Luke 1:11-17 (NIVUK)
11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But 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 call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for 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 before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
We’ve recently remembered Abram and Sarai hearing the unexpected news that they were going to have a child.
Soon we will be celebrating the unexpected birth of Jesus.
Between them, there is another unexpected baby, John the Baptist, whose parents like Abram and Sarai were seemingly too old. His birth marks a turning point in our story, preparing us for the birth of the Messiah.
Father, may we be a little like John, and prepare people to meet Jesus this coming Christmas.
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