(1:57). What glorious news!
Thank God for the gift of hopelessness, without which we would forever ignore the hope we have in Him.
— 1:57-60 —
On the day Elizabeth gave birth, Zacharias could neither speak nor hear (1:62), because he had initially doubted Gabriel’s message (1:20). This paralleled the nation of Israel at that time, which had failed to obey and consequently had heard no new message from God and produced not one word from a prophet for four hundred years. With the birth of John,
however, the infant cry of a prophet of the Most High pierced the silence. In time, he would bring the word of God to His covenant people and call them to repentance.
God had commanded that a newborn male was to be circumcised on the eighth day of life (Lev. 12:3). In time, this came to be the day on which the baby’s name would be announced to the community, as family and friends gathered to rejoice and to witness the new baby’s initiation into God’s covenant with Abraham (Gen. 17:10-11). The family and friends of
Zacharias and Elizabeth fully expected the boy would receive his father’s name and carry the family legacy forward (Luke 1:59-61). But Elizabeth had received from Zacharias strict instructions to obey the Lord’s
command: “You will give him the name John” (1:13).
— 1:61-66 —
The gathered family and friends struggled to understand the happy couple’s choice of name for their son. “John” is a perfectly good name, meaning
“God is gracious.” It was not a rare or unusual name; many men in Judea and Galilee bore the name John. But it was an odd choice because no one in Zacharias’s family bore this name—and this was to be their only
descendant. Nevertheless, Zacharias confirmed this choice of name in writing (1:63).
The Greek expression translated “all at once” or “immediately” is parachrēma [3916], a favorite term for Luke, especially when describing a miracle. Zacharias’s discipline didn’t last a moment longer than necessary.
Just as the angel had foretold, he remained silent until John was born and had been named. His obedience loosened his tongue and opened his ears.
And, as often happens when God’s children emerge from discipline, Zacharias used his first words to praise God.
For Luke, “fear” with God as the object always refers to awestruck wonder (cf. 5:26; 7:16; Acts 5:11; 9:31; 19:17). In all but one case (Luke 8:37), people struck by this “fear” glorified God and were inspired to worship Him with renewed passion—that’s exactly what happened here.
The family and friends of the couple undoubtedly heard Zacharias tell the whole story of his experience in the temple sanctuary and the predictions concerning John’s role as the forerunner of the Christ. Consequently, the gossip network covering the region of Judea lit up like a Christmas tree!
— 1:67-80 —
Sometime later, Zacharias composed a prophetic psalm, dripping with Old Testament quotations and allusions. Tradition has given this hymn the title
“Benedictus,” taken from the first word in the Latin translation. Whereas Mary’s “Magnificat” is a personal hymn of thanksgiving, Zacharias’s
“Benedictus” is a hymn of praise on behalf of the nation. Both regard Mary’s child as the fulfillment of God’s promise concerning the Messiah, but they differ in emphasis. Mary gave thanks for a personal Savior;
Zacharias praised God for sending Israel a national Redeemer. Both roles, of course, deserve equal attention. Jesus came to restore God’s original created order—to eradicate evil and redeem the world—but this has personal, individual implications for each of us.
To point the people of Israel forward, Zacharias first gained a firm grip on the nation’s past. He drew heavily upon Old Testament expressions;
rehearsed God’s covenant with Abraham, Israel, and David; celebrated
God’s past victories over Israel’s enemies; and alluded to messianic
promises (1:68-75). Then, Zacharias considered the future implications of the forerunner’s arrival (1:76-79).
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel 1 Kgs. 1:48; Pss. 41:13;
72:18; 106:48
a horn of salvation for us Pss. 18:2; 132:17
Salvation FROM OUR ENEMIES, And FROM THE HAND OF ALL WHO HATE US
Ps. 18:17 (2 Sam. 22:18);
Ps. 106:10 And to remember His holy covenant, The oath which He
swore to Abraham our father
Gen. 22:16-18; Pss. 105:8- 9, 42; 106:45
you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS
Isa. 40:3; Mal. 3:1; 4:5
To give to His people the knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins
Jer. 31:34
the Sunrise from on high will visit us Mal. 4:2 TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND
THE SHADOW OF DEATH
Isa. 9:2
To guide our feet into the way of peace Isa. 59:8
At the heart of his prophetic psalm, Zacharias affirmed the
announcement he received from the angel: “You, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways.” Luke’s concluding remarks summarize John’s early life to confirm that he did, indeed, become a strong-in-spirit and Spirit-filled (1:15)
prophet who later won widespread respect and admiration.
The Lord did not disappoint the faithful remnant of His people living in the dark shadow of Herod’s Jerusalem. Though later than His weary people desired, He set events in motion according to His perfect timing. And to keep their hope from fading in the dark hours before the dawning of the Sun of Righteousness, He conspicuously announced the arrival of the
forerunner. Astute Jews would not have missed the significance of John’s birth. As they watched the remarkable young prophet grow like a
wildflower in the wilderness, their hope must have blossomed as well.