John the Baptist's Purpose | The Wolfe Notes

These notes follow our 7-step rhythm for Bible study. Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotes are from the EasyEnglish Bible translation.

Notes on John the Baptist's Birth

(from Luke 1:14-17, 65-66, and 76-80)

Annotation Notes, Summary, N/W/L Statements, Key Verse, God's Character, Prayer, Action 

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1. Annotation Notes

? Denotes a question, * a personal thought, x a cross reference, ! a connection, and italics a referenced source.

1. ? What does the name John mean?
1. "Yahweh is gracious" ("John" at Behind the Name)
2. *I wonder if John saw this in his life. Surely, his parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth did. But I wonder how John personally experienced Yahweh's grace. To me, John's life seems more motivated by zeal.
2. ! The directives surrounding John's pre-birth treatment remind me of Samson. (Luke 1:15)
1. x The Lord's angel appeared to [Manoah's wife]. He said, ' You have not been able to give birth to any children until now. But you will become pregnant and you will give birth to a son. You must not drink any wine or any beer. You must not eat any food that is unclean...He is to be a Nazirite. He will belong to God from the time that he is born. He will begin to rescue the Israelites from the power of the Philistines...The boy will belong to me...until the day that he dies!"' Judges 13:3-7
2. x The LORD's Spirit began to give Samson strength when he was living in Mahaneh Dan. That place was between Zorah and Eshtaol. Judges 13:25 (See also Judges 14:19 and 15:14)
3. ? Was this a Nazirite vow, or different?
1. x The LORD said to Moses, 'Tell the Israelites this: "A man or a woman may want to make a special promise to the LORD. That will make him or her separate from other people, as a Nazirite. They must not drink wine. They must not drink any alcohol or vinegar. They must not drink the juice of grapes, or eat grapes or raisins. Numbers 6:1-3
2. x The LORD then said to Aaron, 'Do not drink wine before you go into the Tent of Meeting. And do not drink anything that contains alcohol. If you do, you will die. This rule is for you and for all your sons and grandsons. You must know what is holy. And you must know what is not holy. You must know what you can use. And you must know what you must not use to worship Me. Leviticus 10:8-10
3. x Do not drink too much wine so that you become drunk. That will destroy your life. Instead, let God's Spirit fill you. Ephesians 5:18
3. ! Jesus identifies John as Elijah during His ministry (Matthew 11:14), but the comparison began here. (Luke 1:17)
1. John's rugged clothing is a direct connection to Elijah. (from "Episode 91: Tavilah T'Shuvah" of the BEMA Discipleship Podcast) 
2. x The king asked them, "What kind of man was it who came to meet you...They replied, "He had a garment of hair and had a leather belt around his waist." The king said, "That was Elijah the Tishbite."' 2 Kings 1:7-8 NIV
4. ! The NIV says John will "go on before the LORD" which connects with:
1. x Then the LORD came down in the cloud. He came and he stood with Moses. The LORD spoke aloud his own name, the LORD. The LORD passed in front of Moses. He said in a loud voice, 'I am the LORD! The LORD! I am kind to people and I forgive them. I do not quickly become angry. My faithful love for my people continues for ever, and I am always faithful. I faithfully love thousands of people. I forgive their sins when they turn against me. But if people are guilty, I surely punish them. I punish their children, their grandchildren and their grandchildren's children." Exodus 34:5-7 
2. x Look! I will send my prophet Elijah to you. He will come before that great day of the LORD arrives. That will be a day that makes people afraid. He will speak my message so that fathers and their children return together to me. Then I will not have to come and bring punishment on the land.' Malachi 4:5-6
5. *The fact that observers could tell "God really was with him", makes me imagine that he was an extraordinary child. (Luke 1:66)
6. ? When Zechariah spoke to John (Luke 1:76), I wonder if he was still filled with the Holy Spirit as he was when he sang God's message (Luke 1:67)
7. * I love the confidence Zechariah shows here about God's forgiveness: "[God's people] have done wrong things but God will forgive them." It shows that he is confident in his son's mission. (Luke 1:77)
8. ? When Zechariah says someone will come "from the highest place", is that a reference to heaven? (Luke 1:78).
9. * Zechariah describes exactly what we need in verse 79: "[Someone to] show us how to live so that we will not be afraid." And John gets to be the one who points us to that "someone"!
10. ? Why did John grow up in the wilderness.
1. Perhaps, Zechariah was an Essene. The Essenes dwelled in the wilderness. So, perhaps Zechariah sent John there to be raised in their ways. (from "Episode 91: Tavilah T'Shuvah" of the BEMA Discipleship Podcast) 

2. Summary

Gabriel told Zechariah to name his son John. John would be Holy Spirit led, like Elijah, from the time he was born. Through John, Gabriel prophesied, many people would turn back to God so they would be ready when the Lord comes. Even from the womb, John announced Jesus' presence, leaping when Mary arrived. Elizabeth named John, and Zechariah agreed, which ended his muteness. As John grew, news about him spread. As everyone watched him grow, people could see that God was with him. God made him very smart. Everyone wondered what John would be like as a man. He lived separated from people until God sent him to speak to Israel. The chapter closes with a father telling a son his purpose. Zechariah tells John that he is to be a prophet who will prepare the way of the Lord. John is to let God's people know that God can save them, that God will forgive them because of His lovingkindness, and that God has sent a rescuer who will bring light to our darkness. 

3. N/W/L Statements

1. I NOTICED that Zechariah was truly happy about John's purpose. 
2. I WONDER how many parents would celebrate telling their children that this is their purpose. How many parents would find pride in a child who devotes his or her life solely to being with God and telling others of His forgiveness, lovingkindness, and saving grace?
3. I think God wants us to LEARN that:
1. He always makes a way for us to return to Him and often uses people to do it.
2. We, too, were made for God's purpose.
3. We grow in Him when we spend time alone with Him.

4. Key Verse

To give [the Most High's] people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. Luke 1:77 (NIV)

This verse reminds me that I am saved from God's wrath because my sins are forgiven. It reminds me of John's purpose, and the message we still need to be reminded of today: Child, you are forgiven and loved. (Hear this promise sung over you in "Forgiven and Loved" by Jimmy Needham)

5. God's Character

1. God has a plan, and He makes it happen.
1. You may have lots of ideas about what you want to do. But it is the LORD's plans that are important. Proverbs 19:21
2. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, 'My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please." Isaiah 46:10 
3. In [Jesus] we stand to inherit even more. As His heirs, we are predestined to play a key role in His unfolding purpose that is energizing everything to conform to His will. Ephesians 1:11 VOICE 
4. 'I already knew you before I made you inside your mother's body. I chose you to be special before you were born. I chose you to be my prophet, to speak my message to other nations. Jeremiah 1:5 
2. God teaches us individually. You should not rely solely on the teachings of man.
1. Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their nostrils. Why hold them in esteem? Isaiah 2:22 NIV
2. I will teach you the right way to live. I will be your guide and I will take care of you. Psalm 32:8 
3. But the Father will send the Holy spirit to be with you. He will be your Helper. He will come in my name, and he will teach you all things. He will help you to remember everything that I have told you. John 14:26 ('In my name' here means that the Holy Spirit is like Jesus himself. He teaches us the things that Jesus wants us to learn. - EasyEnglish Bible footnote.)
4. Everything that is written in the Bible comes from God's Spirit. It helps us in many ways. The Bible teaches us what is true. It warns us when we are doing wrong things. It shows us what is right. It teaches us how to live good lives. 2 Timothy 3:16 

6. Pray

Father God, thank You for giving us John. John's story reminds us that You are our focus. Every answer begins and ends in turning to You. Teach me to devote my life to being alone with You in quiet places. Places where You are with me and pass before me. Places where I can train myself to listen only to Your voice. Then, like John, when I am ready, to strengthen my brother in Your might, with Your words, with Your forgiveness, and with Your promise of salvation.

7. Act

1. Believe God made a way for me.
2. Train myself to listen to God's voice.
3. Strengthen my brethren with Godly counsel.

Sample these related posts:

• To understand our 7-step rhythm for Bible study.
• For 2026 Bible study plan suggestions.
• To review Elizabeth's story.
• To review Zechariah's story. 
• To explore the comparison of John and Elijah.

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