Luke 1:57 - Meaning and Application

In these verses, we have the birth of John the Baptist, Luke 1:57. Though he was conceived by a miracle, he stayed in the womb in the normal way, as our Savior also did. Elizabeth’s full time came, and then she gave birth to a son. Promised mercies should be expected when their time has fully come, and not before.

There was also great joy among all the family relations on this unusual occasion, Luke 1:58. Her neighbors and relatives heard about it, because it would soon be talked about everywhere, since it seemed almost miraculous. Dr. Lightfoot notes that Hebron was inhabited by priests from Aaron’s family, and that these were likely the relatives mentioned here. The fields and villages around it were occupied by the children of Judah, and those were the neighbors.

They showed two good responses. First, they had a reverent regard for God. They said that the Lord had greatly shown his mercy to her. It was mercy to have her shame removed, mercy to have her family raised up, and even more so because her family was a priestly one, devoted to God and used in his service. Many things made this mercy even greater, her long barrenness, her old age, and especially the fact that this child would be great in the Lord’s sight.

Second, they showed kindness toward Elizabeth. When she rejoiced, they rejoiced with her. We should take pleasure in our neighbors’ and friends’ success, and thank God for their comforts as much as for our own.

Then there was a dispute about what to name the child, Luke 1:59. On the eighth day, as God had appointed, they came together to circumcise the child. This was the day when circumcision was first established in Hebron, and Isaac, who like John the Baptist was born by promise, was one of the first to receive it. Those who had rejoiced at the child’s birth came together for his circumcision. The greatest comfort we can have in our children is to give them to God and recognize that they belong to his covenant. The baptism of our children should be a greater joy to us than their birth.

It was the custom, when children were circumcised, to give them their name, because when Abram was circumcised, God gave him a new name and called him Abraham. It is fitting that they should remain unnamed until they are publicly given to God by name. Some suggested that the child should be called Zacharias, after his father. Scripture does not give any example of a child bearing the father’s name, but perhaps this had recently become a Jewish custom, as it is with us, and they meant to honor the father, who was unlikely to have another child.

The mother objected and wanted him called John, having learned, either by the Holy Spirit, which is most likely, or by a written message from her husband, that God had appointed that name, Luke 1:60. He would be called Johanan, which means “gracious,” because he would introduce the gospel of Christ, where God’s grace shines more clearly than ever. The relatives objected, saying, “No one in your family is called by that name,” Luke 1:61. If he could not have his father’s name, they wanted him to have the name of one of his relatives, as a sign of respect toward a child so wonderfully given.

As those who have friends should be friendly, so those who have relatives should show ordinary kindness and respect to their kin. They then appealed to the father, since it was his place to name the child, Luke 1:62. They made signs to him, which shows that he was deaf as well as mute. It seems he had not communicated by writing before, or else they would likely have asked him to write the name at once. Still, they brought the matter before him as far as they could, and asked for his decision.

Zacharias asked for a writing tablet, and on it he wrote, “His name is John,” Luke 1:63. He did not say, “Let it be so,” or “I want it so,” but “It is so.” The matter had already been settled by the angel. When Zacharias could not speak, he wrote. When ministers are silenced and cannot preach, they can still do good if they are able to write. Many martyrs in prison wrote helpful letters to their friends, and Paul himself did this.

Zacharias’s choice of the same name Elizabeth had chosen greatly surprised everyone. They all marveled, because they did not know that, though deaf and mute, they were both led by the same Spirit. Or perhaps they were amazed that he could write so clearly and intelligently, since the blow he suffered seems to have affected him like a palsy.

Then his speech came back at once, Luke 1:64. The time set for his silence lasted until the day when these blessed things should be fulfilled, Luke 1:20. This did not include all that had been said about John’s future ministry, but only what related to his birth and name, Luke 1:13. That time had now ended, so the restraint was lifted, and God opened his mouth again, just as he did for Ezekiel, Ezekiel 3:27. Dr. Lightfoot compares Zacharias’s case with Moses, Exodus 4:24-26. Moses, because of unbelief, was in danger of his life, and Zacharias, because of the same fault, was struck mute. But when Moses’ child was circumcised, and his faith recovered, the danger passed, and the same happened here.

Unbelief shut Zacharias’s mouth, and faith opened it again. He believed, so he spoke. David also remained under guilt from the time of his child’s conception until a few days after its birth, and then the Lord took away his sin. After his repentance, he would not die. So here, Zacharias was no longer mute. His mouth was opened, and he spoke and praised God. When God opens our lips, our mouths must show his praise. It is better to be without speech than to use it for anything other than praising God, for our tongue is most honorable when it is used for God’s honor.

These things were told throughout the whole region, to the great amazement of everyone who heard them, Luke 1:65-66. The people’s feelings should not be ignored, but noticed. We are told that these events were discussed everywhere through the hill country of Judea. It is a pity that a full account of them was not written and published at once. Most who heard about them were filled with fear, and all those living nearby were struck with wonder.

If we do not have the good hope we should have, built on the gospel, then news about it may fill us with fear. They believed, and yet trembled, when they should have believed and triumphed.

This event also raised people’s hopes for this child and made them watch him closely, to see what he would become. They stored these signs in their hearts and remembered them, knowing they might need to think back on them later. We should also hold on to anything we hear that may help us, so we can share useful truth with others, both old and new, when the time is right.

When children are born, it is hard to know what they will grow up to be. Still, there are times when early signs point to something great, as with Moses, Samson, Samuel, and here with John the Baptist. Some people alive when John later began his public ministry likely remembered these things and told others about them. That probably helped draw many people to him.

It is also said that the hand of the Lord was with him, meaning he lived under God’s special protection from birth, because he was meant for something great. There were many signs of this. The Spirit was also clearly at work in his soul very early. As soon as he began to speak or walk, people could see that he was unusual.

God has ways of working on children even in infancy that we cannot explain. God never made a soul without also knowing how to make it holy.