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The Promise of the Forerunner: Difference between revisions
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Not only his own prayer for a child, but the corporate prayer of the people—for salvation, for God’s grace—was about to be answered. His wife Elizabeth (God has sworn) would bear a son, whose name would be John (Grace of God). | Not only his own prayer for a child, but the corporate prayer of the people—for salvation, for God’s grace—was about to be answered. His wife Elizabeth (God has sworn) would bear a son, whose name would be John (Grace of God). | ||
This child would be unlike any other. He would drink no wine or strong drink—abstaining from both grace and law because he | This child would be unlike any other. He would drink no wine or strong drink—abstaining from the symbols of both grace and law because he would point to the One who was their fulfillment. Like a Nazarite, he would be set apart, a living prophecy of the coming Christ, just as the law of the Nazarite itself foretold. | ||
He would come in the spirit and power of Elijah. Just as Elijah had stopped the rain—withholding water, the very symbol of the Word—so too had 400 years of silence fallen upon Israel. But now, the drought would end. | He would come in the spirit and power of Elijah. Just as Elijah had stopped the rain—withholding water, the very symbol of the Word—so too had 400 years of silence fallen upon Israel. But now, the drought would end. | ||
John would be the voice, the forerunner, the one who would speak the Word once more. He would prepare the hearts of the people, turning them back to | John would be the voice, the forerunner, the one who would speak the Word once more. He would prepare the hearts of the people, turning them back to 'the fathers', just as Elijah had turned Israel to the God of the fathers: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. | ||
And his mission? To make ready a people prepared for the Lord. | And his mission? To make ready a people prepared for the Lord. | ||
