+DEV+ The First Baby: John

Date: December 8, 2011 12:37 AM
Topic: +DEV+ The First Baby: John

The First Baby: John

"And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation..." (Luke 1:76-77a).
Scripture Focus: Luke 1: 57-80

How long would Zechariah be unable to speak? After hundreds of years of silence from God to His people, now the priest himself had been silenced! When his speech was restored, praise flowed like a river for the covenant-keeping God. No trace of doubt remained. Confident in the Lord and upright, he raised John to be strong in spirit (vs. 80) and groomed for his task: preparing the people for Jesus.

Elizabeth understood the supporting role - not the starring role - her baby would play. She happily submitted to that, acknowledging the honor Mary had been given. The strength and humility fostered in John through his parents shaped him into the adult who would stand up to the sway of popularity and declare, "I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him...[The] joy is mine...he must become greater; I must become less" (John 3:28-30).

Let your heart be prepared for the Christ-child who entered our sorrowing world for the joy set before Him: you and me!

Insight: As thoughts of Christmas preparations come, joyfully prepare to extol the covenant-keeping God who has not forgotten a single one of us.