Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to be delivered, and she brought forth a son. When her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her. So it was, on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him by the name of his father, Zacharias. His mother answered and said, “No; he shall be called John.” But they said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name.” So they made signs to his father—what he would have him called. And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, saying, “His name is John.” So they all marveled. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God. (Luke 1:57-64, NKJV).
Heavenly Father, we praise You and glorify Your matchless name. Please teach us to be obedient even when we do not understand Your leading. In the precious name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
As we continue our journey toward the birth of the Messiah we come upon a rather interesting story, that is closely knit to the birth of Jesus – that of his cousin John the Baptist. He is the one who will announce the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29), and prepare the hearts of the people to receive Him.
There are similitudes and differences in the two encounters: The same “angel Gabriel” “who stands in the presence of God” (19, 26) that appeared to Mary, had previously appeared to Zacharias, the husband of Mary’s cousin Elizabeth. Zacharias is afraid at the sight of the angel. Mary is troubled by the words of the angel. The angel calms them both with the words “Do not be afraid . . .” (13, 30). Both babies are the result of divine intervention: one mother-to-be is a virgin; the other is past the age of bearing. After the awe of the moment and Mary’s fright is past she magnifies the name of the Lord and then prophecies. At the birth of Zacharias’ son, John, he too will magnify the name of the Lord and prophecy. Both babies are given their names, before birth, by the Lord.
At the encounter with Zachariah in the temple the angel told him that his son would be called John. Because he doubted the words spoken by the angel sent from God he was dumb until the birth of his son. When his son was born and the people had time to recover from the miracle of his birth they inquired about his name and were shocked to hear that his mother called him John. Perhaps believing it was a mistake on her part they inquired from John what was to be the name of the child. He wrote on a tablet “his name shall be called John.” Then his tongue was loosed just as the angel had said.
That detail caught my attention and made me think about the God of second chances that we serve. Zacharias did not get it right the first time so he had to remain dumb until the child was born. Now he is given another opportunity to act on his faith by believing and obeying the word of the Lord regarding the name of his son. This is an old man with an old wife. This is their chance of a lifetime: to give birth to an heir; a real natural birth son – not a son by proxy. This is obviously his last chance to have his name perpetuated. What will he do? Will he grasp at this opportunity in despair and call the child Zacharias? or will he call him by the name the angel gave him?
Thank God he obeyed and his obedience was immediately rewarded. His tongue was loosed. He had passed the test! The God of second chances had given him nine long months to learn the lesson that “with God nothing will be impossible” (37).
God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He wants us to pass the test of faith, not for His sake, but for ours. He knows that when we learn to trust Him with all our hearts, we will have a peace that surpasses all understanding in whatever situation we find ourselves. Trust Him today if you have not trusted Him in the past and learn like Zacharias and so many of us, that with God nothing will be impossible!