The Prophecy of John the Baptist
Introduction to the Gospel of Luke, Lk 1:1-4
Luke wrote to Theophilus, the same person to whom he wrote the Acts of the Apostles, Acts 1:1. He wrote “those things which are most surely believed among us”, v.1. That is, what he wrote in his gospel are reliable and verifiable truths. He wanted Theophilus to “know the certainty of those things”.
He corroborated the declarations of others concerning the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, v.1. These accounts were from “eyewitnesses”, v.2, and “ministers of the word”, v.2.
Luke testified to “having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first”, v.3. His gospel takes us “from the very first” (the prophecy of John the Baptist) to the ascension of Jesus Christ, Acts 1:1-2.
These things Luke wrote are in chronological “order”, v.3.
The prophecy of John and Elisabeth’s conception, Lk 1:5-25
John’s Parents, Lk 1:5-7
John’s father was Zacharias. In the order of the priests, he was from Abia, 1 Chr 24:6, 10. His mother was Elisabeth. She was also a descendant of Aaron, Lev 21:13-14 (of his own people).
They were both righteous and blameless, like Paul Phil 3:6. These are characteristic of people God chose to use… Enoch, Noah, Abraham, etc. She was barren like Sarah and well stricken in years. So, if she and Zacharias were not too old to bear children, they were close to running out of time.
Gabriel’s appearance, Lk 1:8-12
The priests took turns serving in their courses, v.8, and they had a variety of responsibilities when they served. Zacharias’s duty was to burn incense in the temple of the Lord. There was an altar for this purpose called the altar of incense, v.11. While Zacharias was alone in the temple, the multitude were praying outside. That’s when Gabriel, v.19, the angel of the Lord, appeared to him standing on the right side of the altar, v.11. The sight of the angel caused Zacharias to fear, v.12.
Gabriel’s prophecy, Lk 1:13-17
The angel told Zacharias to fear not. Then he announced three things: “thy prayer is heard”, “Elisabeth shall bear thee a son”, and “thou shalt call his name John”.
Then the angel proclaimed ten prophecies concerning his birth, his life, and his ministry:
- Thou shalt have joy and gladness
- Many shall rejoice at his birth, v.58
- He shall be great in the sight of the Lord, Lk 7:28
- He shall drink neither wine nor strong drink, Num 6:3
- He shall be filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother’s womb, v.41
- Many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God, Matt 3:5
- He shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, Matt 11:12-14,
- He shall turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, Mal 4:6
- He shall turn the disobedient to the wisdom of the just
- He shall make ready a people prepared for the Lord, Mal 3:1, Mk 1:2
Zacharias’s doubt, Lk 1:18-22
Zacharias asked Gabriel, “Whereby shall I know this”? And then he made an excuse for his unbelief (v.20). He said, “for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years”. Of course, Zacharias, being a Jew, was looking for a sign, 1 Cor 1:22. However, the word of the angel should have been sufficient, v.19.
Because of his unbelief, he was made dumb until after John was born, v.59-64. When he came out of the temple speechless, after tarrying beyond the normal time, the people perceived that he had seen a vision, v.21-22.
Elisabeth’s conception, Lk 1:23-25
When Zacharias’s days of service were complete, he went home and Elisabeth conceived, after which she hid herself five months. She said that the Lord took away her reproach among men. This is what Rachel said when Joseph was born, Gen 30:23-24. And this is the reproach that Hannah felt in 1 Sam 1:6. The barren womb is never satisfied, Prov 30:15-16.
To study the next lesson, see Mary With Gabriel and Elisabeth.