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Today Zechariah and Elizabeth’s promise has come to pass, and their friends and family threw a party to celebrate! At the baby’s circumcision, they expected his parents to name him after his dad, their tradition. You can imagine them scratching their heads when Zechariah whipped out his Tablet and wrote “J-o-h-n,” themselves wondering “What? Why? This breaks tradition!” When Zechariah’s tongue was set free and he spoke, confirming John’s name, everybody talked and wondered about it, “What’s gonna happen when this kid grows up?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.

Zechariah and Elizabeth broke tradition in naming their son “John.” They didn’t actually choose to break tradition; they were really choosing to obey the command of the Lord through His messenger angel earlier in this chapter. But make no mistake. John’s birth was marked by a break from tradition, from even before he was born.

At this point, the nation of Israel was living in what we now know as “the Intertestamental Period” of Jewish history. This is that long season between the moment the last of the prophets of old spoke (Malachi), and the next time God clearly spoke again to the nation of Israel (through His messenger angels regarding John). It had been roughly 400 years since Israel had heard anything new from God—whether fresh revelation, encouragement, or correction.

The priests and the Pharisees and the scribes had 400 years to organize, study, memorize, and codify the Law, and then create another book (the Midrash) to help explain the Law. During the time of Malachi, the people would have remembered one of the last things that he said:

“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.” | Malachi 3:1

Remember, we read these same words earlier this week in Luke 1:17. God was giving the Israelites a direct link from Malachi to Luke, tying the times together. Why was it important for the New Testament to begin with the entrance of a messenger who will “prepare the way before me”? Because the Old Testament ended with the same promise. This is the first time anyone in Israel—a faithful priest, Zechariah, and his wife, Elizabeth—had heard anything from God in over 400 years. This was significant.

Question:
When you have wins in your life, who do you celebrate with?

Application:
The day will come, and maybe soon, when the Lord returns a final time, setting things right in His temple and throughout the world. If that day were today or tomorrow, would you say that you and your family are as ready as you’ll ever be? Remember God’s Word says that God is the author and perfecter of our faith. If we’re lacking any, we can ask Him to help us and to give us faith! He is faithful to give it to us when we ask.