Call to Repent

Luke 1:13-17 
13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. 15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

Before Jesus was born, John the Baptist was given life; not the son of God, but filled with God's Spirit to make hearts ready for Jesus when He came. He would call all to turn (repent) to God, to give love from fathers to their children, and from disobedience (sin) to wisdom of God's justice lived out.  John prepared the way to repent and believe in Jesus Christ, God-in-our-midst...