Luke 1:14-15 14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness ( personal and communal rejoicing ), and many shall rejoice ( not just private but public significance ) at his birth ( his coming would be a blessing to others ). 15 For he ( John the Baptist ) shall be great in the sight of the Lord ( see lesson #2 at the end of chapter 1 ), and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink ( John was to be holy. There is, however, no evidence that John was a Nazarite; cf. Numbers 6:1-21 ),