Birth of John

The Birth and Naming of John

(Lk 1:57-80)

⁵⁷The time came for Elizabeth to have her baby, and she had a son. ⁵⁸Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord showed her such mercy, and they celebrated with her. ⁵⁹On the eighth day they came to circumcise the little boy, and started calling him “Zachariah,” after his father. ⁶⁰His mother answered, “No, his name is ‘John.’”

⁶¹But they said, “None of your relatives are named that.” ⁶²They motioned to his father what he wanted to name him.

⁶³He asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is ‘John.’”

They were surprised. ⁷⁴Right then, Zechariah began to speak and praise God. ⁶⁵Their neighbors were afraid. Everybody in the hill country of Judaea was talking about it. ⁶⁶The ones that heard what happened took it to heart, “What’s this child going to be” [because the Lord was with him]?

⁶⁷Zachariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

⁶⁸“Blessed be Israel’s God.

He has visited us,

and delivered his people.

⁶⁹He has raised up a horn of salvation for us

in the house of David his servant—

⁷⁰as he said through his holy prophets of old—

⁷¹salvation from our enemies,

from everybody that hates us.

⁷²He showed mercy to our ancestors and

remembered his holy covenant,

⁷³the oath he swore to our ancestor Abraham,

⁷⁴to deliver us from our enemies

so we can serve him without fear

⁷⁵in holiness and goodness our whole lives.

⁷⁶You, child, will be a prophet for the Most High.

You’ll go ahead of the Lord

to prepare his way,

⁷⁷to tell his people how to be saved from their sins.

⁷⁸Our God is a God of tender mercy.

Because of it the Sunrise from on high will visit us,

⁷⁹to shine on a people sitting in darkness and

the shadow of death,

to direct us into the way of peace.”

⁸⁰The child grew up and became strong in spirit. He lived in the open country till his public appearance to Israel.