When Elizabeth’s pregnancy was full term, she gave birth to a son. All her family, friends, and neighbors heard about it, and they too were overjoyed, for they realized that the Lord had showered his wonderful mercy upon her.
When the baby was eight days old, according to their custom, all the family and friends came together for the circumcision ceremony. Everyone assumed that the parents would name the baby Zechariah, after his father, but Elizabeth spoke up and said, “No, his name is John!”
“What?” they exclaimed. “No one in your family line has that name!”
So they gestured to the baby’s father to ask what to name the child. He motioned for a writing tablet, and to the amazement of all, he wrote, “His name is John.”
Instantly Zechariah could speak again. And his first words were praises to the Lord.
The fear of God fell on the people of their village, and the news of this astounding event traveled throughout the hill country of Judea. Everyone was in awe over it! All who heard this news were astonished and wondered, “Since a miracle brought his birth, what on earth will this child become? Clearly, God’s presence is upon this child in a powerful way!”
Then Zechariah was filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit and he prophesied, saying:
“Praise be to the exalted Lord God of Israel,
for he has seen us through eyes of grace,
and he comes as our Hero-God to set us free!
He appears to us as a mighty Savior,
a trumpet of redemption from the house of David, his servant,
just as he promised long ago
by the words of his holy prophets.
They prophesied he would come one day and save us
from every one of our enemies
and from the power of those who hate us.
Now he has shown us the mercy promised to our ancestors,
for he has remembered his holy covenant.
He has rescued us from the power of our enemies,
fulfilling the sacred oath he made with our father Abraham.
Now we can boldly worship God with holy lives,
living in purity as priests in his presence every day!
And to you I prophesy, my little son,
you will be known as the prophet of the Most High.
You will be a forerunner,
going before the face of Lord YAHWEH,
to prepare hearts to embrace his ways.
You will preach to his people the revelation of salvation,
the cancellation of all our sins, to bring us back to God.
The splendor-light of heaven’s glorious sunrise
is about to break upon us in holy visitation,
all because the merciful heart of our God is so very tender.
The word from heaven will come to us
with dazzling light to shine upon those
who live in darkness, near death’s dark shadow.
And he will illuminate the path that leads to the way of peace.”
Afterward, their son grew up and was strengthened by the Holy Spirit and he grew in his love for God. John chose to live in the lonely wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.
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