Anchor My Faith

Title: Prophecy Concerning John (Luke 1:16-17)

In this lesson we will continue to learn more about John. The angel, who is speaking to Zechariah, continues by saying: “And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God” (Luke 1:16 ESV). John was to be set aside for a special assignment from God and was filled with the Spirit to enable him to accomplish his mission. That mission, as we will see later, was to preach repentance to God’s people, the Jews, and baptize those who repent. This change of direction from their own evil ways was not to Jehovah the Father, but was to the Lord their God.

Looking back to the beginning of our study, we learned about Word who was with God and was God and who was to become flesh and dwell among us. It is he who was to be sent by the Father to establish the Kingdom of God. It is he who John will, through his work, turn the hearth of many. The Word is to become the Lord their God, Jesus Christ.

How will John accomplish this? The angle  continues by explaining: “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” (Luke 1:17 ESV). Many years ago, Isaiah spoke of a voice crying out saying: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God” (Isaiah 40:3). A baby boy to be born to parents well beyond the age and physical condition to conceive and give birth and named by the angle, with the prophetic message, to be named John, will stir the attention of the people concerning the coming Messiah. John will be raised up to go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah.

John is here described to be similar to Elijah. They were much of the same spirit and disposition, and of like power, life, and zeal in religion. They both served in the wilderness with similar habits and dress and both were considered restorers of religion. Like Elijah, John will reprove the vices of those in leadership, and will stand with those warm in zeal for true religion and are suffering persecution as a result.

John is described as turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, a reference to Malachi 4:6. The idea here is that John through his preaching will be an instrument in turning fathers with their children, and children with their fathers to the Lord. Both fathers and children will be converted, in fact people of every age and status in life will be included.

It is believed that the disobedient mentioned here is to include both the Jew and Gentile. We will see this struggle to include the Gentile much later in our study. John will begin to stir up people, pointing out their sin and need of repentance thus paving the way for Jesus to take them to the cross with him in crucifixion and then raised with him to everlasting life.

Prayer

Father, the angel brings much into focus that is going to unfold before us as we study the gospels. It is going to be exciting to see what is done and the order in which it is carried out. With this prophecy laid out by the angel before Zechariah concerning a future son, I wonder what he is thinking. Father, we look forward to the next lesson to learn of his reaction.