John’s BackgroundJohn was born to aged Jewish parents, Zacharias and Elizabeth, who were of a priestly family (Lk. 1:5). Interestingly, Elizabeth was related to Mary, the mother of Jesus (Lk. 1:36). This devout couple lived in the “hill country†of Judea (Lk. 1:39), perhaps Hebron, a priestly city of the region.
Luke has a wonderful summary statement of the character of this Hebrew couple. “And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless†(1:6).
On the occasion of Zacharias’ exercise of his duty of burning incense in the temple at Jerusalem (a once-in-a-lifetime event for a priest), the angel Gabriel appeared to the elderly gentleman, informing him that his prayers had been heard, and that his wife would bear a son (1:13). One must necessarily infer that Zecharias had prayed for such in earlier times, though Elizabeth was barren, and both of them now were advanced in age (1:7).
Clearly, John’s conception was miraculous; incidentally, he was about six months older than Jesus (1:26). It was foretold that this child would be filled with the Spirit of God, even from his mother’s womb, and that he would be reared under the strict code of the Nazirite (cf. Num. 6:1-21), an indication of the solemnity of his role in preparing the way for the world’s Redeemer.
The Scriptures are silent as to the deaths of John’s parents – though legend has it that Zacharias was slain by Herod the Great, forcing Elizabeth to flee with her babe into the wilderness area of Judea. Luke does say of John: “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his showing unto Israel†(1:80). This desert (or deserted) area “stretches from Jerusalem and Bethlehem eastward some 20 miles down to the Jordan River and the Dead Seaâ€; it is “a barren region of rugged hills and valleys†(Earle, 30).
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