TEXT: Luke 1:57-80.
What are the happiest occasions of life? Is it when we got that special toy or doll for Christmas? Is it when we passed our exams for High School? It is when we graduated from school? What about when you got married? What about the birth of your first baby?
The birth of a baby is always a special time and a special blessing. It was even more so for Elizabeth and Zechariah because they were to have a very special baby. Today as we look at this passage we will realize that: John's birth was not only special then but it has meaning for us today also.
Let us look closer at this passage. First we see have:
I. A BIRTH
What a joy! A baby boy was a cause for celebration in Palestine. Barclay says "When the time of the birth was near at hand, the friends and the local musicians gathered near the house. When the birth was announced, if it was a boy, the musicians broke into music and song, and there was universal congratulation and rejoicing. If it was a girl the musicians went silently and regretfully away! There was a saying, "the birth of a male child causes universal joy, but the birth of a female child causes universal sorrow. So in Elizabeth's house there was a double joy. At last she had a child and that child was a son.
The next issue was the name of the child. In all societies names carry a meaning. Sometimes they describe circumstance as in the case of Jacob and Esau. Sometimes they describe the child Laban in the Old Testament means "white" or "blonde". Sometimes they describe a parent's joy as in Saul and Samuel which both means "asked for". Sometimes they describe the parent's faith - Elijah "Jehovah is my God", John a derivative from Jehohanan meant "Jehovah's Gift" or "God is Gracious". But there was a problem when Elizabeth gave the name the friends and family said no one in your family has that name.
Two years ago when I went to Ivory Coast in Africa, I learnt that names for the men reflected the day they were born. There was a fellow there name Kuadio Kuadio Ambroise. Kuadio meant that you were born on a Tuesday and that was your first Christian name the second came from your father and it so happened that his father was also born on a Tuesday. So he was Kuadio Kuadio.
They try to bring some sanity to Elizabeth's request and they ask Zechariah and to their surprise when he asked for a tablet he wrote the name John. That would be God's name for this special child. Next we see
II. A BLESSING
As in the case of Mary after this Zechariah regained his voice there was spontaneous thanksgiving to God. He saw in it a gracious visitation. God had visited and redeemed His people. He also saw a promised deliverance. God had fulfilled the promise that He made to David years before that he would bring deliverance to His people. He also saw a demonstration of mercy. He remembered His covenant with Abraham that when they were delivered they ought to serve Him in holiness and righteousness throughout their lives. We also see:
III. A BEACON
Zechariah understood by God's revelation the role that his son would fulfill. He would be a prophet and he would be a forerunner to the Saviour Jesus Christ. Barclay says not only does this describe John the Baptist's ministry but verses 76-79 also adequately describes the steps of the Christian way. First we have Preparation - All life is a preparation to lead us to Christ, God is working all things together to bring us to Christ. Many times we can't see how things will work out to fulfill His purposes but in hindsight we see that God was at work. Secondly, we have knowledge - through Jesus we know God and what he demands of us in our lives, we do not have to guess why we are here and what we are here for. Thirdly, we have forgiveness Barclay says "Forgiveness is not so much the remission of penalty as the restoration of a relationship…The distant God is become near and the God we feared has become the lover of the souls of men. Fourthly, we see peace. The new walk of the Christian life brings peace. The transformed life brings a "peace that passes understanding".
CONCLUSION
What then are the lessons from this wonderful event?
The First Lesson is that God keeps
His promises. Even though Elizabeth was barren and past child bearing age.
God promised her a son and He delivered.
When God promises something it is as if it were already done.
And to think we are the recipients of so many of God's wonderful promises.
The Second Lesson is Do not doubt God.
Zechariah doubted and he was made dumb until the child was born.
James 1:5-7
-5- "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault,
and it will be given to him.
-6- But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the
sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
-7- That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; "
Doubt drives a wedge between us and God.
The Third Lesson is that God has a will and a plan for every life. He has a plan for your life.
We need to ask ourselves the question " How do I fit into God's plan?"