Babies usually bring great joy with their arrival. Kinfolks and friends are overjoyed for the family. This joy will be true for John, the son of Zechariah and Elizabeth. However, the joy will be multiplied in this case, and not just because his parents are given John as a surprise blessing late in life. He will have a crucial role to play in the coming of God's promised Messiah, Jesus Christ. John will reach many hearts that the religion of the day could not touch. His life from the womb will be one that is dedicated to the Messiah sent by God. John will identify himself by his diet and his habits as one specially consecrated to the work of God. But unlike the ascetics of the desert who withdrew from sinful people, John will speak with the Spirit and fire of God and draw sinful people to his message and prepare them to meet Jesus. With the birth of any child, let's pray that he or she will bring glory to God and bring many others to come to know his Son.