Good morning my “Walking with Jesus” friends,
Everyone loves ‘birthdays’, especially the actual event of birth itself, right? That’s what Christmas is all about, isn’t it? While I know you don’t remember your birth, very likely you remember the births of your children or grandchildren, and maybe, if it was fairly recently, you have remarkable photos of the event!
In my case, a few years ago, I was the first husband to be INSIDE the delivery room of the hospital where my wife was giving birth to our daughter! The old doctor, about to retire, didn’t like the new notion of husbands in delivery room rather than out in the waiting room where he thought they belonged! Oh my, what a memory that day is for me.
Yesterday, I left you sitting with the old Jewish priest Zechariah and his very pregnant old wife Elizbeth and their young relative Mary. Mary had come with a story about her pregnancy that she couldn’t fully understand. I don’t blame her, do you? Wisely, she sought comfort and counsel from the only two living people she felt might walk with her in this unique journey of Mary’s ‘God initiated’ pregnancy. (Luke 1:5-45) Dr. Luke tells us Mary stayed with Zechariah and Elizabeth “…for about three months and then returned home.” (Luke 1:56)
We don’t know if Mary was there for Elizabeth’s birth of her miracle baby; but I personally think she stayed to witness this great event, especially considering what I’m sure she now understood would be the very significant relationship between Elizabeth’s son and hers! At only three months, her pregnancy would not have been visible yet, and easily Elizabeth could have explained Mary as her young relative visiting and helping her.
In the Jewish tradition, the birth event was not nearly as important, for an infant boy, as the 8th day after his birth when a dual ceremony took place. In that ceremony the infant boy was circumcised, which celebrated his participation in the Covenant God had made with Abraham and confirmed the boy was born into that sacred lineage of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Jacob’s 12 sons. Elizabeth & Zechariah’s son was privileged to be born into the Levitical priestly line, a direct descendant of Aaron! (Luke 1:5,6)
But also in this ceremony the little boy would be given his NAME, and in a Jewish family that was a big deal! Names, especially for sons, were very carefully selected. But in this case Zechariah and Elizabeth had no choice, John. or the angel Gabriel had told Zechariah very clearly this miracle son was to be named “John” means “God is gracious” or more specifically “The LORD is gracious”.
The angel Gabriel had promised Zechariah that John would be a great blessing to them and all people of Israel and that John would bring joy and delight to them. But most important, John would be a Nazarite prophet of God, serving Israel and our world as Elijah did! He would call Israel back to God and prepare them for the arrival of their long awaited Messiah! (Luke 1:13-17)
Dr. Luke tells us it was in this ceremony that Zechariah’s voice miraculously returned. In fact at a very specific and historic moment. The people attending this ceremony were clamoring about what the infant should be named and because Zechariah was still mute they were pressuring Elizabeth to make the proclamation. They assumed the boy would be named after his father and would continue in his father’s priestly footsteps, carrying the family tradition.
But Elizabeth shocked them all by saying: “No! He is to be called John.” (Luke 1:59,60) I’ve often wondered how much detail Elizabeth had given their friends during her pregnancy about why Zechariah was mute? Based on their surprise at the name John, it tells me she and Zechariah had not shared very much about Gabriel’s visit or announcement.
Very confused, those gathered for this ceremony turned to Zechariah asking for help in naming the boy. This was a defining moment for all Israel, and the people had no idea! Zechariah took a writing tablet and wrote: “His name IS John.” (Luke 1;63) That was an act of direct obedience to God’s instructions. I wonder if Zechariah put an exclamation point after John. I love that he did not write, “his name will be John”.
Zechariah was declaring that this little boy had been John since his conception, he was John during those 9 months in Elizabeth’s old womb, and now, finally the world had the opportunity to meet the John who would introduce Messiah Jesus to the world!!
Instantly heaven responded to Zechariah’s obedience, do see that my friends? The record says: “Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and Zechariah began to speak, praising God…” (Luke 1:64) I love that, don’t you? It’s clear evidence to me that God is watching everything, every detail of what’s happening here on earth, and God loves to insert Himself into, involve Himself with, those things here which will help accomplish God’s great purposes on earth, in every generation!
Zechariah had been preparing for this moment for 9 months! I think the outpouring of Zechariah’s heart, found in the message he immediately proclaimed, is a prophetic message born out of 9 months of worship, prayer and diligent study of God’s Word, especially those portions of God’s Word pointing to the coming of Messiah!
It’s called ‘Zechariah’s song’ and you’ll find it in Luke 1:67-79. I urge you to read it slowly, digesting the significance of every line, as though it is a God inspired speech that was in development for 9 months! In fact Dr. Luke says Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit as he spoke those words! (Luke 1:67)
I believe it was very likely shortly after this that Mary returned home, her heart filled with excitement and her mind filled with spiritual teaching from Zechariah & Elizabeth. Oh, she would need every ounce of that for, of course, no one back in Nazareth would believe Mary’s story. Not her family, not even her fiancé Joseph! She could hide her pregnancy but only for so long.
That’s why, you’ll recall, God spoke to Joseph in a dream, challenging him to take Mary as his wife and thereby without any public statement, Joseph was declaring her child to be his responsibility. (Matt. 1:18-25)
The closing commentary of Dr Luke about John’s birth is powerful, only a few words: “And the child grew and became strong in spirit…” (Luke 1:80) What do you think that means? What in that statement is a work of God by the Holy Spirit and how much of that is the love, teaching, mentoring, training of old Zechariah and Elizabeth as they took full responsibility to prepare their son for the unique role, he would soon have of preparing Israel for Jesus?
Can you and I apply the same question to our parenting of our children, and our grandparenting? How well are we helping them know God, understand God’s Word, seek to discern God’s leading in their lives as we prepare them for their God given role in our world?
Some very helpful additional notes are at the “Grand Narrative” link below and yes I found a great worship song for today, from a wonderful Jewish worship leader Joshua Aaron. This song, like Zechariah’s message, celebrates the great work of God in His people, through His “Grand Narrative” story. And of course I’ll be here waiting for you tomorrow…
Today’s Scripture: Luke 1:57-80.
Choose below to read or listen.
 |  |
Bible images provided with attribution to www.LumoProject.com.
Have a comment or question about today’s chapter? I’m ready to hear from you, contact me here.
Pastor Doug Anderson
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
Archived back issues of “Walking with Jesus” and other resources are available by clicking here to open our ‘home page’ (or go to HOME at upper right of this page).
Share with friends. Subscribe below for daily “Walking with Jesus”.