March 14th

By Randall L. Broad

Read: Numbers 21-22:20; Luke 1:26-56; Psalm 57:1-11; Proverbs 11:9-11

Today’s reading in the One Year Bible contains one of the most overlooked narratives in the New Testament. The reader’s attention is often on the passages where the angel Gabriel informs the Virgin Mary she has been chosen to be the mother of the Messiah (vv. 1:26-38). These verses are indeed significant as the Immaculate Conception stands beside the Resurrection as one of the two most important proofs of Jesus’s identity and authority. Gabriel tells Mary:

³⁵The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. ³⁶What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she’s now in her sixth month. ³⁷For nothing is impossible with God.”

Luke 1:35-37

But Luke, who records the longest and most detailed birth narrative of Jesus, continues with another event that is often overshadowed. It is the fulfillment of the promise made to the father of John the Baptist yesterday.

¹³But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. ¹⁴He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, ¹⁵for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.

Luke 1:13-15

The angel Gabriel promises John will be “filled with the Holy Spirit” (v. 15). The language Luke uses here has New Testament significance and might have seemed strange to a Priest taught Old Testament scriptures. The phrase “filled with the Holy Spirit” was unknown in Old Testament times. Zechariah certainly would have understood the “Spirit of God” came upon those inspired to glorify God, serve as prophets, and lead God’s people. He would have been versed in the Messianic prophecies and would have understood the promise of a virgin birth. But the idea of the Spirit of God ‘filling’ (i.e. indwelling and being within …) a child before it was born would have been strange to everyone.

³⁹At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, ⁴⁰where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁴²In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! ⁴³But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Luke 1:39-45

Much of the life of John the Baptist is a mystery to us–like the prophet Elijah, John’s story is told in the context of a greater narrative. Both men were essential to that story, but not the main characters. It was declared by Gabriel John would go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah (v. 17). Both John and Elijah share a common message, both encouraged people to turn away from sin and back toward God. Like Isaiah and Jeremiah, John’s calling was predestined. But there is a distinction in the anointing of these three prophets; neither Isaiah who was called from the womb (Isaiah 49:1) nor Jeremiah who was known and set apart in the womb (Jeremiah 1:5) was filled with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God was most certainly on both prophets, but the Holy Spirit as He is known to New Testament believers was not known to the people of the Old Testament.

Few would deny the significance of John the Baptist. Some think he was the last Old Testament Prophet; he was the first to be recognized as such since Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi who lived four centuries before in the time of the Babylonian exile. But the New Testament tells us John the Baptist is much more. Jesus declared:

⁷As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? ⁸If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. ⁹Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ¹⁰This is the one about whom it is written:

“ ‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,

Who will prepare your way before you.’

¹¹Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Matthew 11:7-11

We know John descended from priests and that as a youth he lived like a Nazarite, was possibly an Essene, and was filled with the Holy Spirit all the days of his life. He lived in the wilderness of Judea and preached the coming of the Messianic Age. John redefined the meaning of baptism for the New Testament believer. The Levitical washings (Leviticus 11:15) in the Old Testament only restored the person to their original condition; John’s baptism was intended to make them new and prepare them for the Messianic baptism of the spirit anticipated by the prophets (Jeremiah 33:8; Ezekiel 36:25-26; Zechariah 13:1). Traditionally in John’s time only the Gentiles were baptized when they converted but John declared everyone, including the Jews, needed to be baptized in preparation for the coming of the messiah.

The Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts are crucial to our understanding of the Holy Spirit. Some early manuscripts considered the Gospel of Luke and Acts to be two parts of the same book. Taken collectively, Luke makes more direct references to the person and work of the Holy Spirit than any author in the New Testament. The Holy Spirit plays a significant role from the very first chapter of Luke’s gospel to the end of the Book of Acts. He is an essential character in the narrative highlighted by a fundamental change in our understanding of the Spirit. The Spirit changes from something that was with people in the Old Testament to something that is within people in the New Covenant. Nowhere is this understanding reflected more clearly than in the writings of Luke. Just in his first chapter alone the Holy Spirit is promised to John (v. 15); comes upon Mary (v. 35); fills Elizabeth and the child in her womb (v. 41); and then fills Zechariah (v. 67) who prophesies to John’s greatness (vv. 68-79). Luke concludes the chapter … and the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel (v. 80). Some parts of John’s life we will encounter in the days ahead but an essential theme in Luke’s narrative throughout is the role of the Spirit in every aspect of John’s life and ministry–the same Holy Spirit the unborn child receives this day.

Walk with the Lord …

Ephesians 1:17

(RLB250314)

© Copyright 2018: Randall L. Broad

Disclaimer: This commentary is written by Randall L. Broad. It is in no way affiliated with or represents any denomination, university, church, or pastor. Any errors or omissions are purely my responsibility.