The Old Testament is filled with types, people and things which have importance for the Covenant of Moses, or Old Covenant, but which properly prepare for and foreshadow the perfect fulfillment of some spiritual reality in the New or Christian Covenant. Errors in reconciling the calendars and events of the ancient world, when dating from Christ’s birth was adopted in 525 A.D., accounts for Christ being born B.C., rather than 1 A.D. Scholars disagree as to the exact year in which Jesus was born, but it was probably between 6 and 4 B.C., though possibly as late as 1 B.C. John the Baptist was born about six months before Our Lord. It was miraculous because Elizabeth was past her child-bearing years, and she had been unable to conceive even in her younger years. To give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, When the day shall dawn upon us from on high To give knowledge of salvation to his people 1:76-70),Īnd you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High įor you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, In Luke we read that filled with the Holy Spirit, praising God (Lk. This suggests they were likely at least 50 years of age. Luke records variously that they were “advanced in years” (Lk. (Luke 1:57-66,80) How old were Zechariah and Elizabeth when John the Baptist was born? … And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness till the day of his manifestation to Israel. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all marveled. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child and they would have named him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said, “Not so he shall be called John.” And they said to her, “None of your kindred is called by this name.” And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he would have him called. And her neighbors and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. Now the time came for Elizabeth to be delivered, and she gave birth to a son. He remained mute throughout Elizabeth’s pregnancy. And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.Īfter these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she hid herself, saying, “Thus the Lord has done to me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.”Īfter the angel appeared to Zechariah, he was muted by God in punishment for his disbelief. And when he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple and he made signs to them and remained dumb. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things come to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”Īnd the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they wondered at his delay in the temple. “I am Gabriel, who stand in the presence of God and I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news. To make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”Īnd Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel answered him, To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,Īnd the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.Īnd he shall drink no wine nor strong drink,Īnd he will be filled with the Holy Spirit,Īnd he will turn many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God,Īnd he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, it fell to him by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah and he had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. We read about the father of John the Baptist in Luke 1:5-25:
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |