The Birth of the Forerunner
Honoring the day the world first met John the Baptist
All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, "What, then, will this child be?" For surely the hand of the Lord was with him. The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.
Luke 1:65-66
The birth of John the Baptist was not just a joyful family event. It was a moment of divine anticipation.
His father, Zechariah, had been struck mute until this day. His mother, Elizabeth, had conceived him in her old age. And now, as the neighbors gathered to witness the naming of the child, something sacred unfolded, something unmistakably touched by God.
The people asked, “What then will this child be?” It was a question full of wonder and awe. John was no ordinary boy.
From the very beginning, his life was marked by purpose. Chosen to prepare the way for the Lord, John’s birth was a sign that God was moving, speaking, and fulfilling His promises.
Though he would later live in the desert, away from comfort and praise, his spirit would grow strong in silence and solitude. And when the time came, he would step forward boldly, calling others to repentance and pointing them toward the Lamb of God.
Today, as we remember John’s birth, we’re reminded that God’s plans often begin quietly, even in places we least expect. A small village. A barren woman. A child born into mystery and hope.
Have you ever sensed that your life or someone else’s has been quietly shaped by God’s hand? What small beginnings can you look back on now and see His purpose?
Lord, thank You for the gift of John the Baptist, who prepared the way for Your Son.
Help me to trust in the quiet work You are doing in my life.
Give me faith to believe that even the smallest beginnings can carry Your great plans.
Amen.