TGBC Monday, Feb 12, Luke 1:57-80
The Good Book Club
MONDAY, February 12 Luke 1:57-80
Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.
On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him Zechariah after his father.
But his mother said, ‘No; he is to be called John.’ They said to her, ‘None of your relatives has this name.’ Then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. He asked for a writing-tablet and wrote, ‘His name is יוֹחָנָן John.’ And all of them were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began to speak, praising God. Fear came over all their neighbours, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea. All who heard them pondered them and said, ‘What then will this child become?’ For, indeed, the hand of the Lord was with him.
Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy:
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, *
for he hath visited and redeemed his people;
And hath raised up a mighty salvation for us *
in the house of his servant David,
As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, *
which have been since the world began:
That we should be saved from our enemies, *for he hath visited and redeemed his people;
And hath raised up a mighty salvation for us *
in the house of his servant David,
As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, *
which have been since the world began:
and from the hand of all that hate us;
To perform the mercy promised to our forefathers, *
and to remember his holy covenant;
To perform the oath which he sware to our forefather Abraham, *
that he would give us,
That we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies *
might serve him without fear,
In holiness and righteousness before him, *
all the days of our life.
To perform the mercy promised to our forefathers, *
and to remember his holy covenant;
To perform the oath which he sware to our forefather Abraham, *
that he would give us,
That we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies *
might serve him without fear,
In holiness and righteousness before him, *
all the days of our life.
And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest, *
for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord
to prepare his ways;
To give knowledge of salvation unto his people *
for the remission of their sins,
Through the tender mercy of our God, *
whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us;
To give light to them that sit in darkness
and in the shadow of death, *
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord
to prepare his ways;
To give knowledge of salvation unto his people *
for the remission of their sins,
Through the tender mercy of our God, *
whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us;
To give light to them that sit in darkness
and in the shadow of death, *
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel.
Monday for thought. Same lyrics again, that we sang to Anglican Chant my growing up years before the church, grievously for me, abandoned our unique sound in worship.
Why the name John? it’s a Hebrew name Yochanan meaning “Yahweh (Adonai the Lord) is gracious; Yahweh has shown favor.” + Considering that Zechariah was dumbstruck, how do you reckon Elizabeth finds out the baby is to be named John? Do you think Elizabeth can read? Unlikely. Maybe that detail is of no concern or interest to Luke, eh?
+ If you are one of the people at the bris (circumcision festivity) what comes into your mind when you hear that Zechariah & Elizabeth’s son is not to be named in accord with tradition for naming a boy child? + Even before writing the name itself, יוֹחָנָן , and before Zechariah sings his song, the boy’s very name gives glory to God, doesn’t it! In the clipart pic, if you think the woman behind Elizabeth is Mary, color her clothing blue, because that’s Mary’s color!
Why the name John? it’s a Hebrew name Yochanan meaning “Yahweh (Adonai the Lord) is gracious; Yahweh has shown favor.” + Considering that Zechariah was dumbstruck, how do you reckon Elizabeth finds out the baby is to be named John? Do you think Elizabeth can read? Unlikely. Maybe that detail is of no concern or interest to Luke, eh?
+ If you are one of the people at the bris (circumcision festivity) what comes into your mind when you hear that Zechariah & Elizabeth’s son is not to be named in accord with tradition for naming a boy child? + Even before writing the name itself, יוֹחָנָן , and before Zechariah sings his song, the boy’s very name gives glory to God, doesn’t it! In the clipart pic, if you think the woman behind Elizabeth is Mary, color her clothing blue, because that’s Mary’s color!