CHOICE 2: Luke 1:5-80 The Birth of John the Baptist

Zacharias and his wife Elisabeth were old in age and had no children. One day when Zacharias was in the temple burning incense, an angel of the Lord appeared unto him. The angel told him that his wife would bear a son, and that his name would be John. In Luke 1:14, the angel tells him, "And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth." 

Why would so many people rejoice over the birth of this child named John, who we know as John the Baptist? All throughout the first chapter of Luke it talks about the birth of John the Baptist and what kind of person he would be. He was to be a man filled with the Holy Ghost; A man who would turn the hearts of the fathers to the children; One who would be a holy prophet of the Lord and bring many unto Christ. John was destined to give light to those in darkness and spread the knowledge of salvation and repentance to all the people. It's no wonder the angel told Zacharias he would experience joy and gladness being the father of John. What righteous parent wouldn't love to raise a child so close to the Holy Ghost and such a powerful leader and example?! It would bring great joy and happiness to anyone. John was entrusted with the mission of preparing the way and baptizing the Savior of the world. There were countless numbers of people whose lives were changed for the better because of John's existence, and this is why there were so many who rejoiced at his birth!