Light-house, Jesse Costales

John the Baptists' life parallels Jesus Christ's life. John had a miraculous birth announced by the Angel Gabriel, Luke 1 . John had a Violent death, Matthew 14 & Mark 6 . John & Jesus lived about the same amount of time, 33 years. I. A Witness of the Light John recognized the Light. He was the forerunner of Christ. He was from the tribe of Levi, a cousin of the Lord. It was his job to introduce Jesus as the Lamb of God. It was John who had the honor of baptizing Christ at the Jordan. John 1:6 - 8, 35 & 36 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! II. The Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness If

We are all familiar with Nativity Scene during the Christmas Season. The traditional account has Jesus, Mary & Joseph along with shepherds, angels and the three wise men all at the manger on Christmas Night. Much of this is erroneous and most of the account is chronologically and locationally inaccurate according to the Bible. This study is my attempt to put the accounts of Matthew 1 - 2 & Luke 1 - 2 in chronological order and give a more accurate account of the events surrounding the birth of Jesus. I. Chronology of Events 1 - 2 years Luke 1:5 - 25 Jerusalem - Gabriel visits Zacharias, before Christmas Elisabeth conceives. 9 mos. Luke 1:26 - 38 Galilee - The Annunciation & Immaculate Conception. 6 - 9 mos. Matt. 1:18 - 25 Galilee - Angel, probably Gabriel, appears to Joseph. Luke 1:39 - 56 Jerusalem - Mary visits Elisabeth &

Luke 2:7, And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. The world today is trying to take Jesus Christ out of Christmas. But without Jesus, there is no season of rejoicing. Christ is the reason for the season. A Holy God becoming a Man is the miracle of the holiday. Jesus is the Savior of this world, but the world rejected Him at His birth and crucified its Lord. John 1:10, 11 & 14, He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. I. No Clothes Jesus was born to die. At His birth, His mother wrapped Him in strips of cloth and laid Him in a manger. At His death, Mary wrapped Him in linen and laid Him in a borrowed tomb. Mark 15:46 & 4

More than likely, when you hear the Christmas story, it might begin in Luke 2 with Mary & Joseph journeying to Bethlehem. Some might start the Christmas story back in Luke 1, with the Annunciation to Mary by the angel Gabriel. But seldom do people start the Christmas story with Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist. The main character of the first chapter of Luke, is Zacharias - not Mary, Elisabeth or John - not even Jesus. Yet he is hardly remembered, which is ironic because Zacharias name means "Remembrance of the Lord". But, I going to write on four things about Zacharias, in Luke, that we should remember about the Forgotten Man of Christmas. I. The Office of Zacharias Luke 1:5, There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abijah: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. Zacharias was a priest. His job was to burn incense, which is connected to prayer in the bible. He