Birth of John the Baptist

Luke 1:57-66

The Birth of John the Baptist

Thank Donovan

Remind I’ll be preaching once a month

Introduction

TBD

Main Point

Read text Luke 1:57-66 “Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him.”

Pray and exposit

Luke 1:57 ESV

Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.

Point 1- God has shown us mercy.

nine months is up, it’s go time. Is a miracle because of how old she is. Luke 1:7 “But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.”

Luke 1:58 “And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.”

How did the Lord show great mercy? What I just mentioned, they had no kids and were older. We used the example of JD and Linda. They ain’t having kids. Too old.

Luke 1:59 “And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father,”

John Calvin says this, “On the eighth day, from a sense of duty or from courtesy, as is customary on such occasions, some people assemble; but God takes occasion from it to make them witnesses and spectators of his power and glory. There can be no doubt but the extraordinary birth brought a greater crowd. They had reckoned it a prodigy to see an old and barren woman suddenly become pregnant; and now that the child is born, their astonishment is renewed and increased”

It was Jewish Law for them to be circumcised on the 8th day. Physical circumcision, but we can look toward the gospel as the circumcision of the heart. Why did they circumcise?

Genesis 17:12 “He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring,”

In Israel it was tradition for the parents to name their child after them. To show the parent has ownership over them. However in this instant, we see that God is naming this child John, therefore we are seeing that God has authority over the child.

Point 2 Luke 1:60-66 God fulfills his promise.

V. 60.

The mother is showing faith

V.61

doubting of the parents

V.62

Now the rubber meets the road. The man had authority, and God had silenced him for his lack of faith that himself and Elizabeth could bare a child at their age. V.20

But Zechariah has faith, and proves it in the next verse

V.63

Zechariah said that he wanted this child to be named John. In a sense giving up his birth right to God the father.

Luke 1:64-66 God’s promise.

V.64

John Calvin explains this miracle as this, God puts honour on the birth of his prophet by restoring speech to his father: for there can be no doubt that this benefit was delayed till that day with the express object and design of fixing the eyes of men upon John

With his first words he blessed God, telling of how and why he was silenced by. But he was doing so in giving glory to God. Not in a heart of hate or resentment.

Through his speaking his relatives and the people gathered understood that this birth and that this child was ordained by God. More hands on than normal.

V.65

With God’s power and reverence being shown, the response is fear of the Lord. Through this fear, the birth and the story spread like wildfire. First time in roughly 400 years God was shown and did something firsthand.

V.66

Laid up in their hearts means they will recall and reflect the glory of God in the situation.

They then want to know what John’s purpose or plan will be. Which we will see the next time we meet.

Questions

What is God calling you to do? Forgive, great commission, life choices, etc...

Do you have faith like Elizabeth?

Do you have a relationship with Christ?

Where in your life has God shown you mercy?

Where in your life do you see God fulfill promises?