John the Baptist is Born
Zechariah had been struck dumb after the encounter with the angel in the temple, where the angel said his wife who was barren was going to bare a child. He was told his name was to be John.
After the miracle happened and the baby was born, they brought him to the temple to dedicate him to the Lord. Zachariah still could not speak, and when it came to naming the boy, everyone assumed he would be called Zachariah, or something similar. But Zachariah asked for a writing tablet and he wrote, “His name is John.” His mouth was opened and everyone was shocked.
Zechariah prays and prophesies:
Luke 1:76-79 ESV
“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, (77) to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, (78) because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high (79) to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Malachi 3:1-4 ESV
“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. (2) But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. (3) He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the LORD. (4) Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years.
Acts 13:24-25 ESV
Before his coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. (25) And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’