His Name Is John

Lk. 1:63-64

And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And they all wondered. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.

 

 

The people were perplexed, when at the circumcision on the 8th day, Elizabeth said his name was John instead of Zachariah. No one in the family had been named John, so in their confusion, they turned to Zachariah for a word. Getting a tablet, he wrote that Elizabeth was indeed right. It was at this moment that his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed! I can only imagine what the neighbors, who were there just for the circumcision, thought. As might be expected, they were afraid and wondered what kind of child John would be. Certainly, all present knew that the hand of the Lord was on him. A miraculous birth was now followed by another miracle!

 

Then Zechariah began to prophesy concerning Israel and his son. First, he blessed God for visiting, redeeming, and raising up a horn of salvation for Israel. Israel would be saved from their enemies, and God would show the mercy that He had promised to the forefathers. Israel would be able to serve Him without fear and in holiness! Then he spoke of his son, John who would be called the prophet of the Most High. He would go before the Lord to prepare His way, to give knowledge of salvation to the people in the forgiveness of their sins. And all because of God's mercy, the sunrise would visit them from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death and to guide their feet into the way of peace. What a mission! And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance in Israel. John's life had a certain and very specific plan. So far it is characterized by one word, obedience, obedience in his parents and in his own life. What God had called him to do he must do!

 

Father,

How exciting to see Your plan in the lives of these three people! Teach me this same obedience so that what you have called me to do will be the driving force of my life.

In Jesus name,

Amen