Anchor My Faith

Title: Why Name Him John? (Luke 1:57-63)

“And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her” (Luke 1:58 ESV). Word had circulated among the neighbors and relatives of Zachariah and Elizabeth that God had shown great mercy to Elizabeth by removing her barrenness. She was beyond the age to conceive, but God removed her reproach from among men by providing her with the ability to conceive and bring forth a son. God, having done this for Elizabeth, got the attention of the people and just as reported in Luke 1:14 (ESV): “And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.”

The story continues to unfold: “And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John” (Luke 1:59 – 60 ESV). The requirement to circumcise a male child on the eighth day is given in Leviticus 12:3 (ESV): “And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.” The name of the child was commonly given at the time of the circumcision and since John was the first male child it would normally be named after the Father, but Elizabeth speaks up and tells everyone that the baby will be named John instead.

The neighbors and relatives that were there objected: “And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name”” (Luke 1:61 ESV). There are two possible considerations we will mention as to why the people present at the circumcision objected. The first possibility is the respect which is felt by honoring parents and ancestors by using their names. The second possibility relates to keeping Jewish tribes and families distinct. To accomplish this and to avoid confusion in their genealogical tables, they would only use names found among their ancestors. Using the name John violates both of these possibilities. The name John was chosen by God, to be given to this special servant of God.

Not willing to accept the name of John given by Elizabeth, “. . . they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called” (Luke 1:62 ESV). Since they made signs to Zachariah and didn’t verbally ask we would assume that Zachariah was unable to hear as well as unable to speak. It was probably the relatives that were most vocal in their objection to the name of John and wanted input from Zachariah on the matter.

Since Zachariah couldn’t speak, he probably gestured for something to write on: “. . . he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered” (Luke 1:63 ESV). Since Zachariah could not hear, he would not have heard Elizabeth requesting the name John, and when he wrote out the name John the people were amazed and began to wonder the meaning of this. Since Zachariah confirmed Elizabeth’s choice, the name of John was accepted.

Prayer

Father, I pray my readers don’t miss the control you have over even the details, like a name. I am convinced you have a master plan from which you are working. At a precise time, you sent Gabriel to Zachariah, announcing that Elizabeth would have a baby boy who was to be named John. At a precise time, that came to pass and Elizabeth gave birth to a baby boy who was, in a rather remarkable way, named John. Not only is the timing precise, but you will provide John with just the right characteristics to do the work you have assigned to him to do. Father, we should each stop and consider that we are your workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which you prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10). I am not sure we are walking all that well in doing them.