Zechariah's words arouse our curiosity. He accurately predicts his son's future mission: he will be the Prophet of the Lord, destined to prepare for the arrival of Jesus the Messiah. John will take on the role of forerunner, thus embodying the priestly Messiah.
It is mentioned that he refers to the royal Messiah, even though the latter has not yet been born. It would be utterly inconceivable for him to give details about Mary's pregnancy, which was then in its third month.
The full light of the divine purpose shines forth in Zechariah's thinking and in his hymn, inspired by the Holy Spirit. He reveals God's entire plan to us!
With the information Mary provides, Zechariah understands that the divine plan is unfolding before his eyes. The two important figures awaited by the Jewish people enter the political scene: John, the priestly Messiah, and Jesus, the royal Messiah.
Mary realises that she is an integral part of this plan, which is unfolding perfectly. The prophecies, which had raised great hopes and seemed slow to be fulfilled, are beginning to come true. According to our analysis, she probably witnesses this happy event with her family, who have come to the Temple for the Passover festival.
Mary commits all of Zechariah's words to memory and shares them with Luke. No one could forget such an event!
After the death of his parents, who were already elderly when he was born, John leaves his father's home to live as a hermit in the wilderness areas of the region where he will later exercise his role as the priestly Messiah.
This ministry will begin in April 26, in accordance with the indications given by the prophet Daniel 9.26-27. According to our interpretation, John's exceptional renown requires a ministry of 3.5 years, again based on the information in Daniel 9.24-27.
We will encounter him again later at the baptism of Jesus the Messiah.