Luke 1:57-66, 80 ELIZABETH
HE SHALL BE CALLED JOHN
Luke 1:57 Now Elisabeth's full
time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.
Just as the angel had told
Zacharias, Elizabeth gave birth to a boy. Like her ancestor Sarah before her,
she had a healthy pregnancy despite being past the age of childbearing.
Luke 1:58 And her neighbours
and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they
rejoiced with her.
As the angel had predicted,
this baby brought great joy, not only to
Zacharias and Elizabeth, but also to their extended family and community.
Luke 1:59 And it came to pass,
that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him
Zacharias, after the name of his father. 60 And his mother answered and said,
Not so; but he shall be called John.
Whoever spoke first wanted to
make the baby Zacharias’ namesake, but Elizabeth spoke up and said that he was
to be called John instead. This must have shocked the midwives because tradition was to name
the firstborn after his father. However, Elizabeth was obeying
what the angel had told Zacharias in the temple. Her husband must have
communicated the command of the angel to her even though he still could not
speak.
Luke 1:61 And they said unto
her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. 62 And they made
signs to his father, how he would have him called.
Not only was John not one of
Zacharias’ names, but the name was found nowhere in their family tree as far as
anyone near them knew. So, in improvised sign language, they asked Zacharias
what to name the baby. Never make assumptions about someone’s limitations. The priests
must have assumed that since Zacharias could not speak that he was deaf as
well. Wrong.
Luke 1:63 And he asked for a
writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. 64
And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and
praised God.
Zacharias motioned for a
writing table and let them all know that he wanted to name the baby John.
People were disconcerted at this, but the most astonishing thing happened next.
His obedience in naming the child John in accordance with the angel
Gabriel’s declaration enabled him to speak again! This time, instead of
doubting, Zacharias affirmed the work of the Lord through his praises.
Luke 1:65 And fear came on all
that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad
throughout all the hill country of Judaea. 66 And all they that heard them laid
them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the
hand of the Lord was with him.
The neighbors were filled with
the fear of the Lord and spread the news of this miraculous birth everywhere
they went. They made a point to remember the events of Zacharias being unable
to speak and then healed of dumbness as soon as he confirmed the name of baby
John. They wondered what he might grow up to be! They probably were not
envisioning camel hair clothing and eating locusts and honey! Those who were discerning, in
tune with the Spirit of the Lord, knew that God was with John even throughout
his childhood among them.
In verses 67 through 79,
Zacharias praises God and prophesies about his son which we will explore next
year in “The Men of Christmas.”
Luke 1:80 And the child grew,
and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing
unto Israel.
Elizabeth’s miracle son grew
stronger and stronger in the Lord. As a man he spent time with God in the
desert until it was the appointed time for him to prepare the way of the
Messiah. John (who became known as the Baptist or the Baptizer) spent much
time alone with his God, and God prepared his heart to preach the good news and
be the first to point to Jesus as the Perfect Lamb of God. You can read about
this in the first few chapters of the Gospel of John (the disciple, not this
John).
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