THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST

When their family heard that Elizabeth and Zacharious had a healthy baby boy they were happy and thanked God.

When the baby was eight days old his parents, Elizabeth and Zacharias, took their son to the temple.

Those who had come to celebrate with Elizabeth and Zacharias thought they would name the baby Zacaraias, after his father.

"No," Elizabeth told them firmly, "Our baby will be called John."

"Why?" they asked, "No one in your family is named John."

Then they asked Zacharias what name he wanted to give his boy Zacharias, who was still unable to speak, wrote on a tablet, "His name is John."

Suddenly God gave Zacarias his voice and he could speak again.

Zacharias gave those around him a message from God about things that were going to happen in the future.

"Thank the Lord God of Israel. God is going to send the Mighty Savior from King David's family just as He promised hundreds of years ago. The Savior will save us from our enemies who hate us. We will be able to worship God without fearing what our enemise will do to us.

"And you, my little son, will be a prophet of God; you will prepare the people for the coming Messiah, the one who will save us. You will tell the people how to repent of their sins and be forgiven.

"All this will hapen because God tenderly cares for us. God's great light is about to appear like the sun coming up at dawn. Everyone who sits in darkness will be able to see the path of peace."

People who heard about these things were amazed. They wondered what sort of child John would grow up to be.

God blessed John and the child grew strong in God's Spirit. When John grew up he lived in places where very few other people lived until the time came for him to begin to teach the people about the coming Messiah.