Section 3
naturally unable to produce a child, God came in to enable them to have a son by His power.
In Luke 1:13 we see that the child born to Zachariah and Elizabeth would be called John. The Greek word for John is loannes, meaning Je hovah is favorable, Jehovah shows grace, or Jeho vah is the gracious Giver. This name is of Hebrew origin, Jochanan contracted into Johanan (2 Kings 25:23; 1 Chron. 3:24; 2 Chron. 28:12).
SEPARATED UNTO GOD AS A NAZARITE
AND FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
FROM HIS MOTHER'S WOMB
Luke 1:15 says concerning John the Baptist, "For he will be great before the Lord, and will by no means drink wine and strong drink; and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb." The word here concerning not drinking wine or strong drink indicates that John was to be a Nazarite (Num. 6:1-4). Instead of drinking wine, he would be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit replaces the wine (Eph. 5:18). John the Baptist was born a priest, one chosen by God. But this chosen priest of God became a Nazarite in addition. According to chapter six of Numbers, a Nazarite is not a chosen one; rather,