Luke 1:15 “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.”
What does it mean to say he will be great in the Lord’s sight? Will God be impressed with this person? Will he be somehow more special than others? The Lord’s sight is referring to His favor, His grace, His blessing. To be in the Lord’s sight is to be before His face, to be in His Presence.
So what exactly is the difference between wine and strong drink? Strong drink refers to intoxicating liquors that contained a very high level of alcohol content. Whereas, wine refers to beverages that would not generally cause intoxication, unless imbibed in large amounts.
Wouldn’t a Jewish man automatically abstain from alcohol? The answer is, no, not necessarily. The law contains warnings about strong drink, and does prohibit certain persons from drinking at certain times. It also warns very sternly about the dangers of intoxicating liquors. But, there is not a commandment that specifically says ‘Do not drink alcohol’.
Please keep in mind however, the law also does not prohibit someone from having more than one wife. This of course should not be done. The New Testament makes it plain that Christians are to be monogamous. In the same way, just because the Bible doesn’t specifically say don’t drink, that doesn’t necessarily make it a good idea.
In John’s case, the abstinence from wine or strong drink is an indication of his dedication to God. Beyond this, we are also told that he was filled with the Holy Spirit from the womb. This seems strange to us. How could John be saved before he was ever born?
This is a complicated question to answer. The best way to understand it is this. The Holy Spirit is automatically fills a person who is saved, who becomes a child of God. However, in Old Testament times the Holy Spirit was given to those to whom God chose. And, in the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit could be taken away from these people. We find John in the period between the Old Testament and the New Testament. John was chosen especially by God and had the Holy Spirit before he was ever born. He did indeed believe in the Lord Jesus Christ at a later time. Though he knew from before birth that Jesus was the Christ, he still had to personally believe in Christ just as any of us does.
Heavenly Father, thank You for taking such a profound interest in our lives. You care about every little detail. You have a plan for every last moment. And You know our future. Thank You for Your love and care for us! You are the one who guides our steps. We praise You forever! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.