To Us a Son Is GivenParaugs

His Name Will Be John

God has His own way of letting us know that He is up to something big. The angel had already told Zechariah and Elizabeth that their child would be unique, and now their friends and family were beginning to suspect the same thing.

Even though Zechariah couldn’t speak for a time, he was able to write out the name of his son on a tablet. Much to the crowd’s surprise, Zechariah and Elizabeth chose the same name, despite the fact that it was not a family name. But this was no coincidence. John, you may remember, was the name given by the angel (Luke 1:13). If the crowd wasn’t paying attention yet, then they certainly took notice when God opened Zechariah’s mouth and the formerly mute priest began to bless God. The people feared, and we can understand why.

The unusual circumstances surrounding John’s birth let us know that God was at work. But we can’t lose sight of the bigger picture. The main point was never John the Baptist’s coming, but rather the Lord’s coming. John was simply preparing the way, and He knew it. This prophet who stormed onto the scene and drew large crowds and devoted followers would soon say of Jesus, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).

Simple Summary

Elizabeth gave birth to a son, just as the angel had promised. However, when Elizabeth named the child John, everyone was surprised. They thought the child would be named after his father, Zechariah, but Zechariah agreed with Elizabeth—his name would be John. God had earlier taken away Zechariah’s ability to speak, but now He opened Zechariah’s mouth and Zechariah blessed God. Fear came upon those who saw and heard about these things, for they wondered what God might be planning for this child.

Pray

Ask God to help you serve Him with the kind of fear that honors Him.