 |
 |
||||
 ine
months have elapsed. The memories about the encounter with Gabriel were probably relived in Zacharias’ dreams
night after night and in his conversations with Elizabeth. God had answered their prayers in a way that would
dramatically change their lives. They could only imagine the future. They had nine months to prepare for the
arrival of the forerunner of the Messiah. He was going to come in the power and spirit of Elijah. They had
no idea what to expect from him, nor did they know what that really meant. They had been preparing for this
child for nine months. There were no sonograms in those ancient days, yet they knew the child would be a boy.
Just imagine how the women in the neighborhood and at the synagogue must have reacted when they heard the child
would be a boy! Zach and Liz were preparing boy clothes for their little guy. Mom and dad were both of priestly
descent, and they must have thought about the fact that John the Baptist would be a priest, prophet, and the
forerunner of the Messiah. They must have searched the scriptures for clues again and again. Zach believed
God now. The doubts were gone and now they were simply waiting.On His Way. When we come to Luke 1:57, the wait is finally over; and Elizabeth
gives birth.
Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had displayed His great mercy toward her; and they were rejoicing with her. (NASB) Luke 1:57 This was not a normal birth. Not only was the child to be unusual, but the birth should not have occurred
from a human viewpoint. That is the way God operates. The couple believed that God could do the impossible.
Then good old Zach had a momentary problem of doubt that caused life to be complicated. But God did not cancel
their prayer request. He did not cancel His plans. The child was not born to some other “more deserving
parents.” God disciplined Zach, and then proceeded with His blessing. Sometimes we get strange ideas
about God and think that He gives gifts only when we are good, or perhaps just to the pastor. If that were true,
then Zach and Liz should not have had the child. No! God gives us gifts because He loves us. Sometimes He waits
for us to ask (James. 4:2). On some occasions He might not grant our request if we like our sin and are unrepentant.
But most of the time God gives gifts because He loves us.
What a blessing John was to his parents. The neighbors and the family knew he was unusual. It was obvious that God had intervened and performed a miracle for Zach and Liz. This senior woman should not have been able to give birth, but she did. It was clear that God had a purpose for this child as He does with everyone of us!
His Name. When the newborn child was eight days old, his parents had him circumcised
according to the Mosaic Law (Lev. 12:1-2).
And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to call him Zacharias, after his father. But his mother answered and said, "No indeed; but he shall be called John." And they said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by that name." (NASB) Luke 1:59-61 |
|||||
|
|||||
| Life & Heart of Jesus | |||||