Elisabeth's Neighbours Rejoice at John's Birthby CBPepper
1:58Luke 1:58
And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.
The great mercy was the Lord giving Elizabeth a son in answer to many years of prayer for the coming Redeemer. That mercy was announced in the holy place of the sanctuary before the golden altar while the cloud of incense with the prayers of Israel ascended before God. The angel standing on the right side of the altar signaled divine favor, but Zacharias took no note of it. The mercy seemed too great for him to credit, filling him with fear and self-condemnation.
Neighbors and relatives recognized the great mercy God had shown Elizabeth and shared her joy at John's birth. The news of the forerunner's birth and the significance of his mission spread abroad. The signs surrounding his birth, including the angel's message to Zacharias and the restoration of his speech, were largely forgotten over the next thirty years but were recalled when John appeared as a prophet.
The great mercy was the Lord giving Elizabeth a son in answer to many years of prayer for the coming Redeemer. That mercy was announced in the holy place of the sanctuary before the golden altar while the cloud of incense with the prayers of Israel ascended before God. The angel standing on the right side of the altar signaled divine favor, but Zacharias took no note of it. The mercy seemed too great for him to credit, filling him with fear and self-condemnation.
Neighbors and relatives recognized the great mercy God had shown Elizabeth and shared her joy at John's birth. The news of the forerunner's birth and the significance of his mission spread abroad. The signs surrounding his birth, including the angel's message to Zacharias and the restoration of his speech, were largely forgotten over the next thirty years but were recalled when John appeared as a prophet.