Shirley Miller
Luke 1:13-17 NLT
But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
Reflection
Before an angel visited Mary, an angel was sent to a Jewish priest named Zechariah. He and his wife, Elizabeth, had not been able to have children, and were now very old. While Zechariah was performing the holy duty of burning incense in the very presence of the Lord, an angel appeared to him and told him that he would have a son. We know this was a desire very deep and close to Zechariah and Elizabeth because the angel said that God had heard Zechariah’s prayers, and Elizabeth later responded that God was good and had removed her shame.
This would be no ordinary child. While most parents pray that their son or daughter will follow God, this child would be filled with the Holy Spirit before he was even born. He would precede the promised Messiah, and would prepare hearts ahead of time to be open to receive Jesus as the promised Son of God. He would have the spirit and power of the loved and respected prophet, Elijah, which would enable him to be so influential that children’s hearts would be turned back to their fathers, and disobedient minds would be cracked open to hear and embrace wisdom – just in time for Jesus to arrive on the scene.
The child was to be named “John”, or “God is gracious.” The promise of this baby was affirmation of how God loves us and desires for ALL to draw near to Him. God showed His graciousness by first reaching out to a member of the priesthood, and preparing His chosen children for the coming Messiah. And He graciously sent John in advance of the Messiah to begin the process of wooing hardened hearts.
Prayer
Father, thank you for pursuing us even while we are stubbornly set against You. Thank you for sending your Son to save us from our own disillusionment, and from the darkness and sin of a troubled world. Please help us respond to your unspeakable gift by striving to know and honor You more with every passing day. Amen.
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