ZACHARIAS: NAME THE BABY JOHN - LUKE 1:57-66

ZACHARIAS

Name the Baby John

Luke 1:57-66

Luke 1:57 Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

Susie: 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.

Susan: This was a miraculous pregnancy by the grace of God, not just conceiving at that age, but the physical stamina God gave Elizabeth to deliver a healthy baby.

Luke 1:58 And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.

Susie: As the angel had predicted, this baby brought great joy, not only to Zacharias and Elizabeth, . . .

Susan: …but also to their extended family and community. Everybody wanted a piece of that baby to love.

Susie: They all recognized God’s hand in bringing this joy to Zacharias and Elizabeth.

Luke 1:59-60 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. And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

Susie: God had commanded Abraham that all baby boys born into the chosen people would be circumcised on the eighth day as a sign of the covenant. By the time Zacharias’s son was born, it had also been customary to name the child at this time.

Susan: Perhaps this was the forerunner of our modern baby dedication. Whoever spoke first wanted to make the baby Zacharias’s namesake, but Elizabeth spoke up and said that he was to be called John instead.

Susie: This must have shocked the midwives because tradition was to name the firstborn after his father.

Susan: However, Elizabeth was obeying what the angel had told Zacharias in the temple.

Susie: Her husband must have communicated the command of the angel to her even though he still could not speak. Perhaps he wrote her a note, or they were able to communicate with gestures since they had bee married a long time.

Luke 1:61-62 And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name. And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.

Susie: Not only was John not one of Zacharias’s 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. They did not take Elizabeth’s word for it.

Susan: 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 1:63-64 And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all. And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.

Susie: Zacharias motioned for a writing table and let them all know that he wanted to name the baby John just as Elizabeth had said. 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!

Susan: This time, instead of doubting, Zacharias affirmed the work of the Lord through his praises.

Luke 1:65-66 And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea. 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.

Susan: The neighbors were filled with the fear of the Lord and spread the news of this miraculous birth everywhere they went. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, to this is not a negative thing. This opens them up to truly engaging in relationship with the Lord.

Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Susie: 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 John might grow up to be! They probably were not envisioning camel hair clothing and eating locusts and honey!

Susan: Those who were discerning, in tune with the Spirit of the Lord, knew that God was with John even throughout his childhood among them.

QUESTIONS

1. Compare Luke 1:14 with Luke 1:58. How is verse 58 a fulfillment of the angel’s words to Zacharias?

2. What Jewish tradition was carried out on the day the baby John was named?

3. Why the neighbors surprised when Elizabeth said to name the baby John?

4. What happened when Zacharias confirmed Elizabeth’s choice of John for the baby’s name?