He Shall be Called John - Luke 1:60

Luke the physician wrote how Zacharias and Elisabeth had a son, he shared how, “it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father”, and in chapter one and verse fifty-nine of his book Luke shared how Elisabeth responded to the assumption that the child's name should be “Zacharias” by saying, “Not so; but he shall be called John” where we read:

And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

The verse reads, “And his mother answered and said, Not so;” Luke began with the words, “and his mother answered” or “and the male child's female progenitor and direct ancestor who was Elisabeth responded and began to speak” “and said” which means “and uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “not so” or “no by any means and not at all”. Luke shared how Elisabeth totally rejected that her child's name should be “Zacharias”.

The verse goes on to say, “but he shall be called John.” Luke continues with the words, “but he shall be called” which means “nevertheless, notwithstanding and moreover the male child will be named and saluted by” “John” which means “Jehovah is a gracious giver”. Luke shared how Elisabeth told those who were circumcising her child that his name was to “be called John”.

When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we discover the nature of God revealed in the “name” given to Zacharias and Elisabeth's son. God is indeed a “gracious giver”, and His intention was to have a message through this “child's” name. God wants to have a personal relationship with every person, and when they yield to His plan of salvation through His Son Jesus, they discover how “gracious” He is because He forgives their sin and promises them “everlasting life”. Those who are wise shall see the intentionality of God even in the naming of Zacharias and Elisabeth's son – John which again means “God is a gracious giver”.

Next time Luke shares how the people said to Zacharias, “there is not of your kindred that is called by this name”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".