Malachi prophesied that God would send a special messenger, a messenger of the covenant. This messenger would purify or cleanse the priests, the sons of Levi. They needed to be reminded of the covenant and the Jewish laws. They had not been presenting offerings to the Lord in righteousness. Malachi's prophecy was encouraging. He foretold that this messenger from God would bring the priests back to the ways of God so that the offerings would once again be pleasing to the Lord. Malachi foretold the return of Elijah whom Jesus later connected with John the Baptist.

Elizabeth, Mary's elderly cousin, gave birth to John the Baptist. As was the custom, the boy was to be named after his father, Zechariah; but Elizabeth insisted that his name be John for that was the name that the angel Gabriel had revealed to Zechariah in the temple. Zechariah had doubted that he and Elizabeth would have a child at their age. Gabriel had therefore left him unable to speak. But now once Zechariah agreed with Elizabeth that the child would be named John, he began to speak and praise God. The people were filled with wonder and awe as it was clear that this was the work of God.