1. What was John's purpose according to the Angel? (see John 1:16-17). Compare that with the Prophecy by Isaiah and Malachi. (Read Isaiah 40:3-4 and Malachi 3:1 and 4:5-6.) What does this say about God's character?

2. Zechariah has been visited by an angel and he is initially surprised and afraid. What does Zechariah's response to the angel about him having a son when he and his wife are too old to have children, say about people in general.

3. Read numbers 6:1-9. Do you think that Jewish people at the time would have thought that John the Baptist was 'nazarite' based on the description in John 1:15-17? Do you think John was a nazarite based on today’s reading taking into account John's mission as described by the angel? For comparison the only other nazarites from birth were Samuel and Samson.