Nine months never seems longer than when you are waiting for a baby. Elisabeth was lucky. She had Mary with her for the last three months to keep her company. In today’s text, the time had finally come and the baby arrived. It was a boy, just as the angel had foretold and the Bible says that her neighbors and relatives shared her joy. Elisabeth was very old and had been barren her whole life and now everyone around her believed that the Lord had shown her great mercy (verse 58).
Read verses 59-60. It was time to circumcise the child on the 8th day according to the Law (Lev 12:3). What did circumcision represent to the Jewish people (Gen 17:9-14)? This ceremony is especially meaningful here since John the Baptist is the forerunner for the Messiah promised in that covenant between God and the people of Israel.
Circumcision was also the day the baby would be named, according to tradition. And like many families, this baby’s relatives all had their opinions on what he should be named. The name everyone expected was Zacharias, after his father, but immediately his mother spoke up and said, “No! His name is John.”
In verses 61-62, we see the family arguing about the name. No one in this family had ever been named John. Let’s appeal to dad. They started making signs to Zacharias, which was odd because he was mute, but not deaf. Can you imagine this scene? Everyone is gesturing and going on in front of Zacharias because they can’t accept the name that Elisabeth has told them for her son, and they think Zacharias will overrule her.
Read verses 63-66. Zacharias and Elisabeth were in agreement. They were naming the baby John. When the angel Gabriel had told Zacharias they would have a child, he had given Zacharias only one instruction. What was it (verse 13)? These new parents were obeying that instruction and as soon as Zacharias followed this instruction, he was able to speak again. And what was the first thing out of his mouth? He praised God. We are told that everyone there was amazed as well as everyone who heard about it. Folks far and wide were talking about it. They wanted to know what the deal was with this child because it was apparent that God was with him. The name John means ‘God is gracious’.
Verses 67-79, Zacharias’ Song, are known to scholars as ‘The Benedictus’. A benediction is a request, in prayer, that certain blessings be bestowed on a group of people. When Zacharias received the visit from the angel announcing the child’s birth, he was performing his once in a lifetime special duty in the Temple, after which he was supposed to come out and perform a benediction for the people waiting outside. Because he was unable to speak when he came out, the benediction would not have occurred. He had had that bottled up for nine months and now that he can speak again, we see this prophecy come pouring out of him. This prophecy speaks not only of Israel, but of John the Baptist and of Jesus, the Messiah John will proclaim. Read through this set of verses and see which verses prophecy to whom.
I want to call your attention to verse 69 which says that God has raised up a “Horn” of salvation. Who is this Horn (Psalm 111:9, 89:17, 132:17)? We see here again that this Horn will come from King David’s lineage (Jer 23:5).
Verses 71-75 are an echo of Psalm 105:8-9. Just as Mary’s Song was composed of Scripture references, Zacharias’ prophecy contains Scriptural references, as well. And verse 76 foretells John being a prophet of Christ (Mark 1:4). Verses 78-79 speak of the Light which will be coming into the darkness (John 1:4-5).
Finally, in verse 80, we see that the child grew strong spiritually and he lived in the wilderness until the time came for his ministry to begin. John was set apart for service from his birth.
Responding to God: Worship God for His love and Mercy. Thank Him for His goodness and dependability. Praise Jesus as the promised Savior. Seek to live your life obedient to Him, repenting of your sins.
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