Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 294: John the Baptist and God's Will

Good evening, everyone!

Today I read Luke 1.

In today's reading, we learn about Zacharias, the priest, and his wife, Elizabeth. An angel visits Zacharias and tells him that he will have a son, and name him John, and that John will be the one who goes as a forerunner before Jesus. Zacharias does not believe him, and questions the angel, Gabriel. Thus, Zacharias' mouth is closed and he cannot speak.

During the time of Elizabeth's pregnancy, Gabriel also visits Mary, who is engaged to Joseph, a descendant of King David, to tell her that she will conceive and bear a son, whose name will be Jesus. She wonders how this can be, since she is a virgin, but Gabriel explains that the Holy Spirit will come upon her and she will conceive the Son of God.

And then Mary says something rather profound.

Luke 1:38 - And Mary said, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

She declares herself to be a servant of God, and says that He may do with her as He will.

Now that's true submission. How may of us could do the same?

I know. Sometimes we don't like that word. But we are all supposed to submit ourselves unto God. Women and men.

And Mary is a wonderful example of this. She says "I'm Yours, Lord. Do with me as You will."

Then Mary visited Elizabeth, and when Mary touched Elizabeth's belly, John leapt within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and began praising God.

Mary stayed for three months. Soon after she left, it was time for John to be born.

When he was born, Elizabeth made it clear that she wanted him named John, but her neighbors and relatives argued with her since the family had no relatives named John, and wanted to call him Zacharias, after his father. They finally asked Zacharias his opinion, and he wrote on a tablet that the boy's name was John. As soon as he did, he could speak again, and everyone was in awe, knowing that the Lord was with John.

Then Zacharias prophesied about his son, declaring him to be God's prophet.

And so John grew strong and began to live in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to preach and to baptize.

I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Luke 2-3.