His Name is John

Creation: A Divine Cycle
The Savior Has Been born

The Forerunner of the Savior

Luke 1:57-66  The Message

The Birth of John

^57-58 When Elizabeth was full-term in her pregnancy, she bore a son. Her neighbors and relatives, seeing that God had overwhelmed her with mercy, celebrated with her.

^59-60 On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child and were calling him Zachariah after his father. But his mother intervened: “No. He is to be called John.”
^61-62 “But,” they said, “no one in your family is named that.” They used sign language to ask Zachariah what he wanted him named.
^63-64 Asking for a tablet, Zachariah wrote, “His name is to be John.” That took everyone by surprise. Surprise followed surprise—Zachariah’s mouth was now open, his tongue loose, and he was talking, praising God!
^65-66 A deep, reverential fear settled over the neighborhood, and in all that Judean hill country people talked about nothing else. Everyone who heard about it took it to heart, wondering, “What will become of this child? Clearly, God has his hand in this.”

For Reflection

How difficult must it have been for Zachariah to remain mute during his wife's pregnancy and into the eighth day.  On that day in celebration of the linage of Zachariah, God was not finishing turning the tables.  There was no doubt that this birth was a sign from God.  John was delivered into this world for a special purpose and all were talking about it.

Pray

for the understanding of God's will.  Pray for those who are so hurried and tied up in hustle that they miss the meaning of their lives.  Pray for patience. Pray for confidence in God.