Thursday, December 16, 2010

Prelude to Christmas – Birth of John the Baptist pt. 2

8) Why did God select Zechariah and Elizabeth to be the parents of this special child? Read verse 6-7. They would raise the child in the knowledge and righteousness of God. He would be in an atmosphere of godliness in the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth. Also the fact that they were an older couple with no child may have played a factor. God wanted to bless their faithfulness. Finally, Elizabeth’s relation to Mary, the soon to be mother of Jesus was a factor. The first person Mary goes to after she receives the news from the angel that she will bear God’s Son is Elizabeth. The only person who can relate to Mary’s experience is Elizabeth.
Read Luke 1:57-66

9) Read verse 59. What were Zechariah and Elizabeth’s relatives and friends wanting to do? Name the child Zechariah. What was Elizabeth’s response? No. His name will be John!

10) When they asked Zechariah what was his response? He wrote on a tablet “His name is John!” What happened after he wrote his response? Zechariah could speak. He proceeded to give praise to God.
11) Read verse 66. What did Zechariah and Elizabeth’s friends, family, and neighbors recognize about the child John? The Lord's hand was with him.

In verses 67-75, Zechariah filled with the Holy Spirit prophesies the imminent coming of the Messiah and how he would bring salvation to Israel.12) Read verses 76-79. What did Zechariah have to say about his son? He would prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah by proclaiming salvation through forgiveness of sins. John’s role was to be the Opening Act for the Main Event. He was to lay the foundation that Jesus would build upon. John was to get the people focused on the coming of Jesus.

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