John • The passed-over passages 1a • John the Baptist • The miracle of his birth

Steve Schott
5 days ago
11 min read

Updated: 3 days ago

► Previously in John we looked at the 7 signs recorded, and referenced in John 20:30-31, where it says

30 Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

► We also explored the 7 "I AM" statements that do not always correspond to the signs, but also add definition to the nature and purposes of Jesus.

► Links to all of these posts can be found at the end of this posting

► Now I'm going to turn my attention to what I call the "passed-over" passages, Those passages from chapter 1 to chapter 12 which I haven't previously dealt with.

► After that we'll deal with chapters 13 to 19, which I call "the end of it all". These chapters deal with a single 24-hour period, that starts with the last supper in the upper room, and takes us all the way to the cross and the tomb.

► And then we'll end with chapters 20 and 21 that I call "the new beginning".

► Today we are going to begin dealing with John the Baptist. We'll actually break this up into several sections, and will also be looking at the other gospels to give us more information.

► We'll break it into 3 parts...

1 → the Miracle of his birth

2 → the Mission of his ministry

3 → the Madness of his death

John the Baptist • The Miracle of his birth

► We start today actually in the Gospel of Luke. I wanted to cover this topic, because I felt that it would be incomplete to review the life of John the Baptist with only the limited portion available to us in the gospel of John.

► Luke, the only Gentile writer amongst those credited with the authorship of the New Testament, began his telling of the life of Jesus, with an explanation of the why and what-for of his writing...

Luke 1:1-4 → 1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, 2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, 3 it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; 4 so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught.

► I personally believe that Luke wrote his account during the time of Paul's house arrest while he was in Caesarea. It makes sense, since Luke states that he was getting his info from "eyewitnesses and servants of the word...", that it would have been most convenient to get those interviews while he was relatively close in proximity to Israel. It would have been so much harder if he had tried to obtain that info while Paul was in Rome.

► I also think that in the telling of the birth of Jesus, Luke actually starts his story with the angelic visit to Zacharias and Elizabeth, an old and very righteous couple who had never been able to have children.

Luke 1:5-17 → 5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; and he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 They were both righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and requirements of the Lord. 7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years.

8 Now it happened that while he was performing his priestly service before God in the appointed order of his division, 9 according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And the whole multitude of the people were in prayer outside at the hour of the incense offering. 11 And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense. 12 Zacharias was troubled when he saw the angel, and fear gripped him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John. 14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God. 17 It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

►The angel informed them that their son, John, would be a "forerunner" for the LORD, who was going to come to the people of Israel.

Luke 1:18-20 → 18 Zacharias said to the angel, “How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 The angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

► Zacharias is confused, partly because of the advanced age of both himself and his wife. He asks "How will I know for certain?", to which the angel, who identifies himself as "Gabriel-", informs Zach that he won't be able to speak until John is born.

Luke 1:21-23 → 21 The people were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22 But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he kept making signs to them, and remained mute. 23 When the days of his priestly service were ended, he went back home.

► When Zacharias came out of the inner temple, which is immediately outside of the holy of holies, everyone was weirded out because Zach couldn't speak.

Luke 1:24-25 → 24 After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying, 24 “This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men.”

► When Zacharias was done with his temple service, and the rules of celibacy no longer applied, Elizabeth became pregnant and stayed house bound for the first 5 months of her term. And she praised God for allowing her to carry a child.

► Meanwhile, back on the ranch... Luke 1:26-38 describes the events of the announcement to Mary of her impending pregnancy with Jesus, pronounced to her by Gabriel who also had visited Zacharias, to which she is astonished, being a virgin.

► Also in Matthew 1:18-25, the "angel of the LORD" visits Joseph and tells him to continue with his marriage to Mary, because she is carrying Jesus, conceived by the Holy Spirit, and "He will save His people from their sins."

• This is especially weird as in the Old Testament, the "angel of the LORD" is the pre-incarnate Jesus. So Jesus comes to His future step-dad, and tells him of His own birth! I had never thought of this until today. The irony!!!

► So as the story progresses, Mary (the mother of Jesus) comes to see Elizabeth (the mother of John) at her home. Both women pregnant. Both children destined to serve God and the people in unimaginable ways.

Luke 1:39-45 → 39 Now at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah, 40 and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.”

► Having never been pregnant (NO, I don't really care what they say on the news, men can't have babies; it's a DNA thing), I can't even begin to imagine what it's like for an expectant mother to feel her child moving within her. Sounds like something right out of a sci-fi movie (Alien?). But in this scenario, not only did Elizabeth's baby move, it "leaped in her womb"! Even while he was still inside of his mother, John, upon hearing Mary speaking, knew that Jesus was in the room and reacted to Him! Even Elizabeth pipes up and blesses Mary AND her Baby!

Luke 1:56 → 56 And Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her home.

► Mary give praise to God in Luke 1:46-55, then stays with Elizabeth for 3 months, leaving just before John is born.

Luke 1:57-66 → 57 Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had displayed His great mercy toward her; and they were rejoicing with her.

59 And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him Zacharias, after his father. 60 But his mother answered and said, “No indeed; but he shall be called John.” 61 And they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by that name.” 62 And they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called. 63 And he asked for a tablet and wrote as follows, “His name is John.” And they were all astonished. 64 And at once his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak in praise of God. 65 Fear came on all those living around them; and all these matters were being talked about in all the hill country of Judea. 66 All who heard them kept them in mind, saying, “What then will this child turn out to be?” For the hand of the Lord was certainly with him.

► Now the baby is born, everyone is really excited, and on the eight day, at his circumcision ceremony (a little privacy PLEASE), apparently that's when names were officially given (I wonder when girls got their names?), and the people assumed that they were going to name him Zacharias, after his father. Elizabeth countered and said "he shall be called John." ("John" by the way, in Greek, means "Jehovah is a gracious giver"). The people were perplexed as to why she would call him that and appealed to Zacharias. Remember, he hasn't been able to speak since that time in the temple, over 9 months before. Verse 62 says "they made signs to his father, as to what he wanted him called." (like he couldn't hear). Z wrote on a tablet (not a computer; like a mini chalk board) and said "his name is John" And at once Zach could speak again. Everyone started to freak out. "Who is this kid?"

► At this point Zacharias begins to speak, and like he's making up for lost time, he exudes a lengthy prophecy, which is mostly about Jesus, who isn't even born yet. You can read that part here in Luke 1:67-75. But he goes on, and talks about what John's role is going to be.

Luke 1:76-79 → 76 “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;

For you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS;

77 To give to His people the knowledge of salvation

By the forgiveness of their sins,

78 Because of the tender mercy of our God,

With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us,

79 TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH,

To guide our feet into the way of peace.”

► That's a pretty heavy burden to put on a newborn, but as we look into John's ministry, we'll actually see that he does just that, and does it so well, that the authorities will be concerned about the impact of his teaching and baptizing among the people of Israel.

Luke 1:80 → 80 And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

► Luke apparently thought this information about the miraculous event of John's conception and birth, while not quite as miraculous as that of Jesus, was important enough to document. Matthew didn't comment on it, but his focus was on an extensive amount of detail about Jesus' early life, and all the politics involved at the time, making His entry into the world a dangerous one. Mark just jumps right in when John was already established in ministry, and Jesus was just beginning His. In the gospel of John (different John... the Apostle, brother of James), JTB (John the Baptist (what he did, not his denomination)) is intertwined with the work of "the Word", whom we know to be Jesus. And as we look forward, we will see just exactly what was John's message and how he interacted with Him whom the message was about.

► In looking at John's being appointed to a specific ministry, before he was even conceived, I'm seeing a parallel to those who believe in Christ today. Before we were even saved, some would say before time began, we were ordained if you will, to serve Jesus. John was to be a mouthpiece, a person to "give to His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins,...". That is ultimately what we are also called to. We are to be a light to the world, pointing them to Jesus.

► I pray that I might be able to live in a way that will make the message of the gospel have credence. Lord help me display a living faith, that will lead others to the Savior.

The Signs

► Sign 1, Water to Wine, Jesus is the master of the ELEMENTS → John 2:1-12

► Sign 2, Nobleman's Son, Jesus is the master over DISTANCE → John 4:46-54

► Sign 3, Lame Man at Bethesda, Jesus is the master over TIME → John 5:1-18

► Sign 4, Feeding of 5,000+, Jesus is the master over DIMENSION → John 6:1-15

► Sign 5, Jesus walks on water, Jesus is the master over NATURE → John 6:15-21

► Sign 6, The Man Born Blind, Jesus is the master over HISTORY → John 9:1-41

► Sign 7, The Raising of Lazarus, Jesus is the master over DEATH → John 11:1-46

The "I AM" Statements

► I AM #1 • I AM the Bread of Life - Jesus ELIMINATES HUNGER → John 6:26-58

► I AM #2 • I AM the Light of the World - Jesus ELIMINATES DARKNESS → John 8:12-9:5

► I AM #3 • I AM the Door of the Sheep - Jesus ELIMINATES DEATH & DESTRUCTION → John 10:1-10