December 16: The Cousin
If you flip to the book of Luke to read about the story of Jesus’s birth, you may be in for a little shock when you realize the first birth story in there actually isn’t Jesus’s. The first chapter of Luke is mostly about a baby named John, Jesus’s cousin.
Read Luke 1: 5-25.
We’re immediately invited into a tragic story of the childless Zechariah and Elizabeth. But if we know anything about God, we know that He is great at turning tragic stories into wild miracles. He does just that for Zechariah and Elizabeth! An angel appears to announce to them that they would have a baby boy.
But, uhh… What does this have to do with Jesus? Certainly baby John doesn’t have a spot in our nativity sets! Let’s skip forward a little in the narrative to find out.
Read Luke 1: 39-45.
Mary, newly pregnant and probably overwhelmed with the huge life changes coming her way (you know, birthing the King of the World and all that) sought comfort in her “relative” Elizabeth. When Mary walks in the room, baby John literally leaps in Elizabeth’s womb. Prophetic? We think so!
Eventually, Elizabeth gives birth to this miracle baby and Zechariah, obviously excited, sings a song of praise to God. The lyrics give us a hint about the connection between John and His (maybe distant) cousin Jesus.
“And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
Luke 1:76–79
John was not a random baby after all! He was a prophet chosen by God to prepare the way for Jesus. He’s the one who will roll out the welcome mat for Jesus, urgently calling the people of Israel to turn their hearts to God and to open their ears to the Good News. He was the thunder right before the lightning strike of the Messiah.
So maybe our nativity sets need some additions. Catch us putting John in there–all wild and bearded and important. We are amazed at the detail God put into His beautiful rescue plan for us! Today, reflect on how He’s been carving out the details of your story. Remember, in His Kingdom, nothing’s insignificant.
Pray: God, reveal to me what “random” parts of my story are actually part of your glorious plan
Further Study: Read Matthew 3:1-17 to see a grown up John the Baptist interact with Jesus.
Interact: What part of the Scripture we read today stuck out to you? Was it the miracle of Elizabeth’s pregnancy? The angel appearing to Zechariah? John jumping for joy? Share with your community in the comment section.
