Lesson 3 for the 19 th of July, 2008

Elisabeth, his mother, was of the daughters of Aaron Zachariah, his father, was priest of the course of Abia They were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless In the week when he had to hold office according to the order of his course, it fell to Zachariah’s lot to offer incense in the holy place of the Temple

While he was offering incense, angel Gabriel appeared unto him standing on the right side of the altar of inciense (token of good news) His message was: “Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John” He shall be great in the sight of the Lord, therefore many shall rejoice at his birth He shall drink neither wine nor strong drink He shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb Many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord He shall 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

Because of Zachariah’s incredulity, he remained deaf and dumb until the day that angel’s predictions were performed. When he came out in order to pray, he couldn’t speak to them and he talked to them by signs. They perceived that he had seen a vision from God In due course, Elisabeth conceived and hid herself five months. In the sixth month she was visited by Mary, her relative. When Elisabeth heard about the salutation of Mary, John leaped in his mother’s womb. PRENATAL INFLUENCE !! “For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord from his mother's womb” (Luke, 1: 15)

When the baby was born, his neighbours and relatives rejoiced with Elisabeth On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child When they wanted to call him Zacharias, after the name of his father, Elisabeth refused to it and said: “He shall be called John”. Asking Zacharias about it, he asked for a writing table and wrote: “His name is John” In that moment, he could speak and listen again, and praised God His name is John “And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea. And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him” (Luke, 1: 65-66)

He devoted himself to: Study the Word of God, guided by his parents. Pray and to fast Learn about God through the nature He was far away from men’s traditions, so he could speak about any kind of sin with freedom He shaped a firm character, that allowed him to speech about the true with power and conviction “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel” (Luke, 1: 80) What was he doing during that time of remoteness and loneliness?

In the wilderness, John could the more readily deny himself and bring his appetite under control, and dress in accordance to natural simplicity. And there was nothing in the wilderness that would take his mind from meditation and prayer. Satan had access to John, even after he had closed every avenue in his power through which he would enter. But his habits of life were so pure and natural that he could discern the foe, and had strength of spirit and decision of character to resist him. The book of nature was open before John with its inexhaustible store of varied instruction. He sought the favor of God, and the Holy Spirit rested upon him, and kindled in his heart a glowing zeal to do the great work of calling the people to repentance, and to a higher and holier life. John was fitting himself, by the privations and hardships of his secluded life, to so control all his physical and mental powers that he could stand among the people as unmoved by surrounding circumstances as the rocks and mountains of the wilderness that had surrounded him for thirty years. Ellen G. White (Conflict and Courage, page 270) Consider your own spiritual life properly. Find a desert where you can spend time getting ready to the work that God has prepared for you

With this word (metanoéo), John invited his audience to change their point of view, because the Kingdom of Heaven that Jesus was going to bring them required a completely new overview With these words, he meant that they had to change their behaviour ►He said to people: He that hath two coats or anything to eat, let him imprat to him that hath nothing. ►He said to the publicans: Exact no more than that which is appointed you. ►He said to the soldiers: Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.

He delivered a message of repentance and reformation to Israel He delivered a message of repentance and the beginning of the Kingdom of Heaven We deliver a message of justification by faith, worship to god and obedience to the commandments He prepared the way for Israel to return to God He prepared the First Coming of Jesus We prepare the Second Coming of Jesus He delivered a message of trial to Ahab He delivered a message of trial to the religious leader and to the people We deliver a message of trial to everybody

In this age, just prior to the second coming of Christ in the clouds of heaven, such a work as that of John is to be done. God calls for men who will prepare a people to stand in the great day of the Lord. The message preceding the public ministry of Christ was, Repent, publicans and sinners; repent, Pharisees and Sadducees; ‘repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ As a people who believe in Christ’s soon coming, we have a message to bear, - ‘Prepare to meet thy God’. Our message must be as direct as was that of John. He rebuked kings for their iniquity. Notwithstanding the peril his life was in, he never allowed truth to languish on his lips. Our work in this age must be as faithfully done. In order to give such a message as John gave, we must have a spiritual experience like his. The same work must be wrought in us. We must behold God, and in beholding Him, lose sight of self. Ellen G. White (Gospel Workers, page 55)