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Gabriel Appears to Elizabeth
Gabriel appeared to Elizabeth in June of 8 BCE, announcing she would bear a son named John, who'd be the forerunner of the expected deliverer, Jesus.
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Summary
John the Baptist was the real forerunner of Jesus’ mission on earth. John’s mother and father – Elizabeth and Zacharias – had been married for many years but they never had children. So, it was quite a shock to Elizabeth when she received a visitation from Gabriel, who announced to her that she was going to have a son. She kept this visit a secret for many months, finally telling her husband about it. But he was very skeptical and doubted the truth of the visit; he only half-heartedly believed even when he could clearly see that his wife was pregnant. He remained confused and skeptical, but he did trust his wife's integrity. About six weeks before his son was born, Zacharias experienced a vivid dream that finally convinced him that he truly was going to be the father of a son of destiny, a son that would be the forerunner of the Messiah.
During his visit, shortly after the marriage of Mary and Joseph, Gabriel told Elizabeth about Mary, and the news that she was to be the mother of this divine teacher. And he also told Mary about Elizabeth and her son John when he appeared to her later in the year. After he appeared to Mary in November of that year, the two mothers-to-be visited as soon as they could and spent several weeks together.
On March 25, 7 BCE, Elizabeth’s son was born, and they named him John, as Gabriel had instructed them.
Gabriel Appears to Elizabeth
Elizabeth and Zacharias were the parents of John the Baptist. Zacharias was a member of the Jewish priesthood and Elizabeth belonged to the same large family group as Mary, the mother of Jesus, making them distant cousins.
This couple had been married for many years and had never had children. So, it was a great surprise to Elizabeth to receive an angelic visitation from Gabriel, who informed her that she was going to have a son; moreover, Gabriel told Elizabeth that her son, whose name would be John, would be the forerunner of the expected deliverer, for whom the Hebrews were praying. He told her that her son would gladden her heart by turning many souls to God, and that he would proclaim the coming of “the soul-healer of your people and the spirit-liberator of all mankind.” Finally, he informed her that Mary, her distant relative, would be the mother of this deliverer, and that he was going to appear to her, too.
This visitation to Elizabeth occurred at noon, one day in late June, 8 BCE, about three months after Mary and Joseph had been married.
Zacharias is Skeptical
Elizabeth was greatly frightened and disturbed by this visitation. She turned it over and over in her mind, but kept it a secret from everyone – even her husband – for five months. When she did finally tell him about Gabriel’s visit, Zacharias was skeptical. He never doubted her integrity, even though he had his doubts, mostly owing to his own advanced age. After some weeks, and after there was simply no doubt that she was pregnant, he did believe, but only half heartedly. But about six weeks before Elizabeth gave birth to John, Zacharias experienced a vivid dream; after that, he no longer doubted that his expected child was destined to be a son of destiny who would prepare the way for the Messiah.
Elizabeth and Mary Visit
In November of 8 BCE, Gabriel appeared to Mary, announcing to her that she was to be the mother of Jesus. And soon after that Mary made a trip to see Elizabeth and they visited together for about three weeks. Elizabeth was able to help Mary bolster her faith in Gabriel’s visitation, so that when she returned home to Nazareth, she was reinforced in her resolve to fulfill the call to be mother to her own child of destiny, who would be born into the world as a helpless infant.
John is Born
John the Baptist was born on March 25, 7 BCE, and Elizabeth and Zacharias rejoiced at the birth of this son who had been promised to them. They named him John, as Gabriel had instructed. And they sent a messenger to inform Mary of John’s birth.
John understood from his earliest infancy that he would grow up to be a spiritual leader. His parents impressed these suggestions upon him from the start and his heart was always responsive to these leadings. He spent a lot of time at the temple with his father, and he was always greatly impressed by the spiritual life.
