'His name is John'
Gospel Luke 1: 57-66
When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child
she gave birth to a son.
Her neighbors and relatives heard
that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her,
and they rejoiced with her.
When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child,
they were going to call him Zechariah after his father,
but his mother said in reply,
“No. He will be called John.”
But they answered her,
“There is no one among your relatives who has this name.”
So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called.
He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,”
and all were amazed.
Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed,
and he spoke blessing God.
Then fear came upon all their neighbors,
and all these matters were discussed
throughout the hill country of Judea.
All who heard these things took them to heart, saying,
“What, then, will this child be?
For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.”
Renewal of Praise through Obedience
by Jhun Ray Esquillo
If we recall, in the announcement of the birth of John (Luke 1:5-25), Zechariah doubted the angel's promise that his wife would bear a son due to their advanced age. Because of this, he became speechless, which prevented him from praising God through his words.
His speech was restored when he performed an act of obedience. He demonstrated it in Luke 1:62-64 when he was asked what the name of his son would be. Since he cannot speak, they made signs to ask him. He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. This is the same name that Elizabeth wants for their son. Immediately after agreeing to name his son John, his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessings to God.
This passage shows us that an act of obedience to our God, even if it's just one definite action, can renew our ability to praise Him. This is demonstrated when Zechariah's ability to speak and praise was restored because of his obedience in naming his son John. Because of obedience, his doubt transforms into devotion. Doubt is rooted in how we perceive the world through our senses, understanding, and feelings. Zechariah's knowledge that it is difficult to have a child in old age made him doubt the angel's promise. On the other hand, devotion is rooted in the reality of God, His will, His blessings, and His promises. When Zechariah obeyed, he regained his ability to speak, which allowed him to express his devotion through his words.
Additionally, Zechariah's obedience in naming his son John breaks their naming tradition, which shows that God’s will takes precedence over all human traditions and customs. Our call as Christians is to align ourselves with His revealed will, regardless of what the world says, its traditions, and its customs. Obedience is considered the highest form of our response to our God because we are placing our will beneath God’s will. We believe that His will is better than our will, and His plans are better than our plans. It is also placing God’s will above human traditions and customs.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, as we prepare for Christ’s coming, renew my praise through humble obedience. There are times that I struggle with doubt and fear; Help me to trust you and your promises, grant me the grace to surrender my will and to place your will above my own desires. Teach me to align my life to your holy will so that, like Zechariah, I may proclaim Your faithfulness and goodness. Amen.
Gift for Jesus
Obedience is our gift to Him. Obedience is a tangible representation of our love for God. Placing His will above our will shows that we value the relationship with Him more than our own desires.
Jhun Ray Esquillo is a mechanical engineer and a college instructor. He is also serving in CFC Singles for Christ.
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