COMPARISONS BETWEEN THE BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST AND JESUS OF NAZARETH
| The Announcement of John's Birth | The Announcement of Jesus' Birth |
| The angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah to tell of a miraculous birth: Luke 1:11 | The angel Gabriel appears to Mary to tell of a miraculous birth: Luke 1:26-27 |
| Gabriel tells Zechariah, Zechariah, do not be afraid, for your prayer has been heard. Luke 1:13 | Gabriel tells Mary, Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God's favor. Luke 1:30 |
| Gabriel announces the name of the child, ...and you shall name him John Luke 1:13 | Gabriel announces the name of the child, ...and you must name him Jesus Luke 1:31 |
| Gabriel announces the mission of the child, even from his mother's womb he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, and he will bring back many of the Israelites to the Lord their God...preparing for the Lord a people fit for him. Luke 1:15-17 | Gabriel announces the mission of the child, He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; he will rule over the House of Jacob forever and his reign will have no end. Luke 1:32-33 |
| Zechariah expresses disbelief and is rebuked, Zechariah said to the angel, 'How can I know this? I am an old man...The angel replied...'Look, since you do not believe my words....you will be silenced..' Luke 1:18-20 | Mary expresses concern and is assured, 'But how can this come about, since I have no knowledge of man?' The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will com upon you, and the power of the Most High will over you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God.' Luke 1:34-36 |
| John is born: The time came for Elizabeth to have her child, and she gave birth to a son... Luke 1:57 | Jesus is born: ...the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth of a son, her first-born. Luke 2:6 |
| John is circumcised and named on the 8th day: Now it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; ... 'he is to be called John.' Luke 1:59-60 | Jesus is circumcised on the 8th day: When the eighth day came and the child was to be circumcised, they gave him the name Jesus, the name the angel had given him before his conception. Luke 2:21 |
| Zechariah speaks the prophecy of the Benedictus in Luke 1:67-79 | Mary speaks the prophecy of the Magnificat in Luke 1:47-55 |
| John's birth story conclusion: ...the child grew up and his spirit grew strong. Luke 1:80 | Jesus' birth story conclusion: And as the child grew to maturity, he was filled with wisdom, and God's favor was with him. Luke 2:40 |
Michal Hunt, Copyright © 2004 Agape Bible Study. Permissions All Rights Reserved.