NATIVITY By Mike Herron

Chapter 7- THE ANNUNCIATION OF JOHN THE BAPTIST Continued. Luke 1:15-25 (Dec. 20th)

he angel Gabriel came with a message of mercy and good news although Zechariah responded with the ‘unreasonableness and self-injury of unbelief.’ 1 In spite of the frailties of Zechariah’s human nature, God’s purpose would be fulfilled. Gabriel prophetically describes the life of the soon to be born prophet. 15 He must never touch wine or other alcoholic drinks. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth. 16 And he will turn many Israelites to the Lord their God. 17 He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will cause those who are rebellious to accept the wisdom of the godly. He must not drink wine or sikera, strong alcoholic drinks made from grains and other fruits. This is a reference to the Nazirite vow in Num 6:1-21 where men were separated for a divine task for a specified period of time or like Samson, for life. But John was far greater than any Nazarite, ‘he thus preached by his very appearance and by his every action.’ 2 He would be filled with the Holy Spirit from the womb referring to a ‘continuous state of being empowered for a particular task or role.’ 3 This was unprecedented in the Bible showing the great importance of John’s work. ‘A deliberate contrast is set between John’s abstinence from wine and his being filled with the Spirit.’ 4