Page 349 - Bible History

II. THE REDEEMER AMONG MEN
1. THE CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH OF JESUS
Tbe About six miles west of Jerusalem in the little town ar;' of Ain-Karem, lived a priest whose name was Zachary and his wife, Elizabeth. They belonged to the tribe of Levi, and the Bible says that they were just in the sight of God and walked without reproach in the com­ mandments and laws of the Lord. They lived a quiet and secluded life in this little town in the hill country of Judea. From time to time, when it was his turn, Zachary left his home and went up to Jerusalem to
take part in the services of the Temple.
There was one great disappointment in the lives of
Zachary and Elizabeth. For many years they had been pr ing to God to send them a son, but they had given up hope that God would hear them.
One day towards the end of the reign of Herod the Great, when it was Zachary's turn to serve in the Tem­ ple, he went to place incense on the Altar of Incense that stood in the Holy Place, just outside of the veil of the Holy of Holies. He was standing before the Altar when suddenly he beheld an angel near him. He was frightened, but the angel said, ''Fear not, Zachary. Thy wife, Elizabeth, shall have a son and thou shalt call his name John. He shall be great before the Lord and shall be lled with the Holy Ghost. He shall con­ vert many of the Children of Israel to the Lord their
322