know why he had been inside so long.  Zechariah couldn’t tell them.  Have you ever played the game Pictionary?  That is what I picture him doing.  All sorts of motions … until they realized he had seen a vision.

When his week was completed, he returned home.  Soon afterward Elizabeth became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months. 

“How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed.  “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children.”

 

Angels Among Us, Alabama

https://youtu.be/y_4Xfj2LRSA?si=bz3lQGe0rm37m-C6