BIBLE STUDY LESSON 03

SERIES Q --- THE SAVIOUR

ANOTHER BIRTH FORETOLD

A MIRACLE CHILD IS BORN

From Luke 1:57-66

At last, the time came for Elizabeth to have her baby. Her friends and neighbours were delighted with the good news, rejoicing with her because of the child and because Adonai had worked a miracle in her life. When the baby was eight days old, these people came together to circumcise him and name him. They all assumed that he would be named for his father, Zacharias, but Elizabeth insisted that he would not. [His name will be John,] she said. [But there is nobody in your family with that name,] the people said. They began to gesture to Zacharias to see what he wanted to name him. Zacharias motioned for someone to bring him a writing tablet. Then he wrote on it, [His name is John.] Of course, all the people were surprised. At that very moment, Zacharias discovered that he could talk again. He began to give thanks and praise to YHVH for all that He had done. When the friends and neighbours saw what had happened, they were amazed and afraid. Before long, the news had spread over all the hill country of Judea, and people began to wonder, [What kind of child is this, John? What will he do?] It had become obvious to them that YHVH was involved in all of these things.

THE SONG OF ZACHARIAS

From Luke 1:67-80

Zacharias, filled with Ruach HaKodesh, began to speak as a prophet. Here is what he said:

[Praise Adonai, the YHVH of Israel, for He has looked upon His people and has brought them freedom. From King David’s family, He has raised up a Deliverer. Through the words of His prophets, He has promised for ages that He would do this, to save us from our enemies, from all those who hate us. He has shown mercy to our ancestors, and remembered His promise to Abraham. He has permitted us to worship Him fearlessly, acceptable in His sight forever. And you, my little one, will be called the prophet of the Most High YHVH, for you will prepare the way for the Son of YHVH. You will help people know how to be saved from their sins through the mercy of YHVH. You will be like the coming of dawn, bringing light to those in darkness and death’s shadow and you will guide our feet to the way of peace.]

John grew to be a man, maturing in his love for YHVH and living in the wild places until he was ready for his ministry.

COMMENTARY

WRITING MATERIALS

Zacharias called for a writing tablet when he wanted to write the name of his new-born son. What he asked for was not a collection of paper sheets like those used in the modern world. Writing tablets were wooden frames enclosing a wax-covered wood panel. A sharp tool, the stylus, was used to scratch letters into the wax. Shaped much like a modern pencil, the stylus had one sharp end for writing and a blunt end for {erasing.} The blunt end removed the writing by smoothing the wax so it could be used again. But for important documents that should not be erased, people used more long-lasting materials than wax. Sometimes they wrote on parchment, made from specially treated leather, or on papyrus, a form of paper made from the papyrus plant. Using a split reed as a pen, they wrote permanent records in ink.