December 9th - The Birth of the Forerunner - John

 

Passage: The Birth of the Forerunner John

⁵⁷ When Elizabeth’s pregnancy was full term, she gave birth to a son. ⁵⁸ All her family, friends, and neighbours heard about it, and they too were overjoyed, for they realized that the Lord had showered such wonderful mercy upon her.

⁵⁹ When the baby was eight days old, according to their custom, all the family and friends came together for the circumcision ceremony. Everyone was convinced that the parents would name the baby Zechariah, after his father. ⁶⁰ But Elizabeth spoke up and said, “No, he has to be named John!” ⁶¹ “What?” they exclaimed. “No one in your family line has that name!” ⁶² So they gestured to the baby’s father to ask what to name the child. ⁶³ After motioning for a writing tablet, in amazement of all, he wrote, “His name is John.”

⁶⁴ Instantly Zechariah could speak again. And his first words were praises to the Lord. ⁶⁵ The fear of God then fell on the people of their village, and the news of this astounding event travelled throughout the hill country of Judea. Everyone was in awe over it! ⁶⁶ All who heard this news were astonished and wondered, “If a miracle brought his birth, what on earth will this child become? Clearly, God’s presence is upon this child in a powerful way!” (Luke 1:57-64)

Ponder:

Family, friends, and neighbours were overjoyed at this astounding event, a miraculously born son to the advanced in years Elizabeth. Even the fact that Zechariah was struck both deaf and dumb (v62) and then began to speak and hear again at John’s birth, made everyone sit up and notice that John was to be no ordinary child. He was to be the cousin forerunner and prophet, to herald the coming of Jesus the Messiah.

The time had come for the circumcision and naming of the child. “Tradition dictated that the child should receive a family name, honouring a parent or grandparent or some other relative. The crowd expected the child to be named Zechariah Junior. It was as if God was getting Luke’s readers to realise that this was to be a special child, with a special destiny.

21.09.06BC-15.01.05BC

Prayer:

Lord, you have made each of us for a unique purpose. Speak to us in the coming days as to what you would have us to do. Like John, let you presence be upon us in a powerful way.

*(The Jesus Diary – The Most Comprehensive Chronology of the Life of Jesus Christ, the Son of God)

** Luke: The NIV Application commentary from Biblical Text to Contemporary Life: Darrell L. Brock – Quotations (moving forward) will be from this source and The Matthew Commentary Collection by Wilkins, Osborne and McKnight.