March 11 – Reading Luke 1:67-80

Read and believe in Jesus.

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High.”  Luke 1:76

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The Gospel according to Luke 1:67-80

In the last study, we saw Elizabeth giving birth to a baby boy. Since Zechariah was still mute (and possibly deaf), SHE announced his name at the circumcision ceremony.  He would be JOHN.  Of course, the family objected, saying he should be Zechariah Jr.  Nope!

The old priest took a notepad and clearly wrote out “His name will be called John.”  And immediately Zechariah’s speech returned.  Everyone was excited and eagerly listened to his account of all that had happened in the Temple with the angel, Gabriel.

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Vss. 67-75.

And now, the old priest is filled with the Holy Spirit and begins to speak forth God’s words and prophesy.  (Zech is really happy to be speaking again, I think.)

First, he praises the Lord God of Israel.  He recalls all the promises of God from Abraham onward and tells how God has now fulfilled them.  The LORD God has redeemed His people and raised up a “horn of salvation” in the house of His servant David… just as the prophets foretold.

Then Zecharia looks towards his son, perhaps laying his hand on the baby boy’s head, and by the Holy Spirit says, “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins.”

And then, “The sunrise (Messiah) shall visit us from on high to give Light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,  and to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

What a benediction!  What a way to end ten months of inability to utter one word!

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Verse 80.

“And the child (John) grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.”

Out in the danger and loneliness of the desert, filled with the Holy Spirit from birth, John probably prayed long prayers and recalled the scriptures he’d learned as a youth in a priest’s house. Like Elijah, he was tough and lived on what the desert could supply.

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How did John know when he would begin his ministry and start baptizing and preparing the people for the Messiah?   

We will get into that in Chapter Three, but if you want to peek, see Luke 3;1-3.