Life of Christ - Birth Of John The Baptist

Lesson Plan:
1. Birth of John the Baptist (vs 57-66)
2. Zacharias" Hymn of Praise (vs 67-70)
3. A Vision of the Redemption It Brings - Deliverance from Enemies (vs 71-74)
4. The Forerunner is Born (vs 75-77)
5. A Vision of His Work - To Give Knowledge of Salvation (vs 78-80)
6. John's Schools, Schoolmasters & Training (v 80)
7. Conclusion

Lesson Setting:
Time: John was probably born in the spring or early summer of 5 B.C.
Place: In one of the smaller cities outside Jerusalem, "a city of Judaea in the hill country." In young manhood he went into the wilderness of Judah probably, but doubtless in any one place.

1. Birth of John the Baptist In due time John the Baptist was born. No blaze or prodigy, sign or wonder marked the event. But the world has been different ever since.

v 59 ... “And they called,” not merely ‘they wished to call,’ but literally ‘they began to call,’ or ‘were calling’ “him Zacharias, after the name of his father,” which was a perfectly natural custom.

v 60 ... “His mother answered ... he shall be called John,” ‘the gift of God’ or ‘God is gracious,’ both expressing John’s mission to the world.

v 62 ... “Made signs,” because Zacharias had been dumb since the announcement of the angel.

v 63 ... “A writing table,” a tablet covered with wax on which one could write with a pointed instrument.

v 64 ... “And his mouth was opened immediately ... and he spake” His dumbness had been sent as a result of his doubt and unbelief. Now as soon as he shows that he believes and obeys the heavenly messenger, “his tongue is loosed” and he breaks forth into a song of praise. Praise is the natural fruit of faith.

vs 65, 66 ... “And fear came on all,” the awe which comes upon us when we feel ourselves in the presence of any unexpected working of God’s marvelous power; such as an eclipse of the sun or a blazing comet in the evening sky.

Luke records five songs ... the song of Elizabeth, the song of Mary, the song of Zacharias and later on, the song of the angels and the song of Simeon. Two were by men and two by women and one by angels. Out of the daily round of the common life of these men and women as from wintry fields, the new life and hopes from heaven like the spring-time sun caused to burst out the flowers of musical song. It is noticeable that the great spiritual revivals of religion have been accompanied by a revival of song. The new life is so inspiring and joyful that it bursts out into song as sunlit streams from a fountain. The blessings, hopes and aspirations of Christianity kindle the coals of common life into song and poetry. And what is this but earth’s prelude or rehearsal for the heavenly song as all nations, kindred’s, people and tongues falling down before the Lamb in the midst of the throne, sing, Salvation unto our God, which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.

A Hymn of Praise: When speech was restored to Zacharias (v 64) this song broke forth from his lips as metal flows from the crucible in which it has been melted the moment an outlet is made for it. It was like the bursting forth of the sunshine through the departing storm; like the advent of the flowers of spring after a dreary winter.

v 67 ... “Filled” with the Holy Ghost. During the months that Zacharias was dumb he must have been reading and meditating on the Scriptures as we learn from the fact that almost every sentence of his hymn has its parallel in Old Testament prophecy and song. The Holy Spirit filled his soul and guided him into the truth of God. The hymn was doubtless composed during this time of seclusion while he practiced the presence of God.

v 67 ... “Prophesied,” spoke forth the message God had given him. The Promised Time Has Come:

v 68 ... “Blessed be the Lord.” To bless God is not merely to acknowledge and proclaim His infinite and eternal blessedness, but to express our joy and delight in it, our desire that it may continue, and our gladness that God reigns. It shows our perfect sympathy with God and His Kingdom.

v 68 ... “God of Israel.” The God worshiped by Israel, the one who had revealed Himself to them in a special manner and guided their career. He is never a tribal God of Israel as some might say, but always the rightful God and Creator of all men.

v 68 ... “He hath visited.” Making Himself known by special acts after a long while of waiting.

v 68 ... “And wrought redemption,” paid a ransom, a great price for their deliverance. It cost a great price to redeem men from the power of sin back into the kingdom of their Father in heaven. The long patient efforts of God, the coming of His Son into the world, His toilsome life and His painful death; the labors and sufferings of those who have devoted their lives and died martyris’ deaths to bring the world into the Kingdom of God.

v 69 ... “A horn of salvation.” The resistless instrument of salvation; a metaphor taken from the horn of a bull or buffalo, a terrible weapon and instrument of power. It is said that a wild buffalo is the most dangerous of all wild beasts, because of its horns.

v 69 ... “In the house of his servant David.” The mighty Deliverer who was to bring this salvation was to belong to the family of David.

v 70 ... “As he (God) spake by the mouth of his holy prophets.” The prophets uttered what God would speak to man. When we read their words, we are reading God’s words. These prophecies have been made...

v 70 ... “since the world began,” not only by words but by deeds and the guidance of history.

v 71 ... “Salvation from our enemies.” From all those literal and political as well as spiritual enemies, which prevented them from enjoying all the privileges and blessings of the Kingdom of God, and from realizing the ideals and reaching the goal which has been promised by God. They were subject to the Romans, instead of having a king of their own. They were oppressed by rulers and tax-gatherers. The emperor was worshiped as God, and at one time the governor of Judea insisted on placing his image in the Temple. Herod was an alien, and abounded in cruelties and arbitrary exactions. Their land was in an almost chronic state of dissension. It was impossible for them to be an ideal nation with such enemies ruling over them. But chiefly their enemies were spiritual enemies. Bad men ruling the church, perverters of the truth, opposers of Christ when He came; principalities and powers of evil; worldly principles, maxims, customs, sinful habits, lusts of the flesh, the pride of life, selfishness, unbelief, bad temper, and the whole catalog of the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:20, 21; and all the enemies that grow out of them, as sickness, poverty, pain, death.

v 71 ... “And from the hand of all that hate us.” The evil workers always hate those who interfere with their doings. Covenant Blessings: “To perform the mercy promised to our fathers” (v 72). Lit., ‘To show mercy toward our fathers,’ by keeping the promises made to them, thus exalting their memories, and proving their truth.

v 72 ... “To remember his holy covenant.” A compact, agreement or promise with conditions to be fulfilled. What this covenant was is defined in the next verses. It was a holy covenant, because everything about it was holy and good ... its origin, its results, its conditions, and its nature.

v 73 ... “The oath which he sware to ... Abraham”. Oath is in apposition with covenant. It was the most solemn promise possible. This oath is found in Genesis 22:16, 17, and is referred to in Hebrews 6:13, 14. The ‘two immutable things’ are the promise and the oath.

Freedom of worship: “That he would grant us, that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies” (v 74). This part of their salvation having been accomplished.

v 74 ... “serve him without fear.” This refers, of course, to ‘without fear of enemies.’ It is a great thing for a garden to be free from weeds, and to be protected from wild beasts and thieves; for it makes possible the fullest and freest development of all the fruits and flowers for which the garden was enclosed and cultivated. It is Christ that makes us, He has done more than all other things in the history of the world to give freedom to man.

The Blessings that Flourish in Freedom: “In holiness and righteousness” (v 75). Freedom is the atmosphere in which all the virtues best flourish. The real value of the enclosed and defended garden depends upon the quality and abundance of its fruits and flowers. The weeds are destroyed to make room for the good seed. The Promise of old is being fulfilled more rapidly than ever in these later days, in the Christianity which is the offshoot and successor of the Jewish Church.

v 76 ... “And thou, child.” Greek, ‘little child,’ i.e., John the Baptist.

v 76 ... “Shall be called.” Not only shall be, but shall be recognized as...

v 76 ... “the Prophet of the Highest,” the Most High God. God is called the highest because He is high above all, supreme beyond our most exalted dreams, our loftiest conceptions, in goodness, in love, in nature, in power, in ever attitude and work.

v 76 ... “For thou shalt go before the face.” Precede in time, and go in the view, under the eye, on the errand...

v 76 ... “of the Lord,” probably to Zacharias the same person as the Highest in the preceding sentence. v 76 ... “To make ready his ways.” The ways of God were the same as the ways of Christ His Son and messenger. The figure here used is founded on an Eastern custom of sending persons to prepare the way for the march of a monarch through a wild and uncultivated region. This consisted of leveling hills, filling valleys, putting roads in order, and getting everything in readiness.

5. A Vision of His Work – To Give Knowledge of Salvation The great need of the world was to know what salvation is, and how it could be obtained. Salvation, not in sin but from sin. Salvation to a perfect character that makes the Kingdom of God what it is whether on earth or in heaven. ‘A perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ’ (Eph. 4:13); ‘Perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works’ (2 Tim. 3:17); ‘Perfect in every good work to do his will’ (Heb. 13:21); ‘Perfect and entire, wanting nothing’ (Jas. 1:4). To be thus is salvation.

Forgiveness of Sins, the Foundation of Salvation: It is the removing of the penalty of sin. The taking away of the love of sin, the disposition to sin. It is reconciliation to God, taking away the barrier between our hearts and God. It is restoration to the family of God.

Zacharias’ Song (cont.) – The Manifestation of God’s Love: “Through the tender mercy of our God” (v 78) who ‘so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.’ This love is so marvelous that in thinking of it, we are ‘lost in wonder, love and praise.’

Light in Darkness: “The dayspring,” the dawn of a new day, “to give light to them that sit in darkness” (vs 78, 79), in the darkness of sin that cannot see God, or heaven, or goodness; in the darkness of ignorance, that do not know of any way of salvation, that cannot find God or heaven, even if they could see them, i.e., a hopeless, sad, painful darkness, full of dangers.

The valley of “the shadow of death” (v 79) ... (consider Pilgrim’s Progress). It is the kind of life that is leading to death, and is already under its shadow.

A Guide: “To guide our feet into the way of peace” (v 79). Everyone needs a guide through life even more than a ship needs a compass and a pilot. No one knows just where he is going in his life, nor what dangers and difficulties he will meet, nor, often, which road to take at the parting of the ways.

Illustration: A traveler who has scaled the Alps and knows all their paths, their difficulties and dangers, gives this advice out of his own experience, to anyone who would climb the Swiss Mountains: Get a guide. Get the best guide. Get a guide who has been tested and tried. When you have found him, engage him quickly. Then trust yourself unreservedly to his guidance. Do exactly as he tells you, step where he steps, stop when he stops, and go on when he goes on. Such a guide John pointed out to the Jews and to us in Jesus Christ and His teachings.

The long training for thirty years by means of which he was prepared for the work of his life which lasted less than two years, besides a year in prison. John would be sent to the school of the synagogue, where the Bible was the chief text-book; he would go regularly to the Sabbath services in the synagogue. Thus he would become familiar with God’s dealings with His people, and punishment of their sins, His readiness to forgive, the only way of peace, and all His promises of better times. Home is the Laboratory where God’s teachings should constantly be put into practice. As soon as one learns something from God’s Word he should go home and live it. Service is learned only be serving, music only by singing, and love only by loving. There should always be opportunity at home to practice the teachings of Christ.

Facts are teachers. Experiences are lessons. Friends are guides. What I have lived, I really come to know. What I know, I partly own. Work itself has a singular power to unfold and develop our nature. The difference is not between working people and thinking people; but between people who work without thinking, and people who think while they work.

John’s Nazirite-Vow, in itself was a school teacher. It trained him in the virtue of self-control, and of being odd in the eyes of his playmates, in continual consecration to God and His service. John held himself pliant to the least indication of God’s will, and quick to catch the smallest whisper of His voice. “Mother, why do I wear my hair so long? You never cut it, like other mothers.” “No, my son,” might be the quick response; “You must never cut it as long as you live: you are a Nazirite.” “Mother, why may I not taste the grapes? The boys say they are so sweet and taste good.” “No, never” she might say “You must never touch the fruit of the vine: you are a Nazirite. Remember always that you are separated unto God; His vows are upon you.” There is a mighty power in the faith that one has a definite work in life, and believes that God has made him to be an artist, a poet, a minister of the Gospel, an elder, a deacon, a teacher, a faithful servant.

First, his training at home – “The child grew,” in body and spirit, “and waxed,” became increasingly ... “strong in spirit,” (v 80) in his whole spiritual nature. He developed into a remarkable man of spiritual power and energy, power to govern himself, to control his passions, to direct his life, to do his duty at all costs.

Illustration: A preacher once said, “My father came into my house soon after I married, and looked around. We showed him into every room, and then in his rough way he said, ‘Yes, it is very nice, but nobody will know, walking through here, whether you belong to God or the devil.’ I went through and looked at the rooms again, and thought, ‘He’s right.’ So we made up our minds that there should be no room in our house that didn’t have some message, by picture or wall text, for every corner, saying that we serve the King.”

Second, his training in the wilderness – “And was in the deserts,” (v 80) not barren sands, but the wild, rocky, thinly-inhabited places along the western shores of the Dead Sea and the Jordan, where he afterward preached.

John did not have far to go to find such places. No doubt visits there were frequent in his early boyhood. His constant abode, where his youth passed into manhood. The reasons for this experience may have been: (a) that he might be taught of God directly the truths of His Word, unbiased by the prevailing false ideas especially concerning the Messiah and His Kingdom. (b) From without he could best see the condition of the nation, could study its hopes, understand its sins and dangers, and learn the way by which alone it could be saved. Lawlessness and crime were running riot through the nation. Even the religious leaders were contaminated, till they became worse than the infamous “publicans and sinners,” and Christ himself later let loose the lightening of God in his terrible “Woe unto you” to smite their hard hearts that they might repent. These wrongs were enough to stir a fever in the blood of age, and make the infant sinew strong as steel. These thoughts may have burned within his soul like the fires in the heart of a volcano, till when the hour came they suddenly burst forth as in a lava stream of fire, to consume the evils that were destroying his people, and the religion which alone could save them. Thus John was learning the lesson of patriotism. (c) He was learning the meaning of the prophecies and all the revelation of God about his people, his world. All the visions of the prophets, all the promises of God, showing what the world shall be, no doubt fired his heart with hope and courage, to make the ideal become the Real. (d) He saw his mission clearly, himself as the voice of one that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord. He saw his great antitype Elijah, as his model and inspiration, even before him, learning his lessons in the wilderness, full of courage, daring dangerous things, sustained by God, and accomplishing his great work of reform. (e) The wilderness experience was John’s college and professional course for his life work. It takes almost as long for a young man now, in studies and thoughts and training in college halls, away from the life of business, to become prepared for his life work as it did John.

(A) God has special work for everyone in life ... young and old. Every human soul has a complete and perfect plan set aside for it in the heart of God, i.e., a divine biography marked out. This life, rightly unfolded, will be a complete and beautiful whole, an experience led on by God, and unfolded by His secret nature as trees and flowers by the secret nature of the world; a drama cast in the mold of a perfect art; a divine study that shall forever unfold, in wondrous beauty, the love and faithfulness of God; great in its conception, great in the divine skill by which it is shaped, above all, great in the momentous and glorious issues it prepares. It is this which makes a successful life, to live the life God has planned for us to live; to weave the picture in the pattern God has made for us.

(B) The long period of childhood and youth is a preparation for this work, this service. Animals have a very short childhood, in some species as few weeks, in others months, in the higher animals sometimes two or three years; their lives are short, their work simple. But for human children the preparation takes several years. Why? Because their work is so great, so difficult, and lasts a long time, yea, eternity depends upon it.

(C) Not only is this long preparation necessary, but all through life, if we would make the most of it, there is need of silent times, periods of rest, Sundays, vacations, daily hours of meditation. So out of times of enforced rest and silence, as by affliction, or poverty, or sickness, often comes the best work of our lives. Every plant must have its period of rest; and so must every soul, if it would be strong and healthy. The buds that will burst into leaf and blossom in the spring were formed in the autumn, and gather strength during their long winter’s rest. This is intellectually what is called unconscious cerebration, a subject planted in our minds, and left there in silence, gradually crystallizes into the best forms, and like a magnet draws to itself the thoughts and facts which belong to it. Some of the first experiments in burning hard coal were failures, because they did not let it alone long enough. They left it in despair, and returning later, found a fire hotter than they had ever known.

(D) All children should begin early to form some ideal or goal of the kind of person they wish to be, some kind of service they mean to accomplish. Devote themselves to God, and to usefulness, to making the world better.

Illustration: The power of devoting our children in their earliest years to the service of God is well illustrated by the story told in History of Rome by Merivale of the famous Carthaginian general, Hannibal. When he was nine years of age, his father, Hamilcar, proposed to take him on one of his military expeditions, which offer the young Hannibal eagerly accepted. His father then asked him to devote himself once for all to the service of his country, Carthage, and with his hand upon the altar to swear eternal enmity to Rome. This dedication in youth determined the course of his whole life.

Illustration: Zacharias’ Songs, which we have studied in this lesson, arose out of deeply felt joy; surely excitement. Sorry and sadness can also produce deeply felt songs. One example, “Let the Lower Lights Be Burning.” Philip P. Bliss was the captain of a fishing ship, off the Easter Coast of America. The harbor where he docked was dangerous – filled with deadly rocks. Illustration: In order to bring any ship safely through the harbor at night, a beacon-light was placed on the tallest, visible hill – and along the shore, a shore-light. The two lights were arranged so that as long as the captain kept the two lights lined up together, he could safely bring his ship through the dangerous rocks to the dock. So, before entering the harbor, a captain would line up the shore-light with the beacon-light; then he would turn his ship into the harbor – always keeping the shore-light lined up with the beacon-light, thus missing all the deadly rocks. One stormy night, in 1871, after a long, hard working day, Capt. P.P. Bliss tried to line up the shore- light with the beacon-light, but observed that only the beacon-light was burning – someone had failed to keep the shore-light burning. Capt. Bliss, eager to get home, decided to take a chance and without the help of the shore-light, turned his ship into the rocky harbor. He hit the rocks, losing his ship and all his crew – only he survived. That night he went to his home, closed the blinds and locked the door. For six days he did not come out or see anyone. When he at last came out, he had written:

Brightly beams our Father's mercy
From His light-house evermore
But to us He gives the keeping
Of the lights along the shore
Dark the night of sin has settled
Loud the angry billows roar
Eager eyes are watching, longing
For the lights along the shore
Trim your feeble lamp, my brother
Some poor sailor tempest-tossed
Trying now to make the harbor
In the darkness may be lost
Let the lower lights be burning
Send a gleam across the wave
Some poor fainting, struggling sea-man
You may rescue, you may save