The time has arrived. Elizabeth goes into labor and gives birth to a son. There is rejoicing in Zechariah’s household. There is celebration in the whole community. It isn’t every day that a woman of Elizabeth’s advanced years gives birth. Comparisons to Abraham’s Sarah are no doubt made. And then comes the eighth day. As was the custom of that day, this was the time for the circumcision of every Jewish male and the official naming of the child. The friends and relatives are all ready to call the squirming bundle of arms and legs: “little Zechariah.” And that’s when Elizabeth speaks up and says: “No, his name will be John.” And there is a gasp among the friends and relatives and more talking.
Now it’s not that John is a bad name or a shocking name. It’s not like the Old Testament prophet Hosea who was directed to give his children names like: Lo-Ruhamah (“not my beloved”) and Lo-Ammi (“not my people”). In fact the name John means “The Lord is gracious,” – a fitting name to be sure. The problem was that if you looked among Zechariah or Elizabeth’s family, there was no one who had that name. And that was a big deal in those days. So after unsuccessfully attempting to talk Elizabeth out of this radical departure from social custom, they went to Zechariah in a last ditch attempt to get him to intervene in the naming of his long-awaited son. To this Zechariah called for his first century B.C. etch-o-sketch and proceeded to spell out: “H-I-S N-A-M-E I-S J-O-H-N.” And when the last letter was spelled out, the long game of charades ended and Zechariah’s voice returned. After nine months of silence, he had plenty to say. For the first time, they all (including Mary who according to verse 56 stayed with Elizabeth until the birth of John) heard the full story of the angelic visit in the temple and the promise of a son whom they were to give the name: “John.”
Zechariah was talking. Elizabeth was talking. All their friends and relatives and neighbors were talking. They were talking about what God had already done so far in this wondrous story and they were talking about what things God would do soon through this special child born to the beaming parents (though they were old enough to be grandparents). It’s nothing new that when God acts, people talk. In fact the writer of Psalm 78 puts it this way:
We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done. So the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.
Wouldn’t it be worthwhile to do some talking about such things this December? The reality is this - There’s more to talk about than a slow economy or holiday bargains or rating holiday parties. To have a real “John the Baptist” Christmas is to realize that One John pointed to is worth talking about – again and again.
Now it’s not that John is a bad name or a shocking name. It’s not like the Old Testament prophet Hosea who was directed to give his children names like: Lo-Ruhamah (“not my beloved”) and Lo-Ammi (“not my people”). In fact the name John means “The Lord is gracious,” – a fitting name to be sure. The problem was that if you looked among Zechariah or Elizabeth’s family, there was no one who had that name. And that was a big deal in those days. So after unsuccessfully attempting to talk Elizabeth out of this radical departure from social custom, they went to Zechariah in a last ditch attempt to get him to intervene in the naming of his long-awaited son. To this Zechariah called for his first century B.C. etch-o-sketch and proceeded to spell out: “H-I-S N-A-M-E I-S J-O-H-N.” And when the last letter was spelled out, the long game of charades ended and Zechariah’s voice returned. After nine months of silence, he had plenty to say. For the first time, they all (including Mary who according to verse 56 stayed with Elizabeth until the birth of John) heard the full story of the angelic visit in the temple and the promise of a son whom they were to give the name: “John.”
Zechariah was talking. Elizabeth was talking. All their friends and relatives and neighbors were talking. They were talking about what God had already done so far in this wondrous story and they were talking about what things God would do soon through this special child born to the beaming parents (though they were old enough to be grandparents). It’s nothing new that when God acts, people talk. In fact the writer of Psalm 78 puts it this way:
We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done. So the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.
Wouldn’t it be worthwhile to do some talking about such things this December? The reality is this - There’s more to talk about than a slow economy or holiday bargains or rating holiday parties. To have a real “John the Baptist” Christmas is to realize that One John pointed to is worth talking about – again and again.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment