Elizabeth gave birth to a boy, just as the angel Gabriel had said. In observance of the law, when the baby was eight days old, he was circumcised. God had commanded circumcision when he was beginning to form his holy nation (Genesis 17:4-14), and he had reaffirmed it through Moses (Leviticus 12:1-3).
The day of circumcision was also the day when parents would formally announce the child’s name. Family lines and family names were important to the Jews. The people naturally assumed the child would receive Zechariah’s name or at least a family name. Thus, they were surprised that Elizabeth wanted to name the boy John. Apparently Zechariah had communicated to Elizabeth all that the angel had told him, so she knew what the child’s name was to be. Zechariah and Elizabeth knew what family and friends did not know—that John had been given his name by God, and that he had a God-given mission to fulfill.
After fulfilling God’s command spoken through the angel that he name the child John, instantly Zechariah could speak again. With his first words, he began praising God. The last words Zechariah had spoken months before had been words of doubt; his first words when all was being fulfilled, even the name of the child, were words of praise to God for all God had done and all he would do through this special child. It was obvious to everyone that the hand of the Lord was on John in a special way.
Zechariah praised God because he sent a mighty Savior from the royal line of his servant David. The Jews were eagerly awaiting the Messiah, but they thought he would come to save them from the powerful Roman Empire. They were ready for a military Savior, but not for a peaceful Messiah who would conquer sin. Zechariah’s words would come true, but in a different manner than most expected. Thirty years later, when Jesus began his public ministry, he would be misunderstood and rejected for not being the mighty warrior for whom the Jews had been hoping.
After recalling hundreds of years of God’s sovereign work in history, beginning with Abraham and going on into eternity, Zechariah personalized the story. His son had been chosen for a key role in the drama of the ages. Although God has unlimited power, he chooses to work through frail humans. His son, John, would prepare the way for the Messiah, telling his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins.
Luke briefly gave a glimpse of John’s growing-up years. John became strong in spirit (moral character and love for God). That John lived out in the wilderness refers to his isolation from people as he prepared for ministry. His parents, already old when he was conceived, presumably did not live very long into his growing-up years. John would have been on his own. Suffice it to say that this alone time with God was all part of the Lord's plan to ready John for the work ahead.
SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)
I remember a time when Drew was young and he came home from school in tears. He had a rough day. He felt all alone at school. As he was sharing with me, I distinctly remember God whispering to my heart - "This is part of my plan for Drew. He has to know how to go through these "alone" times and rely completely upon me."
So, that's what I shared with Drew. As I see the man of God that Drew is becoming, I look back with gratefulness that the Lord was teaching him and preparing him in those hard days. As a parent, it is so very hard at times to see your kids go through rough times, but it is in those times that God teaches them and prepares them and refines them. The same is true with us. We can run and delay what God is trying to do in us or we can go through these times of testing - knowing that God is working His plan.
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4 (NIV)
Thank God that John had the parents he did. Thank God that John went through those alone time in life to become the one who prepared the way for our Lord Jesus Christ. Lord, prepare the people of COV for the work you have for them to do. Raise up men and women who will follow Your call upon their lives.
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (NIV)
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