Study Desk

When Herod was king of the country of Judea, there was a Jewish religious leader named Zacharias. He worked for Abijah. His wife was of the family group of Aaron. Her name was Elizabeth.

Zacharias was doing his work as a religious leader for God.

He will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or any strong drink. Even from his birth, he will be filled with the Holy Spirit.

When he came out, he could not talk to them. They knew he had seen something special from God while he was in the house of God. He tried to talk to them with his hands but could say nothing.

When his days of working in the house of God were over, he went to his home.

When she saw the angel, she was troubled at his words. She thought about what had been said.

He will be great. He will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the place where His early father David sat.

He will be King over the family of Jacob forever and His nation will have no end."

The Lord has looked on me, His servant-girl and one who is not important. But from now on all people will honor me.

He Who is powerful has done great things for me. His name is holy.

He has done powerful works with His arm. He has divided from each other those who have pride in their hearts.

He has helped Israel His servant. This was done to remember His loving-kindness.

He promised He would do this to our early fathers and to Abraham and to his family forever."

On the eighth day they did the religious act of the Jews on the child. They named him Zacharias, after his father.

But his mother said, "No! His name is John."

Then they talked to his father with their hands to find out what he would name the child.

He asked for something to write on. He wrote, "His name is John." They were all surprised and wondered about it.

"Let us thank the Lord God of Israel. He has bought His people and made them free.

His holy early preachers told us this long ago.

He would show loving-kindness to our early fathers. He would remember His holy promise.