The Promise of the Forerunner
The promise of the birth of John the Baptist [∞]
Several passages in Genesis could have triggered Luke’s memory of the promise to Zacharias, particularly those where God remembers His covenant or where a forerunner prepares the way for fulfillment—both key themes in JBJ.
1. Genesis 8:1 – “God Remembered Noah”
Trigger for Luke: “But God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the livestock that were with him in the ark.”
- Just as God remembered Noah before bringing new life after judgment, He remembers His oath to send John before Jesus, who brings new life through the Gospel.
- John, like Noah, is a preacher of righteousness (2 Pet. 2:5), calling people to repentance before salvation comes.
2. Genesis 15:13-14 – The Promise of Deliverance
Trigger for Luke: “Know for certain that your offspring will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs and will be servants there, and they will be afflicted for four hundred years. But I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterward they shall come out with great possessions.”
- This is the prophecy of Israel’s bondage and Exodus, which later in Exodus 2:24, is fulfilled when God remembers His covenant—just like He does in Luke 1:72 with the birth of John.
- The 400-year silence before John’s birth echoes the 400 years of Israel’s bondage before Moses appeared.
3. Genesis 19:29 – “God Remembered Abraham”
Trigger for Luke: “So it was that, when God destroyed the cities of the valley, God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow.”
- God’s remembrance of Abraham led to Lot’s rescue—just as His remembrance of His oath leads to John’s birth, preparing the way for Jesus’ ultimate rescue mission.
4. Genesis 21:1-2 – The Birth of Isaac
Trigger for Luke: “The LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did to Sarah as he had promised. And Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son.”
- Like Elizabeth, Sarah was barren and beyond childbearing years.
- Both births (Isaac & John) were miraculous and tied to God’s promise.
- This would remind Luke that God always keeps His word, just as He did with Zacharias and Elizabeth.
5. Genesis 30:22 – “God Remembered Rachel”
Trigger for Luke: “Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb.”
- This parallels Elizabeth’s barrenness and how God opened her womb to give birth to John.
- Just as Rachel’s son (Joseph) prepared the way for Israel’s future, John prepares the way for Jesus.
6. Genesis 41:9-14 – Joseph as a Forerunner
Trigger for Luke: Joseph was forgotten in prison, but later called forth to prepare the way for Pharaoh’s kingdom.
- Just as Joseph’s release preceded salvation for Israel, John’s ministry precedes Jesus’ salvation.
- Joseph was in prison before his rise—just as John was imprisoned before Jesus’ kingdom was revealed.
Summary of Genesis Triggers for Luke
Luke, reading Genesis, might have seen these connections:
| Genesis Event | Parallel in Luke (JBJ) |
|---|---|
| God remembered Noah before bringing new life. | God remembers His oath and sends John before Jesus. |
| God foretells the Exodus after 400 years. | John comes after 400 years of prophetic silence. |
| God remembered Abraham and rescued Lot. | God remembers His oath and sends John as the forerunner of salvation. |
| Sarah (barren) miraculously bears Isaac. | Elizabeth (barren) miraculously bears John. |
| God remembered Rachel and opened her womb. | God remembered Elizabeth and gave her John. |
| Joseph is in prison before his rise. | John is imprisoned before Jesus’ kingdom is revealed. |
Genesis, being the foundation of God’s promises, would have reinforced to Luke that John’s birth was part of God’s long-standing pattern of keeping His covenant.
Memory triggers in the history of Israel
Luke might recognize several Old Testament passages that would trigger a memory of God’s promise to Zacharias. Since Luke structures his Gospel with an emphasis on fulfilled promises and God’s faithfulness, he might see John’s role through the lens of past remembrances of God’s oath. Here are some key triggers: ---- === 1. Malachi 3:1 & 4:5-6 – The Messenger Before the Lord === Trigger for Luke: The angel told Zacharias that John would come “in the spirit and power of Elijah” (Luke 1:17), which directly recalls Malachi’s prophecy:
- “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me.” (Mal. 3:1)
- “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.” (Mal. 4:5) John’s birth is proof that God remembers His oath, because Malachi’s prophecy is now coming true. ---- === 2. Exodus 2:24-25 – God Remembered His Covenant in Egypt === Trigger for Luke: The phrase in Luke 1:72 (“to remember his holy covenant”) echoes Exodus 2:24:
- “And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.” Just as Israel’s redemption from Egypt began when God remembered His covenant, so too John’s birth signals the beginning of the final redemption through Christ. ---- === 3. Isaiah 40:3-5 – The Voice in the Wilderness === Trigger for Luke: Isaiah’s prophecy about preparing the way for the Lord is quoted by Luke in Luke 3:4-6:
- “A voice cries: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.’” (Isa. 40:3) Zacharias, upon hearing the angel’s promise of John, might have recalled this passage, realizing that his son was the one preparing the way for the greater Exodus. ---- === 4. Joshua Leading Israel into the Promised Land === Trigger for Luke: In JBJ, Moses (John) leads up to the promise, but Joshua (Jesus) brings it to fulfillment. The transition from John’s ministry to Jesus’ ministry in Luke 3-4 parallels:
- Deuteronomy 34 – Moses dies outside the land.
- Joshua 1 – Joshua leads the people into the promise.
- Luke 3 – John is imprisoned.
- Luke 4 – Jesus begins proclaiming the Kingdom. This reminds Luke that God is faithful to His covenant, just as He was in Joshua’s time. ---- === 5. Psalm 106:45 – “He Remembered His Covenant” === Trigger for Luke: The theme of God remembering His oath runs throughout the Psalms:
- “For their sake he remembered his covenant, and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love.” (Psalm 106:45) This is the very theme of Zacharias’ prophecy in Luke 1:68-79, where he blesses God for remembering His holy covenant. ---- === Summary === Luke, reflecting on John and Jesus, would see the entire Gospel story as a fulfillment of God’s remembered oath:
- Malachi’s prophecy – John fulfills the role of the messenger.
- Exodus remembrance – God remembered His covenant and acted.
- Isaiah’s prophecy – John is the “voice in the wilderness.”
- Joshua typology – John prepares the way, Jesus brings fulfillment.
- Psalm remembrance – Zacharias’ song echoes God’s faithfulness. ==
