Knowing The Word in Luke 1:8-17, The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

Most Jews during Jesus’ day believed that the Holy Spirit had not been active in Israel since the last prophet, Malachi. That an angel of the Lord appears in the temple to Zechariah, announcing that God has heard his prayer to have a child, means the Lord has returned to his people. Zechariah’s son is expected to play a key role in the saving purposes of God.

8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been 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 before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will 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 and he will 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 for the Lord a people prepared.”

Father, thank you for the gift of children and that you hear our prayers and act upon them. [Write down a list of answered prayers and give thanks to God.]