57 The time came for Elizabeth to have her baby. She gave birth to a son. 58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had been very kind to her. They shared her joy.
59 On the eighth day, they came to have the child circumcised. They were going to name him Zechariah, like his father. 60 But his mother spoke up. “No!” she said. “He must be called John.”
61 They said to her, “No one among your relatives has that name.”
62 Then they motioned to his father. They wanted to find out what he would like to name the child. 63 He asked for something to write on. Then he wrote, “His name is John.” Everyone was amazed. 64 Right away Zechariah could speak again. Right away he praised God. 65 All his neighbors were filled with fear and wonder. Throughout Judea’s hill country, people were talking about all these things. 66 Everyone who heard this wondered about it. And because the Lord was with John, they asked, “What is this child going to be?”
67 John’s father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit. He prophesied,
68 “Give praise to the Lord, the God of Israel!
He has come to his people and purchased their freedom.
69 He has acted with great power and has saved us.
He did it for those who are from the family line of his servant David.
70 Long ago holy prophets said he would do it.
71 He has saved us from our enemies.
We are rescued from all who hate us.
72 He has been kind to our people of long ago.
He has remembered his holy covenant.
73 He made a promise to our father Abraham.
74 He promised to save us from our enemies.
Then we could serve him without fear.
75 He wants us to be holy and godly as long as we live.
76 “And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High God.
You will go ahead of the Lord to prepare the way for him.
77 You will tell his people how they can be saved.
You will tell them that their sins can be forgiven.
78 All of that will happen because our God is tender and caring.
His kindness will bring the rising sun to us from heaven.
79 It will shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death.
It will guide our feet on the path of peace.”
80 The child grew up, and his spirit became strong. He lived in the desert until he appeared openly to Israel.
Read Luke 1:57-80 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!
Tucked within the birth story of John the Baptist is an amazing picture of redemption. While Luke begins his gospel by sharing about how Zechariah doubted the angel’s message promising the old couple a child, when John is born approximately 9 months later, we read a verse that brings things to a nice conclusion: “Right away Zechariah could speak again. Right away he praised God.” (v. 64)
While the last thing he said before being struck mute communicated doubt, the first thing he says when he can speak again is praise – and Zechariah praises God.
Not only that, several verses later, Zechariah shares an amazing blessing and prophecy regarding who his son John would become. He uses phrases such as “you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High God.” and “You will go ahead of the Lord to prepare the way for him.” (v. 76)
For nine months, Zechariah could have become bitter towards God. Zechariah could have dwelled on everything that God had done to harm him, with muteness being among the most recent things. But bitterness was not in his heart.
The entire prophecy Zechariah shares talks entirely about God’s goodness, His greatness, and on how He has kept His promises. Zechariah draws our attention onto the covenant that God had made with Abraham and the protection and guidance He had provided His people throughout their questionable past.
In Zechariah’s prophecy we find an amazing truth. John’s ministry would do the following:
“You will tell [God’s] people how they can be saved.
You will tell them that their sins can be forgiven.
All of that will happen because our God is tender and caring.” (v. 77-78a)
John praised God at the close of His “punishment”, and He draws our attention onto how God’s people are loved, saved, and forgiven because God is tender, caring, and loving towards those who follow Him.
This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!
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