The Good News according to Luke begins with an elderly childless couple, simple believers living in a remote corner of the world. God's goodness and power would be shown to Elizabeth, mother of the one who would be known as 'John' - 'God has shown favour'. It was the favour that God had shown to her humble and despised ancestors: Sarah, Rebecca and Rachel, and Hannah, mother of the prophet Samuel.

Elizabeth and Zechariah's son John would be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's womb; he would live a life of austerity; he would receive the mission to preach repentance; he would operate with the spirit of Elijah to open for the people the way to the Lord, through justice and faithfulness to God's law.

From the words of God's messenger, Zechariah will be learning that his, his wife's and his son's lives are in God's plan of sending the Saviour to the world.