The Forerunner of the Savior

December 18, 2016 Background Scripture: Luke 1: 1 – 25, 57 – 80 Lesson Passage: Luke 1:8 – 20 Unlike Mary’s celebration of the announcement that she was chosen by God to give birth to the baby Jesus, Zacharias seemed a bit too skeptical to enjoy such a celebration concerning John the Baptist; Zacharias doubted God’s message. Because he doubted God’s message that was delivered to him of the impending birth of a son to him and his wife, he was made mute and was unable to speak until after the birth of the baby. It would be easy for anyone to be in the frame of mind Zacharias was in considering the circumstances of the situation. Zacharias and his wife, Elizabeth, were very old and childless when the news was delivered to him that he would become a father. The angel announced that the baby to be born to them was the answer to Zacharias’ prayer. However, we are not told when Zacharias prayed that prayer. Was he actually praying that very moment for such a miracle, given their ages, or was this the case of an answered prayer that was delayed but not denied? We don’t know the answer to that question but we do know that this baby was the answer to Zacharias’ prayer. God’s message declared that the child would go in the spirit of Elijah and would be a great person in the Lord’s sight. His ministry would be to prepare God’s people for the coming of the long awaited Messiah. Zacharias’ response to this good news was to ask for a sign so he could be assured. The angel told Zacharias that he was Gabriel and he stands in God’s presence. In other words, an angel from the throne of God being in Zacharias’ presence should be enough proof of the certainty of the promise. Since this was not enough for Zacharias, the sign given to him was that he became mute until the child was born. This brought great astonishment to the community because this all happened while Zacharias was serving in the Holy Place inside the Temple. When Zacharias came out of the Holy Place, he could not speak for the next nine months. This was one of the mysteries surrounding the birth of the forerunner of the Savior. There is a lot of mystery that surrounds the person of John the Baptist. John the Baptist has been a controversial person since the time of his ministry two thousand years ago. Was John the prophet Elijah or the prophet Moses said would come? To both questions, John the Baptist answered he was not. Yet, Jesus said to those who could receive it, John the Baptist was Elijah. As God sent forth the final prophecy of the Old Testament, He promised to send a prophet to make the way plain for the coming Messiah. This forerunner would preach a message of repentance to prepare the hearts of the people for the Savior’s arrival. The forerunner went where the Savior himself would later go. He preached in the desert and the area surrounding the Jordan River. There is no biblical record of John the Baptist preaching in the synagogue or temple. He was a “roughneck” just like Elijah the Tishbite. And he was every bit as bold as Elijah when it came to speaking truth to power. John the Baptist was the forerunner of the Savior. Robert C. Hudson November 21, 2016