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Last Published: 10/27/2008 6:11:44 AM
7. John Who?... (John 1:19)
Posted by:
SeLahGirl on
October 25, 2007 at
2:17PM EST
John who?.....
(John 1:19)
19Now this was John's testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was.
So
here is John. We asked earlier, John who? If we are to consider this
testimony, then we need to have some kind of understanding of who is
speaking. What is his integrity? What is his story? Why should we
consider what he has to say? How did he end up as a key player at this
pivotal moment of history?
Obviously, he was someone unique,
someone that was able to appear in the rural areas and to cause the
hearts of men to examine themselves before God. Not only to examine
themselves inwardly but to actually get up and do something outwardly
to show that something had seriously changed in them.
He was
so charismatic, so convincing and thought-provoking in the things that
he said and taught that word of him spread and crowds gathered.
Naturally, the church leaders of the day are going to investigate this
man, especially when their congregations are buzzing about him and his
teachings.
Many in John's day were curious about him, much
like we are today. Who was this man? Some in his day had - no doubt -
already heard about him before he was even born. His birth was
foretold, and strange and miraculous events happened as his mother
carried him during her pregnancy. Many wondered what kind of child this
would be. What kind of man -- even tho his mother went into seclusion
and the pregnancy was kept as quiet as possible.
And now here
he was speaking with such passion, with such conviction, with such an
anointing that cut thru the religion of the day straight to the hearts
of men and women.
John was the cousin of Jesus.
To
fully understand the connection and the miraculous events of his birth,
we must divert to Luke, chapter 1. Luke was a physician who lived
around or just after the time of Christ. He set about interviewing the
people that had witnessed the events, and being the man of science and
faith that he was, he wanted to record a factual record of all that
happened. God inspired him, and the Holy Spirit led him to pen the most
detailed of all the Gospels in Scripture. Here is what he said about
the birth of John, cousin of Jesus.
(Luke 1:1-45, 56-66, 80)
1Many
have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been
fulfilled among us, 2just as they were handed down to us by those who
from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. 3Therefore,
since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the
beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for
you, most excellent Theophilus, 4so that you may know the certainty of
the things you have been taught.
(The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold)
5In
the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who
belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was
also a descendant of Aaron. 6Both of them were upright in the sight of
God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly.
7But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were
both well along in years.
8Once when Zechariah's division was
on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9he was chosen by lot,
according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the
Lord and burn incense. 10And when the time for the burning of incense
came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
11Then
an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the
altar of incense. 12When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was
gripped with fear. 13But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid,
Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear
you a son, and you are to give him the name John. 14He will be a joy
and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15for
he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or
other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even
from birth. 16Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the
Lord their God. 17And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and
power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children
and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a
people prepared for the Lord."
18Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years."
19The
angel answered, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I
have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20And
now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this
happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at
their proper time."
21Meanwhile, the people were waiting for
Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22When he
came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a
vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained
unable to speak.
23When his time of service was completed, he
returned home. 24After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for
five months remained in seclusion. 25"The Lord has done this for me,"
she said. "In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my
disgrace among the people."
The Birth of Jesus Foretold
26In
the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in
Galilee, 27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a
descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28The angel went to
her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with
you."
29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered
what kind of greeting this might be. 30But the angel said to her, "Do
not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31You will be with
child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.
32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The
Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33and he will
reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
34"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"
35The
angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of
the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be
called the Son of God. 36Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have
a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her
sixth month. 37For nothing is impossible with God."
38"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her....
(Mary Visits Elizabeth)
56Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
The Birth of John the Baptist
57When
it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son.
58Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great
mercy, and they shared her joy.
59On the eighth day they came
to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his
father Zechariah, 60but his mother spoke up and said, "No! He is to be
called John."
61They said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who has that name."
62Then
they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name
the child. 63He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone's
astonishment he wrote, "His name is John." 64Immediately his mouth was
opened and his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak, praising God.
65The neighbors were all filled with awe, and throughout the hill
country of Judea people were talking about all these things. 66Everyone
who heard this wondered about it, asking, "What then is this child
going to be?" For the Lord's hand was with him.....
(Zechariah's Song)
80And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel.
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