John was filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother's womb according to the promise of the angel. We should not be surprised that he grows strong in the Spirit. While we can debate whether the "s" in spirit should be lower case or upper case, the truth is, the Holy Spirit filled John's spirit and empowered his life. John was not shaped by the culture of the city or by the ways of the Temple. John was shaped by God in the same way God shaped Israel before they reached the Promised Land—the desert. John's role was unique; his ways were strange and bizarre to us that live many years later. The point Luke wants us to know, however, is that John was Spirit-led. His work sets the stage for the dawning of the age of the Spirit and the New Covenant. That Spirit is ours when we become Christians. He leads, guides, transforms, equips, and informs us as the children of God and helps us be all that we can be. We, too, can become strong in the Spirit!