Luke 1:11 – 17

John’s Birth Announced to Zacharias (Part 2)

11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.

15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.

16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.

17 He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Zacharias was burning incense on the altar of incense which was in the first holy room of the temple, as he was facing the altar an angel appeared standing to the right of the altar.

Ordinary people were not allowed into the holy room of which Zacharias was working.

Usually when on earth the angels appeared looking like ordinary men.

Thus he was bothered by the individual who appeared there beside him.

Zacharias and Elizabeth had desired to have children since they became a young married couple. As righteous individuals they had prayed to God for the blessing of having a son. The angel acknowledges that God had heard those prayers and would grant their wishes now. Elizabeth would conceive and carry a son and his name would be John.

Of course Zacharias and Elizabeth would experience joy and gladness at the birth of a son in the latter years of their lives, but many others would also be made happy at the result of his birth. He continues to explain what he means.

This son, John the baptist would be great in the sight of God, he would conduct himself as a Nazarite under the law of Moses, (Numbers 6:1 – 4)

His entire life would be lived under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

John would cause many of the people of the children of Israel to repent of their sins and prepare themselves for the appearance of their Messiah. This was prophesied in Malachi 4:6

John was to be a prophet with as much strength and responsibilities as Elijah the prophet of the old testament. John would return the people to having their hearts and minds dedicated to following the Lord. He would prepare a following who would be the basis for the kingdom of which Jesus would be establishing on earth and heaven. He prepared them by having them repent of their sins and baptizing them for remission of sins.