John The Baptist Essay
John the Baptist
(Preparing the Way of the Lord)
Setting: Church Small Group
Length of Delivery: One hour for each lesson
Class: NBST 515
Instructor’s Name: Dr. René A. López
Date Submitted: 12/8/2013
OUTLINE
Lesson I: Birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1:5-66)
I. Introduction
II. Zechariah is told about the birth of John (Luke 1:5-25)
A. The parents of John, Zechariah and Elizabeth (Luke 1:5-7)
1. Zechariah is a priest in the Jewish temple (Luke 1:8-10)
B. An angel visits Zechariah in the temple and tells him about his coming son (Luke 1:11-14)
1. John’s requirements and purpose is revealed (Luke 1:16-17)
C. Zechariah doubts the angels prophecy (Luke 1:18-19)
1. Gabriel gives Zechariah …show more content…
According Luke 1:5-25, John’s father, a Levite priest named Zechariah, was selected to perform the burning of incense in the temple. This event would have been a high point in Zechariah’s priestly career. He would be required to enter the Holy Place in order to burn the incense for the Lord. While in the Holy Place, Zechariah discovers an angel of the Lord, who is at the right side of the altar of incense. The angel indentifies himself as Gabriel and provides Zechariah with a prophecy of a son that will be born to his elderly wife Elizabeth. Gabriel was an angel previously mentioned in the Old Testament in the Book of Daniel when he provided explanations to the Prophet Daniel’s vision, as seen in Daniel 8 and 9. The angel describes for Zechariah his son would be great before the Lord, which is undoubtedly alluding to John’s future ministry. Gabriel instructs Zechariah on the requirements for John’s life by stating, “He must not drink wine or strong drink.” This would indicate that John would a Nazirite, because of his abstention from alcohol. John’s purpose is revealed in Luke 1:16-17 when the angel Gabriel states, “he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah.” Gabriel in this statement to Zechariah is indicating that John will be the fulfillment of the prophecy stated in Malachi …show more content…
Elizabeth expresses her surprise by stating, “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.” Elizabeth reveals in this statement she was not looked favorably among people probably because childlessness was understood to be a sign of divine punishment. This can be seen in the Old Testament in verses like Genesis 30:22-23 regarding Rachel’s barrenness and her competition with Leah for Jacob’s favor. Nevertheless, Elizabeth became pregnant just as the angel of the Lord had prophesized. Luke 1:39-40 depicts the first meeting between John and Jesus. Mary visits Elizabeth when she was about six months pregnant, according to Luke’s statement in verse 1:36. The prenatal John leaps for joy during the encounter with the unborn Jesus when he hears the voice of Mary. Elizabeth and the unborn John clearly recognized the messiahship of Jesus even before His
(Preparing the Way of the Lord)
Setting: Church Small Group
Length of Delivery: One hour for each lesson
Class: NBST 515
Instructor’s Name: Dr. René A. López
Date Submitted: 12/8/2013
OUTLINE
Lesson I: Birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1:5-66)
I. Introduction
II. Zechariah is told about the birth of John (Luke 1:5-25)
A. The parents of John, Zechariah and Elizabeth (Luke 1:5-7)
1. Zechariah is a priest in the Jewish temple (Luke 1:8-10)
B. An angel visits Zechariah in the temple and tells him about his coming son (Luke 1:11-14)
1. John’s requirements and purpose is revealed (Luke 1:16-17)
C. Zechariah doubts the angels prophecy (Luke 1:18-19)
1. Gabriel gives Zechariah …show more content…
According Luke 1:5-25, John’s father, a Levite priest named Zechariah, was selected to perform the burning of incense in the temple. This event would have been a high point in Zechariah’s priestly career. He would be required to enter the Holy Place in order to burn the incense for the Lord. While in the Holy Place, Zechariah discovers an angel of the Lord, who is at the right side of the altar of incense. The angel indentifies himself as Gabriel and provides Zechariah with a prophecy of a son that will be born to his elderly wife Elizabeth. Gabriel was an angel previously mentioned in the Old Testament in the Book of Daniel when he provided explanations to the Prophet Daniel’s vision, as seen in Daniel 8 and 9. The angel describes for Zechariah his son would be great before the Lord, which is undoubtedly alluding to John’s future ministry. Gabriel instructs Zechariah on the requirements for John’s life by stating, “He must not drink wine or strong drink.” This would indicate that John would a Nazirite, because of his abstention from alcohol. John’s purpose is revealed in Luke 1:16-17 when the angel Gabriel states, “he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah.” Gabriel in this statement to Zechariah is indicating that John will be the fulfillment of the prophecy stated in Malachi …show more content…
Elizabeth expresses her surprise by stating, “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.” Elizabeth reveals in this statement she was not looked favorably among people probably because childlessness was understood to be a sign of divine punishment. This can be seen in the Old Testament in verses like Genesis 30:22-23 regarding Rachel’s barrenness and her competition with Leah for Jacob’s favor. Nevertheless, Elizabeth became pregnant just as the angel of the Lord had prophesized. Luke 1:39-40 depicts the first meeting between John and Jesus. Mary visits Elizabeth when she was about six months pregnant, according to Luke’s statement in verse 1:36. The prenatal John leaps for joy during the encounter with the unborn Jesus when he hears the voice of Mary. Elizabeth and the unborn John clearly recognized the messiahship of Jesus even before His