The Luke Project Vol 1- The Gospel in SongSýnishorn

He Shall Be Called John 1:57-66

Mary has left to return home and now Elizabeth gives birth to a son. The news spreads like wildfire to neighbors and relatives...once barren Elizabeth is now a mother! Everyone rejoices at God’s great mercy toward her. What a beautiful picture of support around Elizabeth. The people’s faith must have been strengthened through God’s might and mercy on display. 

Obeying God’s covenant (Genesis 17:10-12), Zacharias and Elizabeth have the child circumcised on the eighth day. This is the time in which you name the child. The people were going to call him Zacharias after his father, but Elizabeth would not let them. She remembered what the angel had spoken to Zacharias. “He shall be called John.” They argued with her and said, "you have no relatives named John." 

Zacharias then steps up and obeys what God commanded through the angel (Luke 1:13.) He writes, “His name is John.” I’ve always thought Zacharias remained mute only until John was born. If we read closer, first, he asks for a tablet and writes, “His name is John.” Only after this act of obedience does God restore his speech. Immediately the tongue of Zacharias is loosed. God expects obedience from us. He might even reward our obedience like He did for Zacharias.

What are Zacharias’ first words in months? They are words of praise! He sees God’s plan clearly now and has experienced His power firsthand. Everyone present was astonished. They witnessed God’s great power firsthand. I’m sure many were present when he came out of the temple, unable to speak. Some of the same people saw when God restored Zacharias’s speech and fulfilled His promise of a son. No wonder people were talking throughout Judea! The people began asking “What then will this child turn out to be?” In tomorrow’s study, we will see that Zacharias holds nothing back. He answers this question thoroughly in his prophecy of praise!