Comfort, Comfort My People by Page CXVI

https://youtu.be/2G_EqekJsDU  (really listen to the words)

The What of Christmas:  John was born to prepare the way for Messiah  

Surprised by his parents, Elizabeth and Zacharias, this baby miracle leads us to our next question.  What kind of child will this be?  (Luke 1:66)  

The next question of the nativity actually was asked by hundreds.  Hundreds of friends, relatives, and colleagues of Zacharias, who served as a priest to the Jewish nation in Jerusalem.  Zacharias had not said a single word since his turn to burn incense–more than a year!  God struck him speechless!  (Luke 1:20)  I think we could all use a bit of this!  A year of forced thinking not talking.  A year of silence, that when broken, resulted in PRAISE!  Zacharias is praising God for not just being able to speak but for a gift given and the part he and his wife Elizabeth were asked to play in the coming advent of the Son of God.  

The Gift -John

The gift?  A son called John “who will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink.  He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb.  And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.  He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”  (Luke 1:13, 15 17)  

Two Baby Boys

There are two miracle babies in the Nativity story.  One is born to an old man and woman who are well beyond childbearing years (much like the story of Abraham and Sarah the Father of the nation of Israel) and the other babe is the long-expected, virgin-born Messiah.  As it turns out, the two babies are cousins.  (Genesis 18:11 and Luke 1:7)

“What kind of child will this be?” A child upon whom the hand of the Lord rested. (Acts 11:21)  This child would grow to fulfill his father’s Holy Spirit inspired prophecy: “called the prophet of the Highest; for you (John) will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on high has visited us; to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”  (Malachi 3:1; Matthew 3:3; Luke 1:76-79)

Elizabeth’s Surprising Honor

This baby even while in utero (about 6-7 months) recognized the Presence of the Lord  and when he heard Messiah’s mother’s voice “leaped in her womb and Elizabeth (his mother) was filled with the Holy Spirit,” and she (Elizabeth) spoke a word of blessing over Mary, the mother of Jesus who was only a month or so pregnant recognizing she carried the Promised One and called her “the mother of my Lord.”   A tiny (less than two pounds) unborn baby recognizes the Presence of the Lord-made flesh who weighs only ounces.  Think about that!!!

Having the Holy Spirit from a mother’s womb is no small statement.  What does that even mean?   The Holy Spirit is called “the Promise of My Father,” by Jesus.  John the Baptizer, as he came to be called, said this about himself, “I am ‘the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the LORD,’ quoting Isaiah 40:1-3.  John was given divine insight into his life, his purpose, his mission, and who he was in the scheme of redemption.  He understood from his earliest days he was prepared and sent by God to point to the long-awaited Messiah.  

Holy Spirit’s Role

The role of the Holy Spirit is to give witness of Jesus as the only begotten Son of God, ALWAYS!  (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8)  As John the disciple records, “John (the Baptizer) bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, ‘This was He of whom I said, He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.”  And of His fullness we have all received and grace for grace.   No one has seen God at any time.  The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.  It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.” (John 1:15-18, 27)  Read that again very slowly and “hang on every word!”  This is pregnant with meaning!

The Promised Announcement

John was a special child because he would be announcing to people weary of waiting that the Promise was coming!!  He began proclaiming this message from his elderly mother’s long barren womb with a jump and a message spoken through her to a very young pregnant girl:  “Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.”  (Luke 1:45)

What kind of child will YOU be?

What kind of child will this be?  A child known by God, ordained by God, and used by the three in One God. But this doesn’t really answer the question.  The answer to “What kind of child will this be?” is answered by John’s life.  He was willing to participate with God in the divine plan He had for John.   What kind of child will you be?  This is a question we must all answer.  Will I allow the Spirit of Christ to live in me and use me for His purpose?   What better time to answer this question than this Christmas season.  Will you make room in your heart for Him to write His story?  Like John the Baptist, you will lead others to see Jesus!  I promise.  It is the only result that can happen when you invite the Spirit of Jesus to come rule and reign.

 

Make Room by Casting Crowns with Matt Maher

Yvonne Hess Jones