The Birth of John

Lk. 1:57-80

Elizabeth did indeed give birth to a son. All her neighbors and family rejoiced that the Lord had been merciful to her in removing her barrenness. When it came time to circumcise the baby [8 days later], others inquired if they would name him Zechariah after his father. Elizabeth declared his name would be John. This was unheard of since there was no one in the family named John. Consequently, they went to Zechariah to inquire about the name. Surely Elizabeth must be wrong! But Zechariah wrote on a tablet that he was to be called John, and, at that moment, his tongue was loosed. Everyone there wondered. Zechariah's first words were blessings to God. However, fear descended on all those watching, and as the story spread, fear descended on all those in the hill country of Judea. They wondered what kind of child this would be since the hand of the Lord was upon him. Was it so foreign to see the hand of God upon someone? Or was it that the power of the Lord was a fearful thing? They knew that with great power came great judgment as well. 

Zechariah, being filled with the Spirit, prophesied. 

 68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people 69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, 70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, 71 that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; 72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, 73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us 74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high 79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."

Zechariah certainly understood what John's ministry was to be, and he understood that prophecy was to be fulfilled. He was the father of the prophet of the Most High. He was the father of the forerunner of the Messiah. He was the father of a baby named John! John did grow physically and in spirit. He was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance. And what an appearance that would be!

Father,

Thank You for your words allowing us to see how You have worked and will work in the future. Thank You for orchestrating all the events necessary for the birth of Your son.

In Jesus name,

Amen