And in the fullness of time ….
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– The salvation plan for humanity had several sides and facets in regards to timing. St. John the Baptist was one of the principal columns for the structure of the fatherly will and intervention (representative of the fullness of time).
– Several prophets of the Old Testament prophesied about the mission of St. John the Baptist as a forerunner before Christ.


The prophecies turned silent
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– Throughout the history of the Jewish nation the voice of prophecies never seized, rather many prophets coexisted during the same era of time.
– These trail of prophecies continued until Malachi the prophet (around year 400 BC).
– Suddenly, the voice of prophecies ceased to exist for the Jews. This period was one of the darkest times in the history of the Jewish nation.
– It was the divine arrangement for that dark period to proceed the dawn of Christ, the sun of righteousness (But to you who fear my name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in his wings) Malachi 4:2


And the glad tidings continued ….
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– The continued glad announcements and cheerful tidings returned again to mankind, repetitive apparitions of angels and visions, as if the bridge between heaven and earth was reopened.
– The miraculous birth of St. John the Baptist was not by chance, but an essential element of the divine strategy.


The story of the angel’s apparition to Zachariah the prophet.
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– The place: Temple of Solomon in the city of Jerusalem.
– A priest: Zachariah, the prophet, from a division called Abijah.
– The reference is First Chronicles, Chapter 24. In this chapter we read that King David divided all the priests into 24 divisions. The division of Abijah (which Zachariah the prophet was part of) was the eighth division.
– Every division included 200 to 300 priests.
– Each division would take their turn, assuming the responsibility of the temple service for one week at a time, from Saturday to Saturday.
– During that week, the division in charge would oversee several tasks such as raising the incense at the Holy, checking the Lamp stand and lighting it, preparing the Show bread, the sacrifices, and offerings at the outer court, etc.
– The priest within the division in charge of services would cast a lot as to which priest (out of the 200 to 300 within the group), would be selected to enter the Holy each day. Only one priest would be eligible for the responsibility. This resulted in very few priests that would be elected to raise the incense within that division during the one week turn.
– A priest could spend his entire priesthood without getting a chance to raise incense at the Holy.
– As for the head priest, he would enter the Holy of the Holies once a year (Atonement Day).
– The lot was cast for the righteous Zachariah, the prophet, to raise incense at the Holy.


The birth of John the Baptist and its association with the events of Nativity and the prophecies of the Old Testament
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– St. Luke described Elizabeth (Zachariah’s wife) by saying:
“His wife was of the daughters of Aaron and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God. Elizabeth was barren.” Luke 1: 5-7
– As Isaiah the prophet prophesied: “Sing, O barren, you who have not borne.” Isaiah 54:1
– St.Luke illustrated the time in which all of these events took place: (In the days of Herod the king of Judea) Luke 1:5
– In regards to Herod, he was the king of Jews, but he was of Edomite origin, and was under the jurisdiction of the Romans.
– There’s a prophecy from the father of fathers, Jacob, who lived around 1500 years BC: “The scepter shall not depart from Judea, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet until Shiloh comes; and to him shall be the obedience of the people.”Genesis 49:10

**Meaning:
Scepter: The scepter is the king’s staff (king or the true person in charge).
Lawgiver: The person in charge of crafting the laws, also referring to a king.
Between his feet: From his descendants.
Until Shiloh comes and to him shall be the obedience of the people: the Lord Christ.

– For all the above reasons, St. Luke mentioned the events of the Nativity as occurring during the days of Herod the Edomite.


Zachariah the priest and his wife Elizabeth
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– St. Luke continued to describe the Nativity events, as he described Zachariah the prophet and his wife Elizabeth, as being righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and obedience of the Lord (Luke 1:6).
– This particular era in the history of the Jewish nation was one of the darkest spiritual times. During this period, the head priest was typically chosen by the Romans, and was also subject to their approval.
– Zachariah and Elizabeth were different, they were righteous before God and obedient to all the laws. In God’s eyes they were righteous.
– Humans judge people according to what they have witnessed and determine is righteous. Perhaps as their outer appearance seems pure and unstained. Aside from this, Zachariah and Elizabeth were truly righteous in God’s eyes.


Zachariah and The Angel
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– The angel appeared to Zachariah on the right side of the altar of incense inside the Holy. “Do not be afraid Zachariah for your prayer is heard.” Luke 1:13
– Zachariah was known in front of God by his name (Zachariah).
– Many people work tirelessly to gain name recognition, mega projects that bear their name, tall buildings, and even headstones at the grave. But, blessed is the person whose recognition comes directly from God himself.
– We should remember what the right thief asked: “Remember me o Lord when you come into your kingdom.”
– The Lord will crown us with a new name in his kingdom that will remain with us throughout eternity (Rev. 2:17).
– Our names will be truly known and recognized in front of God, recorded in his books. Not in people’s records.

– The angel stated, “You shall call his name John.” (Luke 2:13).
– The name of St. John was chosen before his birth, and was not the choosing of Zachariah or Elizabeth.
– John means tenderness / love of God (referring to God’s love towards mankind with the execution of the salvation plan for us).
– If we examine the scriptures, we see the Lord Christ chose the names of some of his apostles.
– Going back to the Old Testament, several new names were given to his people beginning with Abraham, followed by several others.
– These new names signified carrying the will of God in the life of that particular person.
– Similarly, John’s name was chosen from God.

– “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord.” (Luke 1:15)
– True greatness is not driven from the magnificent and celebrated works. It does not lie in the recognition of our works from earthly communities and societies or from the earthly titles bestowed upon our names.
– True greatness is recognized by God and stems from our true relationships with God himself.

– “He will also go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah.” (Luke 1:17)
– “Before him” : this phrase summarizes the core mission of John the Baptist, to proceed the Lord Christ and pave the way for his coming.
– When kings travel to neighboring countries, they send ambassadors to announce their visits. In the same manner, God sent John the Baptist to prepare the way (of repentance) and announced the Lord’s coming.

The spirit and power of Elijah:
– Elijah, of the Old Testament, was known for his bravery and ability to confront. Similarly, the strong voice of John and his bravery shook the entire nation.

– “You will be mute and not able to speak.” (Luke 1:20)
– Sadly, Zachariah doubted the message of the angel (notice the difference when our Mother The Virgin only inquired about the meaning of Angel Gabriel’s message without any doubts).
– Mute: this was the disciplinary judgement bestowed upon Zachariah.
– The church fathers correlate Zachariah’s situation directly with the Jewish nation. They were unable to recognize the salvation, but are expected to do so at the end of days.


The meeting between the Virgin and Elizabeth
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– “The babe leaped in my womb for Joy.” Luke 1:44
– Pope Shenouda commented on that verse and how John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit while inside his mother’s womb. He leaped with joy (meaning danced). How strange for a babe to be joyful inside the womb and to leap in happiness.Christ described John the Baptist as the greatest among the prophets.

The kinship between St. Mary and Elizabeth:
– Angel Gabriel said to St. Mary “Indeed Elizabeth your relative has also conceived.” Luke 1:36
– St. Mary was from the tribe of Judah, while Elizabeth from the tribe of Levi (she was the wife of Zachariah the priest).

– The church fathers gave two explanations:
1) Aaron (Moses’ brother, from the tribe of Levi) was married to Elishebe (daughter of Amminadab, from the tribe of Judah) as is documented in Exodus 6:23. This was before God’s commandment to marry from within the same tribe.
2) In the Synaxarion commemoration of Anna, St. Mary’s mother (month of Hathor 11), it states that her sister Sophia (the mother of Elizabeth) and her both had one father from the tribe of Levi (who was the grandfather of St. Mary).