"There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. The same
came for witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all
men might believe through him."--_John_ i. 6, 7.

"He was the lamp that burneth and shineth."--_John_ v. 35.

"In devotional pictures we see St. John the Evangelist and St. John
the Baptist standing together, one on each side of Christ."--_Mrs.
Jameson_.


Salome and Mary had a cousin named Elizabeth. Her home was not in
Galilee, but in Judæa--the southern part of the Holy Land--probably near
Hebron, possibly near Jerusalem. She had a son also named John. He was
so called because the angel Gabriel, who had told Mary to call her son
Jesus, had said to Zacharias, an aged high priest, the husband of
Elizabeth, concerning their son, "Thou shalt call his name John." This
name means "The Gift of God." Born in their old age he seemed especially
such to them. He was a gift not only to his parents, but to his country
and mankind. While Zebedee and Salome had not been told what their John
should become, Zacharias and Elizabeth had been told the future of their
John. The angel declared, "He shall be great." Had he said only this, we
might think he meant great in power, or learning, or in other things
which men call great, but which the Lord does not. Gabriel said, "He
shall be great in the sight of the Lord."

Mary visited the home of Elizabeth and the happy cousins praised God for
what He had revealed to them concerning their sons.

The greatness to which Elizabeth's son was to attain was that of a