Morning Moments

The Birth and Naming of John

57 Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she had a son. 58 Then her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her His great mercy,no and they rejoiced with her.59 When they came to circumcise the child on the eighth day,p they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father. 60 But his mother responded, “No! He will be called John.”q61 Then they said to her, “None of your relatives has that name.” 62 So they motioned to his fatherr to find out what he wanted him to be called. 63 He asked for a writing tablet and wrote:HIS NAME IS JOHN.

As we continue our thoughts around the Christmas Story, I want to think about The faithfulness of God as revealed in the above verses, for God never made a promise nor a prophecy that He either has not nor will not fulfill.  "He is faithful who has called you, who WILL do it!"

The prophecy regarding this child, JOHN, was 400 years old!  He was to come in the spirit of Elijah as the forerunner of the Messiah.  If there is anything that God will not allow us to do, it is to box Him in, so away with your shallow explanations of being filled with the Holy Spirit AFTER some Pentecostal experience or even after The Resurrection.  God can do what He wants, when He wants, with whom He wants, how He wants, when He wants and to accomplish What He wants.  Zechariah, Elizabeth, and even John in the womb WERE WILLED with The Holy Spirit!  Got THAT?

So, here was Mary, pregnant with Jesus, leaving her own mom and dad, traveling 70 miles, that is a three and a half day journey to visit the only other woman in the world who could possibly relate to here situation, because she was in a similar one by being miraculously pregnant when she and her husband both were old.  It had been revealed to her (Elizabeth) and she accepted it.  It had been revealed to her husband but he doubted it and became mute by the judgment of God until eight days AFTER John's birth, when he was circumcised.

We do not know if Mary attended this, but we do know that she stayed three months, which would be the time of John's birth and many after this naming.  Then she returned home.

The point is that GOD was faithful to do exactly what He said He would do!  He is ALWAYS faithful!  He is just as concerned about working in our lives, which is why Paul writes that He is working everything together for good to those who LOVE Him and are called according to His purpose", and why Paul writes - in Romans 

12:1Therefore, •brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect willg of God.

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