John. Joy beyond hope and expectation.

The Birth of John the Baptist

When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.

What rejoicing there must have been. Shouting, laughing, crying...
Miraculous intervention. Dreams and hopes fulfilled.
GREAT MERCY.

On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah,  but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”

She knew. Zachariah had told her, somehow, in paucity of written words, far removed from his real revelation. Just a skeleton of the truth, the precursor of good news. 

When did he tell her? As soon as he arrived home? When he lay with her in their bed? Or was it when the first signs appeared: the morning sickness, the thickening of her waist... all signs for medical concern for those not with child?

They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who has that name.”

Sometimes, others think they know better.
But it is only GOD
who knows what is best.
Let us seek HIM for wisdom.

Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, “His name is John.” Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God. All the neighbors were filled with awe, and throughout the hill country of Judea people were talking about all these things. Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him. Luke 1:57 - 66

And his name?  

His name means 'Yahweh is gracious.'

The Gospels, the Good News, absolutely reek with the Lord's graciousness. How he looks with favour on those who love Him and keep his commandments....

Disbelief.

"And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple.  When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.

When his time of service was completed, he returned home.  After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion.  

“The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

Luke 1:20 - 25

A warning for our disbelief. 

How often do I not dare to believe that God really, really loves me enough to give me my deepest heart's desire? It may not be now - the timing is his - but He knows what is best.

This best, a son for Zacharias and Elizabeth, was long in coming.

Did they see him come to manhood?

Surely, old as they were, they would be spared the unjust tragedy of his death?

Elizabeth was unaware of his great destiny: “He’ll drink neither wine nor beer. He’ll be filled with the Holy Spirit from the moment he leaves his mother’s womb. He will turn many sons and daughters of Israel back to their God. He will herald God’s arrival in the style and strength of Elijah, soften the hearts of parents to children, and kindle devout understanding among hardened skeptics—he’ll get the people ready for God.” 

Only Zachariah.

He returned home with heaven-sent knowledge which he could not share. 

(I wonder -  had they still been making love together, old as they were? Zachariah surely lay with Elizabeth on his return from Jerusalem - was she surprised?)

He could only watch in awe as Elizabeth's stomach slowly swelled

as the child grew in her.

Unbelievable.

Yet nothing is impossible - WITH GOD.

Dare to believe.

Accept His love.

Obey His word.

Prayer. Heard.

"But the angel reassured him, “Don’t fear, Zachariah. Your prayer has been heard. Elizabeth, your wife, will bear a son by you. You are to name him John. You’re going to leap like a gazelle for joy, and not only you—many will delight in his birth. He’ll achieve great stature with God.

“He’ll drink neither wine nor beer. He’ll be filled with the Holy Spirit from the moment he leaves his mother’s womb. He will turn many sons and daughters of Israel back to their God. He will herald God’s arrival in the style and strength of Elijah, soften the hearts of parents to children, and kindle devout understanding among hardened skeptics—he’ll get the people ready for God.”

Zachariah said to the angel, “Do you expect me to believe this? I’m an old man and my wife is an old woman.”

But the angel said, “I am Gabriel, the sentinel of God, sent especially to bring you this glad news. But because you won’t believe me, you’ll be unable to say a word until the day of your son’s birth. Every word I’ve spoken to you will come true on time—God’s time.” Luke 1:13 - 20

Your prayer has  been heard. Your prayer has been heard. 

After so many years, of begging and beseeching for a child, Zachariah's prayer has been heard.

Not only that. It was YES!!  He and Elizabeth would have a child: not only a child, but a SON.

And yet. Zachariah did not, could not, believe it. Reason - he and Elizabeth were too old - triumphed over belief in God's mighty power.

The consequence: he was struck dumb, because he had objected to God's word.  

So we pray. We wait.

"While Zacharias was burning incense in the temple, the whole multitude of the people were praying without. 

All the prayers we offer up to God, are acceptable and successful only by Christ's intercession in the temple of God above. 

We cannot expect an interest therein if we do not pray, and pray with our spirits, and are not earnest in prayer. 

Nor can we expect that the best of our prayers should gain acceptance, and bring an answer of peace, but through the mediation of Christ, who ever lives, making intercession. 

The prayers Zacharias often made, received an answer of peace. 

Prayers of faith are filed in heaven, and are not forgotten. 

Prayers made when we were young and entering into the world, may be answered when we are old and going out of the world.

Mercies are doubly sweet that are given in answer to prayer."  Matthew Henry.

Fear. In spite of faith.

Where did John come from? He came from 'impossibility'....
"A Childless Couple Conceives
During the rule of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest assigned service in the regiment of Abijah. His name was Zachariah. His wife was descended from the daughters of Aaron. Her name was Elizabeth. Together they lived honorably before God, careful in keeping to the ways of the commandments and enjoying a clear conscience before God. But they were childless because Elizabeth could never conceive, and now they were quite old."

Zachariah. "He who remembers Jehovah or he who Jehovah remembers..."

Elizabeth. Bearing the name of her forerunner, Aaron's wife. 

Both of priestly families.

Both honourable, loving people.

Both childless.

How deprived did they feel? Was Zachariah resigned: no son to carry out his name, no child to inherit his name....

And Elizabeth? The ultimate disgrace, let alone no son to care for parents in old age.

Time had passed. All chance was gone and now, just old age. 

And yet....

"It so happened that as Zachariah was carrying out his priestly duties before God, working the shift assigned to his regiment, it came his one turn in life to enter the sanctuary of God and burn incense. The congregation was gathered and praying outside the Temple at the hour of the incense offering. Unannounced, an angel of God appeared just to the right of the altar of incense. Zachariah was paralyzed in fear." Luke 1:5 - 12

This pinnacle of life, the chance to serve God in his holy temple. Aah. This was the culmination of a life's dream, surely outweighing any earthly desires. This is what Zachariah had been born to.

And then an angel came and ruined this holy moment....

Recognition. Blessed.

At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her and she was filled with the Holy Spirit.

She gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “You are blessed by God above all other women, and your child is destined for God’s mightiest praise. What an honor this is, that the mother of my Lord should visit me! When you came in and greeted me, the instant I heard your voice, my baby moved in me for joy!  You believed that God would do what he said; that is why he has given you this wonderful blessing.”
Luke 1:41 - 45

Prophetic words. Divine wisdom
showed Elisabeth the unborn child
hidden in a young girl's body.

Blessed was this girl. Blessing. 'To be spoken well of.'
God has given Mary this child,
this reason to be 'spoken well of'.

Blessed was she, as was Jael, renowned for killing
Sisera, Canaanite cruel enemy,
saving her people.

Yet Mary too would be the instrument
bringing salvation.
Through life, not death.

Mary.
'Spoken well of, like Jael.'
Not a saviour in herself. 'Just'
the mother
of The Saviour.

Note: the cross-reference to Luke 1:42 is Judges 5:24, which recounts the story of Jael who killed Sisera, commander of the enemy Canaanite army, by driving a tent peg through his head while he slept, thus saving the Israelites. The word used for 'blessed' seems to be the same in both texts, albeit the NT one is Greek and the OT one Hebrew.

Journeying

Elizabeth with child!  Pregnant! Expecting a baby!

If Mary had thought her own news challenging to believe, so was Elizabeth's. This elderly lady, gone far beyond expectation of conceiving, now awaited a child.
Wonderful.
Mary just HAD to see her.
(Or was it also to escape the prying eyes, the village gossip
of unwed maiden suddenly expecting? Who would believe
crazy stories of angels from a mere girl?)

Luke 1:39 - 40
A few days later Mary hurried to the highlands of Judea to the town where Zacharias lived, to visit Elizabeth.
What a journey.

We are told it would have taken

three to five days

depending on whether she travelled with a caravan

or alone.

in any case

a girl, a young girl, barely pregnant.

Perhaps fourteen years old? Scarcely older

than her son would be

when he chose to stay in His Father's House

after the Passover festival.

Was she used to travel?

Did she, too, journey with her family to Jerusalem

for holy celebration?

Or was this her first time?

Her first, holy, journey?

What about us? Where will we journey to?

Far-off places?

Other homes?

Reconnect with relatives?

Find friends, old and new?

Travel inwards, 

hurrying to revelation, to

reach the inner places of our souls?

Advent. The coming. Where are we going?

A mother's hope: Oh, could it be true?

This wonderful, unbelievable news
of a babe, as yet unstirring,
nestled in her barren womb:
Oh, could it be true?

Could she be a Sarah,
bearing an Isaac in old age?
Or childless Rebekah,
pregnant through her husband's prayers?
Oh, could it be true?

Would she be like Manoah's wife,
bearing another Samson,
leading Israel,
turning many back to God?
Oh, could it be true?

Would she, like Hannah,
give  birth to another Samuel
after many years of weeping?
Oh, could it be true?

Elizabeth paused, remembered.
She remembered God's faithfulness throughout the generations.
She remembered God.
She believed. And rejoiced.
No longer ashamed. No longer disgraced.

Yes, it would be true.

Luke 1:24 - 25