Day 274—We are in the TENTH month of Bible reading and studying the New Testament Gospels.

    Day 274 – Luke 1, John 1 (the prophet, John, [the Baptist] is born, Zachariah, Elizabeth, Mary)

Luke 1. Dr. Luke, a learned Gentile, writes a long two-part letter to his friend Theophilus about “things that have been accomplished among us,” namely the appearance and work of the long-awaited Christ.  

He begins with the birth of the prophesied prophet, who will be like Elijah and be the forerunner of Christ and “prepare the way for him.” His story starts with two old righteous people: Zechariah, the priest, and his wife, Elizabeth, also from the priestly line.

Zechariah’s once-in-a-lifetime task is to burn incense in the Holy Place in the Temple. While performing the task, the angel Gabriel appears right next to him! Zechariah freaks out, but the angel tells him not to fear because God has heard his prayer for a son. Elizabeth is going to have a baby!  “Call him John. He will be great before the LORD. You’ll be so happy! Raise him as a Nazarite. He’ll be filled with the Holy Spirit from conception. He will prepare the way for the Messiah!

Zechariah is dumbfounded (and WILL BE dumbstruck) because he doubts the angel’s word, protesting that he and his wife are soooooo old. And, typical of Jewish men, he asks for a sign.  Gabriel is affronted and tells him the sign will be that he can’t speak a word till the baby is born.  Instantly, his tongue is mute. And Elizabeth gets the privilege of announcing it and when the time comes, of naming her baby.

Meanwhile, 100 miles north of Jerusalem, Gabriel appears to a young virgin girl named Mary in Nazareth and tells her she is to have a baby boy. Whoa!  She isn’t even married! But Gabriel says, “No problem,” because God will be His father. “Name him Jesus. He’ll also be called the Son of the Most High. God will give him the throne of David, and he’ll reign over Israel forever.”

As a sign for her (although she didn’t ask for one), Gabriel tells her about her old cousin, Elizabeth, who is expecting too.  “For nothing will be impossible with God.”  Mary makes plans and goes to visit Elizabeth. Isn’t God kind?  Mary, who knows nothing of pregnancy, gets to stay with the older Elizabeth, who  is experiencing everything three months ahead of her and can share what happens! 

For Elizabeth’s part, when she hears Mary’s greeting, John jumps for joy in her womb, and she breaks out in a song of multiple praises to the LORD.  Mary stays with her for three months (morning sickness gone) then returns to Nazareth. 

John, the forerunner of Jesus, the Messiah, is born!!  There is great rejoicing.  Elizabeth says, “His name is JOHN!” But Zechariah’s family protests.  They think he should be named after his father. But when the old priest is asked, he writes, “John.”  Instantly, his muteness is gone, and he, filled with the Holy Spirit, begins blessing God, NOT for his own son, but for the Messiah who will redeem His people.  

Then, looking at his own boy, he says, “You, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way.

John grew up, became strong in spirit, and lived in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

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John 1.  The apostle John begins the birth of Jesus WAY back further than even Dr. Luke. He starts before time begins, before the Son of God is named “Jesus.” When the Son, the Father, and the Holy Spirit created the world and all that is in it. He was LIFE and LIGHT shining in a darkness that couldn’t overcome Him. 

The apostle John says that John the Baptist was sent from God to be a witness of that LIGHT that everyone would believe in Him. 

The apostle John also says sadly about this One,  “He was the true LIGHT. He was in the world that He made, but the world did not know Him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.”  But, hear the joy in the apostle John’s voice when he says, “But to all who DID receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, born not of blood or flesh, or the will of man…but of God.” 

“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.  For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.”

Then, we see the ministry of John the Baptist begin.  He is baptizing repentant seekers in the Jordan River and preaching. “He who comes after me ranks before me because he was before me.” 

“Who are you?” Asked the priests and Levites from Jerusalem.

“I am not the Christ,” the Baptist said.

“What then?  Are you Elijah?

“I am not.

“Are you the Prophet (that Moses prophesied would come)?

“No.”

“Who are you?  We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

And the Baptist answered, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness. Make straight the way of the Lord, as the prophet Isaiah said.” (Isaiah 40:3)

“Why are you baptizing if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” they ask, frustrated.

“I baptize with  water, but among you stands One you do not know, even He who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”

The next day, the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him.  “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!. THIS is He of whom I said, ‘after me, comes a man who ranks before me, because He was before me.’

“I, myself, did not know him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’  And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

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Next, we see Jesus calling his first disciples. Two of the Baptist’s own followers follow Jesus after the Baptist exclaims, “Behold the Lamb of God.”  One of them, Andrew, runs to tell his brother Simon Peter that they have “found the Messiah,” and he comes.  Then Philip of Bethsaida believes and gets his friend, Nathaniel, who is initially skeptical, but after meeting Jesus, he also believes.  “Rabbi, you are the Son of God. You are the King of Israel.”