Luke 1:57-80 (NRSV)
Read Luke 1:57-80 on biblegateway.com
Verse 57Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Verse 58Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. Verse 59On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father. Verse 60But his mother said, "No; he is to be called John." Verse 61They said to her, "None of your relatives has this name." Verse 62Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. Verse 63He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." And all of them were amazed. Verse 64Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. Verse 65Fear came over all their neighbors, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. Verse 66All who heard them pondered them and said, "What then will this child become?" For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.
Verse 67Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy: Verse 68"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. Verse 69He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David, Verse 70as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, Verse 71that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. Verse 72Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant, Verse 73the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us Verse 74that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, Verse 75in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. Verse 76And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, Verse 77to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins. Verse 78By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, Verse 79to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." Verse 80The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel.
Devotion
Elizabeth and Zechariah were getting on in years when suddenly they had a big change in their lives. She who had been barren would now become pregnant. When an angel told them this news, Zechariah was incredulous and consequently speechless. But when John was named, it all came clear. The child now had an identity, and his parents began to understand his destiny. Maybe the crowd wondered – but Elizabeth and Zechariah didn’t.
We too have been given names that help form our identities. If you hear your name in a crowd, you turn your head to see if someone calling you. These words in Luke 1 tell us that, yes, someone has called you and me. We each bear the name “Christian.” Christ has written his name on us – indelibly, in baptism, in his promise. And, as in John’s case, this too is amazing – because grace is always amazing.
Prayer
Almighty God, renew us in the baptismal promise you gave us in Christ, your Son. Amen.