New Testament Stories

His Name is John

And He asked for a writing tablet, and wrote saying

his name was John. Luke 1:63

                              In the days when herod was king of Judah, a priest named Zechariah lived in Jerusalem. He and his wife Elizabeth were getting old and still had no children.

      One day as Zechariah was burning incense in God's temple. he had a vision of an angel. (A vision is kind of a dream from God.) He saw the angel come and stand beside the altar.

      Zechariah was frightened. But the angel said, "Zechariah don't be afraid. God has heard your prayers, and your wife Elizabeth will have a child. You will name him John, and he will grow up to be God's prophet."

     Zechariah said, "My wife and I are very old, How can I be sure this will happen?"

     "I am Gabriel the angel who stands near God. I was sent to tell you this news. Since you did not believe God's message, you won't be able to speak again until the child is born."

     Zechariah came out of the temple unable to speak.  All of the people who were there knew that he had some kind of vision.

     Months later Elizabeth's baby was born. Her neighbors were full of joy because God had heard her prayers for a baby. "His name is John said Elizabeth. But everyone said, "He should be named Zechariah like his father."

     Zechariah remembered what Gabriel had said. He could not speak so he wrote on a table, "The child's name is John."

     As soon as he wrote that Zechariah was able to speak again. Then all there friends and neighbors knew that this baby was special to the Lord God.

     Zechariah was filled with God's Holy Spirit. He sang a wonderful song that said, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel! God has saved us and will bring a savior from the house of David. You, child will make the people ready for the Lord's coming."

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