Luke 1:57-67 (68-80) (NRSV)
Read Luke 1:57-67 (68-80) 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
The neighbors ask in verse 66, "What then shall this child become?" In his birth narrative, God has clearly set John apart. Zechariah's prophecy sets the stage for John's ministry. A Savior is coming in fulfillment of God's promises and John will prepare the way. He will make known God's salvation through the forgiveness of sins. John is the herald of God's mercy and grace.
We, like John, have also been set apart. Through baptism, God claims us as his own, naming and declaring us as God's children. We become members of the body of Christ and recipients of God's salvation and forgiveness as heralded through John. So also the community asks of us, "What then shall this child become?"
Just as God called John, so God also calls us to be instruments of God's salvation. Thanks be to God that God works great things even through our broken lives!
Prayer
God of new beginnings, you set us apart for yourself. Grant us the courage to follow your call. Amen.