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==122:2. GABRIEL APPEARS TO ELIZABETH==  

==122:2. GABRIEL APPEARS TO ELIZABETH==  

122:2.1 Jesus' lifework on Urantia was really begun by John the Baptist. Zacharias, John's father, belonged to the Jewish priesthood, while his mother, Elizabeth, was a member of the more prosperous branch of the same large family group to which Mary the mother of Jesus also belonged. Zacharias and Elizabeth, though they had been married many years, were childless.

122:2.1 [[Jesus]]' lifework on [[Urantia]] was really begun by [[John the Baptist]]. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zechariah_(priest) Zacharias], John's [[father]], belonged to the [[Jewish]] [[priesthood]], while his mother, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_(Biblical_person) Elizabeth], was a member of the more prosperous branch of the same large [[family]] [[group]] to which [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_(mother_of_Jesus) Mary] the mother of Jesus also belonged. Zacharias and Elizabeth, though they had been [[married]] many years, were childless.

122:2.2 It was late in the month of June, 8 B.C., about three months after the marriage of Joseph and Mary, that Gabriel appeared to Elizabeth at noontide one day, just as he later made his presence known to Mary. Said Gabriel:

122:2.2 It was late in the month of June, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8_BC 8 B.C.], about three months after the [[marriage]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Joseph Joseph] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_(mother_of_Jesus) Mary], that ''Gabriel appeared to Elizabeth'' at noontide one day, just as he later made his [[presence]] known to Mary. Said Gabriel:

122:2.3 " While your husband, Zacharias, stands before the altar in Jerusalem, and while the assembled people pray for the coming of a deliverer, I, Gabriel, have come to announce that you will shortly bear a son who shall be the forerunner of this divine teacher, and you shall call your son John. He will grow up dedicated to the Lord your God, and when he has come to full years, he will gladden your heart because he will turn many souls to God, and he will also proclaim the coming of the soul-healer of your people and the spirit-liberator of all mankind. Your kinswoman Mary shall be the mother of this child of promise, and I will also appear to her. "

122:2.3 " While your [[husband]], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zechariah_(priest) Zacharias], stands before the [[altar]] in [[Jerusalem]], and while the assembled people pray for the coming of a deliverer, I, [[Gabriel]], have come to announce that you will shortly bear a son who shall be the forerunner of this [[divine]] [[teacher]], and you shall call your son John. He will grow up [[dedicated]] to the Lord your God, and when he has come to full years, he will gladden your [[heart]] because he will turn many [[souls]] to [[God]], and he will also [[proclaim]] the coming of the [[soul]]-healer of your people and the spirit-liberator of all [[mankind]]. Your kinswoman [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_(mother_of_Jesus) Mary] shall be the [[mother]] of this child of [[promise]], and I will also appear to her. "

122:2.4 This vision greatly frightened Elizabeth. After Gabriel's departure she turned this experience over in her mind, long pondering the sayings of the majestic visitor, but did not speak of the revelation to anyone save her husband until her subsequent visit with Mary in early February of the following year.

122:2.4 This [[vision]] greatly frightened Elizabeth. After [[Gabriel]]'s departure she turned this [[experience]] over in her [[mind]], long [[pondering]] the sayings of the [[majestic]] [[visitor]], but did not speak of the [[revelation]] to anyone save her [[husband]] until her subsequent visit with Mary in early February of the following year.

122:2.5 For five months, however, Elizabeth withheld her secret even from her husband. Upon her disclosure of the story of Gabriel's visit, Zacharias was very skeptical and for weeks doubted the entire experience, only consenting halfheartedly to believe in Gabriel's visit to his wife when he could no longer question that she was expectant with child. Zacharias was very much perplexed regarding the prospective motherhood of Elizabeth, but he did not doubt the integrity of his wife, notwithstanding his own advanced age. It was not until about six weeks before John's birth that Zacharias, as the result of an impressive dream, became fully convinced that Elizabeth was to become the mother of a son of destiny, one who was to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah.

122:2.5 For five months, however, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_(Biblical_person) Elizabeth] withheld her [[secret]] even from her [[husband]]. Upon her disclosure of the [[story]] of [[Gabriel]]'s visit, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zechariah_(priest) Zacharias] was very [[skeptical]] and for weeks doubted the entire [[experience]], only consenting halfheartedly to believe in [[Gabriel]]'s visit to his wife when he could no longer question that she was [[Pregnant|expectant with child]]. Zacharias was very much perplexed regarding the prospective [[motherhood]] of Elizabeth, but he did not [[doubt]] the [[integrity]] of his [[wife]], notwithstanding his own advanced age. It was not until about six weeks before John's [[birth]] that Zacharias, as the result of an impressive [[dream]], became fully convinced that [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_(Biblical_person) Elizabeth] was to become the [[mother]] of a son of [[destiny]], one who was to [[prepare]] the way for the coming of the [[Messiah]].

122:2.6 Gabriel appeared to Mary about the middle of November, 8 B.C., while she was at work in her Nazareth home. Later on, after Mary knew without doubt that she was to become a mother, she persuaded Joseph to let her journey to the City of Judah, four miles west of Jerusalem, in the hills, to visit Elizabeth. Gabriel had informed each of these mothers-to-be of his appearance to the other. Naturally they were anxious to get together, compare experiences, and talk over the probable futures of their sons. Mary remained with her distant cousin for three weeks. Elizabeth did much to strengthen Mary's faith in the vision of Gabriel, so that she returned home more fully dedicated to the call to mother the child of destiny whom she was so soon to present to the world as a helpless babe, an average and normal infant of the realm.

122:2.6 [[Gabriel]] appeared to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_(mother_of_Jesus) Mary] about the middle of November, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8_BC 8 B.C.], while she was at work in her [[Nazareth]] [[home]]. Later on, after Mary knew without [[doubt]] that she was to become a [[mother]], she persuaded [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Joseph Joseph] to let her [[journey]] to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribe_of_Judah City of Judah], four miles west of [[Jerusalem]], in the hills, to visit Elizabeth. [[Gabriel]] had informed each of these [[mothers]]-to-be of his [[appearance]] to the [[other]]. Naturally they were [[anxious]] to get [[together]], compare [[experiences]], and talk over the probable [[futures]] of their sons. Mary remained with her distant cousin for three weeks. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_(Biblical_person) Elizabeth] did much to strengthen [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_(mother_of_Jesus) Mary]'s [[faith]] in the [[vision]] of [[Gabriel]], so that she returned home more fully [[dedicated]] to the call to [[mother]] the child of [[destiny]] whom she was so soon to present to the world as a helpless babe, an [[average]] and [[normal]] infant of the realm.

122:2.7 John was born in the City of Judah, March 25, 7 B.C. Zacharias and Elizabeth rejoiced greatly in the realization that a son had come to them as Gabriel had promised, and when on the eighth day they presented the child for circumcision, they formally christened him John, as they had been directed aforetime. Already had a nephew of Zacharias departed for Nazareth, carrying the message of Elizabeth to Mary proclaiming that a son had been born to her and that his name was to be John.

122:2.7 [[John the Baptist|John]] was born in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribe_of_Judah City of Judah], March 25, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7_BC 7 B.C.] Zacharias and Elizabeth rejoiced greatly in the [[realization]] that a son had come to them as [[Gabriel]] had [[promised]], and when on the eighth day they presented the child for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circumcision circumcision], they formally christened him John, as they had been directed aforetime. Already had a nephew of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zechariah_(priest) Zacharias] departed for [[Nazareth]], carrying the message of Elizabeth to Mary [[proclaiming]] that a son had been born to her and that his name was to be John.

122:2.8 From his earliest infancy John was judiciously impressed by his parents with the idea that he was to grow up to become a spiritual leader and religious teacher. And the soil of John's heart was ever responsive to the sowing of such suggestive seeds. Even as a child he was found frequently at the temple during the seasons of his father's service, and he was tremendously impressed with the significance of all that he saw.

122:2.8 From his earliest [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infant infancy] [[John the Baptist|John]] was judiciously impressed by his [[parents]] with the [[idea]] that he was to grow up to become a [[spiritual]] [[leader]] and religious teacher. And the [[soil]] of John's [[heart]] was ever responsive to the sowing of such suggestive [[seed]]s. Even as a child he was found frequently at the [[temple]] during the seasons of his father's service, and he was tremendously impressed with the significance of all that he saw.

==122:3. GABRIEL'S ANNOUNCEMENT TO MARY==

==122:3. GABRIEL'S ANNOUNCEMENT TO MARY==