LIFE OF CHRIST - PERIOD OF PREPARATION

Two Births Promised:  John and Jesus

-With these promises, the approximate 400 years of silence - that had existed since the time God’s

instructions had last been delivered through Malachi - was now broken.  And, with the broken

silence came precious promises.  John, who would prepare the way for the Lord, was about to be

born.  Then the Lord Himself, Jesus, the Messiah, the One foretold throughout the Old Testament

scriptures would be born.  The time for redemption had drawn nigh.

-John

-Luke 1:5-12 – Gabriel appears to Zacharias

            -Zacharias was a priest and Elisabeth was a descendant of Aaron.  Both were considered

              righteous by God because they were striving to keep His commandments.  They were “now

             well stricken in years” (vs 7) but had no children due to the fact that Elisabeth was barren.

-Luke 1:13-17 – Gabriel’s message

            -The angel told Zacharias that he and Elisabeth would have a son whom they should name John.

             His birth would be an occasion of great rejoicing and his life would be one of great

             significance.

            -John would “make ready a people for the Lord” (vs 17) and “many…shall he turn to the Lord

              their God” (vs 16). 

-Luke 1:18-25

            -Zacharias had a measure of doubt due to his and Elisabeth’s old age and asked Gabriel for

             some type of proof.  Because of his doubt and as a show of proof, Zacharias was stricken dumb.

            -Elisabeth conceived.

-Jesus

-Luke 1:26-38 – Gabriel appears to Mary

            -In the sixth month of Elisabeth’s pregnancy, Gabriel revealed to Mary that she too had found

             favour in the sight of God and would also bear a child.  Her child would be above all others –

             “Jesus”, “Son of the Highest” who would sit upon “the throne of His father David” and would

              reign above all others in “His kingdom”, of which there would “be no end”. 

            -In verse 34, Mary wondered how this could be since she had maintained her virginity. 

              The birth of Jesus would be a miraculous birth in accordance to prophecy written long before.

                        -Isa 7:14

                        -Matt 1:18-25 – Joseph, to whom Mary was engaged, was troubled by Mary’s pregnancy.

                         He knew that he had not been with Mary and therefore felt she was guilty of wrongdoing.

                         As a result, he was planning to “put her away privily”. (see Deut 22 & 24).  However, an

                         angel revealed the truth of the situation to Joseph and he remained with Mary.

                        -Notice that the angel appealed to the prophecy of the scripture in his explanation to        

                         Joseph.

-Luke 1:39-56 – Mary visits Elisabeth

            -When Mary greeted Elisabeth, John leaped “for joy” within the womb.  Then Elisabeth was

              filled with the Holy Spirit and addressed the honor bestowed upon Mary to be the one to give

              birth to Jesus.  Notice the honor was given, not because of the attributes of Mary, but because

              of the fact that she was carrying the “Lord”.  Unfortunately, many have put so much emphasis on

              Mary that they are distracted from the Lord.  It is interesting and important to note Mary’s

              reaction on this occasion.  She immediately gave the glory to God – putting the emphasis where

              it belonged.

            -vs 46 - magnify – (Clarke) – “signifies to celebrate with words, to extol with praises. This is the

                        only way in which God can be magnified, or made great; for, strictly speaking, nothing can

                        be added to God, for he is infinate and eternal; therefore the way to magnify him is to show

                        forth and celebrate those acts in which he has manifested his greatness.”  (John 12:45)

      -Mary spoke regarding God’s mercy in providing for the spiritual needs of the people as had

        been promised long before to Abraham.

-Luke 1:57-66 – John is Born

-The birth of John was an occasion of great rejoicing.  When the people urged John’s parents to name

him Zacharias, both refused.  Elisabeth said, “he shall be called John” and Zacharias wrote “His

name is John”.

-Zacharias’ speech was restored and he immediately praised God.  Word of these happenings began

to spread.  Zachrias spoke in regards to the fulfillment of God’s promises which had been spoken to

Abraham and revealed through the prophets – God’s mercy and redemption.  The time for fulfillment

had come.

-Notice John’s specific purpose:  “And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou

shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; to give knowledge of salvation unto his

people by the remission of their sins,” (vs 76-77).  What a significant and important purpose!