Luke 1:57-66--The Birth of John the Baptist

Luke 1:57-66
English Standard Version
​
The Birth of John the Baptist
57 Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. 58 And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. 59 And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, 60 but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” 61 And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” 62 And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. 63 And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. 64 And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. 65 And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, 66 and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.

---

We didn't talk about the last verse of our last passage, so let's do that now to set the scene again, "56 And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home." Since Mary came to visit Elizabeth in her sixth month of pregnancy, this probably means that Mary stayed with her up through John's birth (the ninth month) and then returned home, though it is possible with the way that the text reeds that Mary could have returned home shortly before Johns birth and that she was not present for the birth.  That would put Mary at being three months pregnant (she would definitely be "showing") when she returned home to Nazareth, so this is probably where the events of Matthew 1:18-24 happened.  Matthew 1:25 is about to take place in Luke 2, so hang on if that's what you're waiting for.

Last time we left Zachariah, he was in the Temple ministering as a priest when an angel appear to him, the angel Gabriel, with good news of great joy for him and his wife, Elizabeth.  They would give birth to a son in their old age, and they would name him "John."  John would not be the Christ, but would be the one that would prepare the way for the Christ as the prophets had foretold.  Zachariah doubted God's word though, so a sign was given to him that with man this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible, and Gabriel told Zachariah that he would not be able to to speak again until the baby was born (about nine months of being able to hear everyone else, but not being able to speak back to them and having to communicate with hand gestures or writing on a tablet).

Now all of Zachariah's and Elizabeth gave birth to their son, John, and they gathered all their friends and family to celebrate his birth (maybe Mary was still there for this, maybe not) and it was a time of great rejoicing since the LORD had opened Elizabeth's womb and she was no longer to be called "barren" (which was part of the curse of the Law).  Above and beyond that, she had born a firstborn son, which was a supreme blessing, especially in her old age, and I'm sure the similarities to Abraham and Sarah did not escape their friends and family.

IT was now the eighth day, the day on which their son was to be circumcised and named--his identity would be established as belonging to God and he would be circumcised as part of the covenant made with Abraham and with Moses (remember that circumcision existed before the Law though, which is something that the Jews of Jesus' day get mixed up when they say that Moses gave them circumcision), and at the appropriate time the are asked what they want to name the child.  Since Zachariah still can't speak, the family naturally assumed that he would be named after his father, a common practice, but his mother answered and said, "No; he shall be called John."  

Surprisingly, they tried to argue with Elizabeth as if she did not know what they wanted to name their own son.  The relatives thought they knew what should happen (that the firstborn son in a family should be named after the father or another close family relative, or at least a relative in the family tree), but since the beginning God has chosen names for special people in the Bible to tell us their identity and their mission.  The people of this time had forgotten that a name is not something that is just passed along to another generation, but that it hold much meaning in the nature, character, identity and destiny of the child.  If you'd like some examples, look at the names of Adam, Cain, Seth, Noah, Abram/Abraham (and how God changed his name), Isaac, Jacob/Israel (and the name change that God made here), all of the sons of Israel as well as Joseph's firstborn sons that became sons of Israel by adoption, Moses, Joshua, and so many more.  Remember though that the people hadn't heard from God in about 400 years, so they have forgotten that sometimes the LORD, knowing the nature and mission of the person before they were born, chooses their name before birth.

The relatives go to Zachariah, and it's clear none of them know what's going on with him (they didn't listen to his story), because they are making signs to him assuming that he can't hear them because he can't speak.  It's sometimes a natural assumption that if someone is speaking in sign language it's because they are deaf, but they may be perfectly able to hear and just be mute, so be careful what kinds of assumptions you make.  He has heard the whole conversation and doesn't need them to make any signs to him, but he let's them inquire and then he asks for a writing tablet and writes, "His name is John."

While the friends and family wondered at this, Zachariah's tongue was set free, and he began to speak, blessing God (and we'll see in the next passage that he also begins to sing praise to the LORD and make prophecy regarding both John and Jesus, but mostly Jesus).  All the neighbors and family stopped pondering the strange choice of name and instead were overcome by the fear of the LORD who was able to close and open wombs and mouths, and wait until they heard what Zachariah had to say!  You weren't going to be able to keep this man quiet, because he for one knew what was going on, and that his son was there to point people to the Messiah.  How can I be sure that he didn't stop talking about this?  Because it says that news of these things spread throughout all the hill country of Judea (the area close to Jerusalem, near where these two lived and near the Temple where Zachariah worked).  Since Zachariah was a priest from the line of Aaron, it is likely they lived in Hebron, since that was given to these priests so they could be close to the Temple where they served,  No matter where they lived, it sounds like news went throughout most of the religious community in the southern part of Israel, probably even to places like Bethlehem and Jerusalem.  Certain people knew to get ready for Messiah to come (we'll see two of them in particular in Luke 2 at the day that Jesus was "dedicated" (the same event we see going on here with circumcision and being named, but we'll also see Luke make sure to include that Mary and Joseph brought the sacrifice for purification for Mary).

Everyone knew from the very beginning that John was to be a special child and they could tell the Holy Spirit was with him and upon him.  However, the people would hear, but they wouldn't listen--a condemnation that both John and Jesus would speak to the people during their ministries, and which was prophesied through the Old Testament prophets.  People were so focused on John that they missed what was going on with Jesus when the birth of John should have been pointing them to Jesus..

Let's wrap up by setting the stage one more time.  At the end of this account, Mary is back in Nazareth (where Joseph is).  She was just so close to the place where Jesus was to be born, but she left to go back with the one that would be her husband, I'm guessing because she wanted to share the news with him of what had been told to both her and to Zachariah, and what had happened when she visited Elizabeth.  God has everything under control and will get Joseph and Mary to the City of David, that is Bethlehem, in time.  Before that happens though, He's going to pull back the curtain a little bit for those who are watching and listening and tell them more than a little bit about what he's up to as He opens the mouth of Zachariah to sing and to prophesy (probably both at the same time).

We are getting closer and closer and closer to what feels like the moment we've all been waiting for since Genesis 3 when we were told that the seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent.  Who will be ready for his appearing?  This is a question not only to ask about this first Advent, but of the Second Advent when He will return to take those with Him who belong to Him and to make war with His enemies and to judge both the living and the dead.  Right now all that is like a mountain range that we see in the distance where it looks very 2D and we can't really tell the depth of what the order of events will be too well and there are lots of arguments but we do know that it's coming, it's  a major event and we need to be ready for it.  Just like those that read the prophecies of the Old Testament, we don't have to understand completely to be obedient to what we do know.  We see clearly now when we look back on the Old Testament and have a "how could they miss it?" mentality, but have the same grace with the Old Testament saints regarding the First Advent (or more if possible) than the grace you want to be shown to you for making sense of the prophecies regarding the Second Advent (what we often all The Second Coming).  We don't need to fear the coming of the Lord if our hearts are prepared for there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  What does that mean?  Are you sure that you're ready since for many His return will be unexpected, "like a thief in the night" who doesn't announce his coming, lest the owners be ready for the thief when he comes.  To many it will feel like that--the Lord will come secretly and quickly and they will be devastated that they missed the opportunity to do something to be prepared.  There is no "preparing" after it happens, once He comes, there does not appear to be any second chances.  Today is the day for you to chose life or death, salvation or damnation, and whether you choose for Jesus to be your Lord or if you are still going to rebel like Adam and Even and "be like god" trying to usurp His authority and be in control of your own lives.  There are only two kinds of people according to Romans 5, those who are "in Adam" and those who are "in Christ."

If all that is still confusing to you, feel free to ask, as today is the day to respond if God is calling you.  Don't put it off another day, or even another hour because we don't ever know how much time we have before we take our last breath or before the Lord returns and the eyes of those who have chosen rebellion are blinded so they will not see the truth and will not come to salvation (much the same way that the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart once the time of Noah and the Passover game which was both a time of salvation for some whom were chosen by God and prepared for what was coming and a time of great judgment for those who were unprepared.  Are you in the Ark of Christ?  Are you marked by the blood of the Passover Lamb that is Christ?  Will you be part of the kingdom of God or part of the kingdom called Babylon that belongs to Satan, the antichrist, and the false prophet when the end comes.  Will you be submissive to the LORD and His gospel and His Christ, or rebellious against the LORD, and the gospel and instead choose anti-Christ.  Those are the only two choices.