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"A Prophet And His Parents"

Luke 1:5&6

"There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife [was] of the daughters of Aaron, and her name [was] Elisabeth. (6.) And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless."

  

Zacharias and Elisabeth were the parents of the great prophet John the Baptist. The prophet of whom Jesus said in Matthew 11:9-11:

"But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. (10) For this is [he], of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. (11) Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he".

Jesus puts John at the top of the prophet’s list, even above the prophets of the Old Testament. It is no small matter to have it said about you by none other then the Eternal Son of God himself, "Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist".

Much can and should be said about John the Baptist himself, but let’s begin with his parents. How would you like to be chosen by God to be the parents of such an extraordinary man?

Let us for the sake of theoretical discussion pretend we were asked by God to advise Him on how He should go about preparing Zacharias and Elisabeth for such an exceptional role. First, we probably would tell God to send Michael, the arch angel early on in their young married lives to tell them to start preparing for this grand event, nobody likes surprises. He should also advise them to consult the experts, attend the best conferences and read all the foremost books on the subject of Christian parenting. God should especially have Zacharias go to men’s conferences on faith building and Christian manhood. God must also make sure that Zacharias was the most prosperous priest of the temple, so he could afford the best home for little John and send him off to the best of seminaries when he grew up. They also both must be young, in perfect health with strength and virility. Above all they have to be capable of bearing children. Finally, God cannot have the father of this great prophet with a flawed imperfect faith and a mother that is barren which is a ridiculous contradiction!

Stick around for the "rest of the story", but let me give you a few hints to think about.

Hint one:

  

"For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD. (9) For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:8&9)".

  

"For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? (35) Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? (36) For of him, and through him, and to him, [are] all things: to whom [be] glory for ever. Amen (Romans 11:34-36)".

  

Hint two:

  

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us (2 Corinthians 4:7)".

  

To Be continued

Jim Wenger

  

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Welcome to The Grace Place Online*

 

     Welcome to the web home of the Wenger’s of South Woodstock, Connecticut. The purpose of this site is to introduce them to you and share with you their faith and ministry.  They are here to join their voices with all of God’s redeemed as the Triune God is glorified together. 

     They have made their home in Woodstock, CT. for over twenty years and have enjoyed the rural beauty of the country roads and farms. 

     Both Jim and Johanne are graduates of Northeastern Bible College, now combined with Kings College of Manhattan, NY. Johanne is a native of South Woodstock, CT., they  moved back to her original home site, which is “just across the lot and over the wall from us.” Jim has served in evangelism, church planting and pastoral ministry for over thirty-five years. Johanne has served by his side as a mother, homemaker, and pastor’s wife. God gave them two daughters now grown and married. 

     Jim is available for pulpit fill as well as other ministry.  For more information on his spiritual and ministry experience please feel free to contact him by e-mail.

Bible Readings:  

Luke 1:5-12

"There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife [was] of the daughters of Aaron, and her name [was] Elisabeth. (6) And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. (7) And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were [now] well stricken in years.  (8) And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.
(10 ) And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw [him], he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

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Quotations:

Matthew  Henry

"The father and mother of John the Baptist were sinners as all are, and were justified and saved in the same way as others; but they were eminent for piety and integrity. They had no children, and it could not be expected that Elisabeth should have any in her old age. While Zacharias was burning incense in the temple, the whole multitude of the people were praying without. All the prayers we offer up to God, are acceptable and successful only by Christ's intercession in the temple of God above. We cannot expect an interest therein if we do not pray, and pray with our spirits, and are not earnest in prayer. Nor can we expect that the best of our prayers should gain acceptance, and bring an answer of peace, but through the mediation of Christ, who ever lives, making intercession."