John the Baptist

Luke 1:5  In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 

Luk 1:6  And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. 

Luk 1:7  But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. 

Luk 1:8  Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 

Luk 1:9  according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 

Luk 1:10  And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 

Luk 1:11  And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 

Luk 1:12  And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 

Luk 1:13  But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 

Luk 1:14  And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 

Luk 1:15  for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 

Luk 1:16  And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 

Luk 1:17  and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”

Let me see what I can as a summery of this event. Zechariah was a priest that had the privilege of lighting incense in the holy temple of God. Incense is a symbol for the prayers to God. An angel appeared before him; the word for angel means "messenger". The angel had a message to give. God had heard their prayers for a son and even though they were past the age of child bearing he would have a son named John. The son would be filled with the Holy Spirit from the womb. Here is proof against abortion, that the child may be called of God from the womb. The child would go before the Messiah Jesus and preach repentance, for the kingdom of God is at hand. Repentance will heal the hearts of the people of the land. "and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” Our land needs to turn to God and the hearts healed with love  poured out for the restoration of families, and the anticipation of the return of Jesus. Let us join hearts and pray for our nation and our families, in the name of Jesus, amen.