26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. (Luke 1:26-38)
Last time, we studied “The Prophecy of the Birth of John the Baptist.” Today, we study “The Prophecy of the Birth of Jesus.” Six months after Elizabeth conceived John the Baptist, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to Nazareth in Galilee to appear to the virgin Mary, who was betrothed to Joseph, a descendant of King David. When the angel greeted Mary, she was greatly troubled. The angel told her not to be afraid, saying she would conceive and give birth to a son and would name him Jesus. He would be called the Son of the Most High, i.e. the Son of God. Mary, however, questioned how this could happen since she was a virgin. The angel then told her that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and cause her to conceive. Mary then replied, “I am the Lord’s servant, May your word to me be fulfilled” We see that when the angel delivered the message to Mary and Zechariah, their reactions were different: Zechariah was skeptical and unbelieving, while Mary responded with faith, humility, and obedience. This is an example for us to learn from.
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)
This Old Testament verse prophesies that a virgin will conceive and bear a son, and his name will be called Immanuel, which means, “God with us.”
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” (Micah 5:2)
This Old Testament verse prophesied that the Lord Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. Later, we learn that the Lord Jesus grew up in Nazareth, hence people call him Jesus of Nazareth.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
This Old Testament verse also prophesied the birth of Jesus. It speaks of Him as Almighty God, the Everlasting Father. Being the Everlasting Father does not mean that He is God the Father. Jesus is the Son of God, the Son of the Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Jesus sometimes addressed His disciples as children. Being the Everlasting Father means that He will forever protect and provide for us like a father.
May God bless you and your family!
Gospel Luke study
Prophecy of the Birth of John the Baptist
5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old. 8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. 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.” 18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” 19 The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. 20 And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.” 21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22 When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak. 23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.” (Luke 1:5-25)
In the Bible there are four Gospels. We have studied Gospel Mark and John, and just finished studying Gospel Matthew. Now we are studying Gospel Luke. This passage prophesies the birth of John the Baptist. Here we see a priest named Zechariah and his wife named Elizabeth. Elizabeth was barren, and both of them were very old. One day, while Zechariah was serving the Lord in the temple, the angel Gabriel appeared to him. He was afraid, but the angel told him not to be afraid and told him that his wife would bear him a son, whom he would name John. He would have the spirit of the Old Testament prophet Elijah and would lead many Israelites to God. Because of his old age, Zechariah did not believe the angel’s words. Because of his disbelief, the angel made him dumb until the birth of the child. Later, his wife Elizabeth did become pregnant. In the Old Testament, being childless was a disgrace. In the New Testament, being childless is not a disgrace. Some remain unmarried or childless in order to be devoted to serve the Lord.
“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly
