They said to her, “But no one in your family has that name!” and they asked the father, by means of signs, for the name he wanted to give him.
Zechariah asked for a writing tablet, and wrote on it, “His name is John,” and they were very surprised. Immediately Zechariah
could speak again, and his first words were in praise of God. A holy fear came on all in the neighborhood, and throughout the hill
country of Judea the people talked about these events. All who heard of it pondered in their minds, and wondered, “What will
this child be?” For they understood that the hand of the Lord was with him. As the child grew up, he was seen to be strong in the Spirit;
and he lived in the desert until the day when he appeared openly in Israel.
Reflection:
The birth of John the Baptist is surrounded by miraculous signs and
wonders. No wonder the people around his birth felt an excitement they
haven’t felt before. God in His heaven is working overdrive and interfering in
human history. John’s birth signifies that the fulfillment of God’s promise is near at
hand. For John comes from the priestly class. His father Zechariah is from the Levite
tribe. After David, all kings of Israel are anointed by a priest. Jesus who will be
born three months after the birth of John belongs to the kingly line of David by
virtue of Joseph. He needs His priest to anoint Him. John the Baptist fulfills
that role in the baptism of the Lord.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2021