Chapter 3

Katie returned in 2 minutes with another armload of candy. But as she spilled it onto the table, Mom interrupted, "Katie, you shouldn't be eating anymore candy; you ate enough already."

"Awww, just a little more?" she asked, looking like a sad, little puppy.

"Well…," she stalled. Looking at her puppy dog pout, she couldn't refuse. "Ok. But not too much."

Katie put as much candy as she could on her lap before anyone could say otherwise and immediately stuffed a lollipop in her mouth.

"Ok…," Jason picked up the paper and started reading from where Katie left off. "'So Mom left and I stayed with Elizabeth and Zachariah for three months helping her with this and that, such and such…

But then the big day came. After 3 months, Little John was born. As soon as he came, we expected for Zachariah to start speaking. So we waited, and waited, and waited. Still didn't talk. Through that time we had visitors come and go, all congratulating Liz on her baby. We waited for 8 days; on the 8th day after a child is born, you had to go have it circumcised and named. When we brought him to the temple, a lot of their neighbors came. All of them were fussing about the name. When we were supposed to tell the priest what the name was going to be, they pulled us aside and said, "Name him Zachariah, after his father."

"No!" Elizabeth said, "His name is John."

They tried to reason with her, but she stood firm. So they went straight to Zachariah, signing to him asking what the name should be. As he saw the signs, his eyes brightened and he asked for a writing tablet. As soon as he got it, he pulled out his pen and scribbled down, "His…name…is…John!" He handed it to them, and as soon as he did, words surged out of his mouth. He said:

Praise the Lord, the God of Israel! He has come to save his people. Our God has given us a mighty Savior from the family of David his servant. Long ago the Lord promised by the words of his holy prophets to save us from our enemies and from everyone who hates us. God said he would be kind to our people and keep his sacred promise. He told our ancestor Abraham that he would rescue us from our enemies. Then we could serve him without fear, by being holy and good as long as we live.

He then picked up John and continued on:

You, my son, will be called a prophet of God in heaven above. You will go ahead of the Lord to get everything ready for him. You will tell his people that they can be saved when their sins are forgiven. God's love and kindness will shine upon us like the sun that rises in the sky. On us who live in the dark shadow of death this light will shine to guide us into a life of peace.

All the neighbors marveled as we went to hug Zachariah as he was still holding baby John near his face. Many people came over and asked what the commotion was about. But we were too happy to tell. After that, I went home since Elizabeth didn't need me anymore. But I still had more problems ahead, and one of their names was Joseph.

I know, way to short. The next will be longer, i promise.