The Point of the Gospel

In the Beginning {John}

Jesus (called the Word by John) was with God in the beginning and was that part of God through which all things were made. Jesus became a man, sent by the Father, and lived on the earth. He was life and the light of mankind, shining in the darkness, though people did not always recognize him. Any who believed in His name were given the right to become children of God.

The Conception of John the Baptist {Luke}

When King Herod ruled (a puppet ruler placed there by the Romans), a priest named Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth, faithfully followed God’s commandments and religious laws yet had no children. (In this time period and culture, the inability to have children was often considered a punishment for some wrong doing or at least a commentary on being unworthy of God’s blessings.)

As part of his priestly duties, Zechariah went into the temple to burn incense. The appearance of an angel frightened him. (Only priests were allowed into the inner temple. Worshipers prayed outside.)

“Do not be afraid,” the angel said. “Your prayer has been answered. Elizabeth will bear a son and you shall name him John. The Holy Spirit will dwell in him from birth. (This was unusual. God usually bestowed His Spirit on specific people for finite periods of time.) John will bring many of the people of Israel back to the Lord their God by turning their hearts to moral uprightness, thus preparing them for the Lord.”

“How can my wife and I conceive a child at our age?” Zechariah questioned.

“I am Gabriel,” the angel answered. (A messenger, Gabriel visited Daniel in the Old Testament, chapters eight and nine, as well as Zechariah and Mary.) “I stand in the presence of God and have been sent to tell you this good news. Since you did not believe, you will be unable to talk until what I say comes true.”

Elizabeth became pregnant and rejoiced that the Lord had taken away her disgrace of being barren.

 Next time—writer’s status. I’ll let you know how I’m faring with blog directories. More of The Point of the Gospel next Friday.