The Child John The Baptist

John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus Christ. He came preaching repentance to the people. His life was also a miracle. His mother was Elisabeth, which was barren. His father was Zacharias, both well stricken in years. But God had a plan! 

{Luke 1:5-80}

There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron and her name was Elisabeth.

And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless

And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren and they both were now well stricken in years

And it came to pass, that while, he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course

There appeared unto Zacharias an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the alter of incense

The angel said unto him, Fear not Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear a son and thou shalt call his name John

And thou shalt have joy and gladness and many shall rejoice at his birth

For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink: and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb

And many of the children of Israel shall turn to the Lord their God

And he shall go before Him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord

And Zacharias said unto the angel. whereby shall I know this? For I am an old man and my wife well stricken in years

And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to show these glad tidings

And behold thou shalt be dumb and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season

And it came to pass that as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house

And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived and hid herself five months saying,

Thus hath the Lord dealt with me, to take away my reproach among men

After the angel appeared unto Mary, she went with haste into a city of Judah and entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elisabeth

And it came to pass that when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the baby John leaped in her womb and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost

And she spoke with a loud voice and said, Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb

And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

For lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy

And Mary abode with Elisabeth about three months and returned to her own house

Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered and she brought forth a son

And it came to pass that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father

And his mother answered and said, NOT SO, but he shall be called JOHN

And they said unto her, there is none of thy kindred that is called by this name

And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called

And he asked for a writing table and wrote saying, His name is John and they marveled all

And his mouth was opened immediately and his tongue loosed and he spoke and praised God

Zacharias spoke to the people concerning the child John. He told them God would use John as the prophet of the Highest. He said John shall go before the Lord to prepare His ways. To give to the people knowledge of salvation by the remission of of their sins. Through the tender mercy of our God, he prepared the way for all people, of all time to come to repentance. God confirmed the coming Messiah through Elisabeth and Zacharias. The bible tells us that the child John grew and waxed strong in spirit and was in the desert till the day came to show himself unto Israel.