The God of the Oath remembers and shows grace to us

(the meaning of the names “Zechariah,” “Elizabeth,” and “John”).

“As it happened on the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child, and they wanted to name him after his father, Zechariah. But his mother answered, ‘No, he is to be called John.’ They said to her, ‘There is no one among your relatives who has that name.’ Then they made signs to his father, to find out what he would like to name the child. He asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, ‘His name is John.’ Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was set free, and he began to speak, praising God” (Luke 1:59–64).

Meditating on this passage, I want to receive the grace given through it:

(1) Elizabeth, who had been known as a “woman who could not bear children,” and who “in her old age conceived” (Luke 1:36, Living Bible), experienced the fulfillment of the Lord’s word delivered by the angel Gabriel: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John” (v.13), and “My words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time” (v.20, Living Bible). The Lord looked after the priest Zechariah (and Elizabeth) and gave them a child (v.25, Living Bible).

(a) So when Elizabeth’s time came, she gave birth to a son (v.57), and “eight days later the baby was circumcised” (v.59, Living Bible). Those present wanted “to name the child after his father Zechariah” (v.59), but the mother Elizabeth said, “No! He is to be called John” (v.60).

(i) The fact that Elizabeth said this suggests that somehow she had come to know—through her husband Zechariah—that the angel Gabriel had commanded, “… your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John” (v.13).

• I say “somehow came to know” because Zechariah, having doubted the angel’s words, was struck mute and unable to speak “until the day this happens” (v.20, Living Bible). Yet, since Elizabeth insisted, “He is to be called John” (v.60), it seems likely that Zechariah had written the name “John” on a “writing tablet” to inform Elizabeth earlier (cf. v.63, Living Bible).

(b) When Elizabeth said, “He is to be called John” (v.60), the people at the circumcision ceremony objected, saying, “‘There is no one among your relatives who has that name.’ So they made signs to Zechariah to find out what he would like to name the child” (vv.61–62, Living Bible).

(i) They asked Zechariah this because, from their perspective, naming the child “John” seemed inappropriate. In Jewish society, family names were passed down, and if someone in the family was honored or respected, it was considered a source of pride to name a child after him. [“Zechariah’s family belonged to the priestly line of Aaron, specifically the division of Abijah, the eighth of twenty-four priestly divisions. This family was regarded as honorable and righteous in Jewish society, faithfully carrying out their sacred priestly duties and living uprightly before God” (online reference).] Therefore, since they did not know of Gabriel’s command, the neighbors and relatives naturally wanted the baby to be named after his father, Zechariah (cf. Hokmah commentary).

• Here I looked up the meaning of the name “Zechariah”: it means “The Lord remembers.” The name “Elizabeth” means “My God is the God of the oath” (online reference). Scripture says, “They were both righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly” (v.6, Living Bible).

• Therefore, just as the name “Zechariah” means “The Lord remembers,” God remembered the couple. And just as the name “Elizabeth” means “God is the God of the oath,” the Lord fulfilled what He had sworn through Gabriel: “… Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son …” (v.13). Thus, to this “righteous” couple, Zechariah and Elizabeth, God gave a son named “John” [which means “The Lord is gracious” or “The Lord has shown grace” (online reference)].

 And since the couple “observed all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly” (v.6, Living Bible), they obeyed God’s word and named their son “John” (vv.13, 60, 63).

(c) When Zechariah “asked for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s astonishment he wrote, ‘His name is John’” (v.63, Living Bible), “immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was loosed, and he began to speak, praising God” (v.64, Living Bible).

(i) The “writing tablet” here is translated “tablet” in modern versions, but in older versions as “writing board.” It was a small wooden board covered with wax, on which one wrote with a stylus. Zechariah wrote the name “John” on this board (cf. Hokmah).

• The Bible says, “Everyone was amazed” (v.63, Living Bible). Reflecting on this, I think for Zechariah—who had received God’s revelation—naming his son “John” was simply obedience to God’s command (cf. vv.6, 13). But for the neighbors and relatives, who thought it customary to name the baby after his father, calling him “John” was astonishing.

• This reminds me of when Jesus asked, “But who do you say I am?” (Matt.16:15), and God the Father revealed to Simon Peter that he should confess, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (v.16)—a startling confession of faith.

 The words and actions of those who believe and obey God’s revelation—those “righteous in the sight of God” (Luke 1:6, Living Bible)—will astonish the world, and the world will not be able to contain them (cf. Heb.11:38).

(ii) When Zechariah wrote “His name is John” on the tablet, the people were astonished (Luke 1:63, Living Bible). “Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God” (v.64, Living Bible). This verse can be compared with verse 20: “Now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”

• Gabriel had clearly said, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John” (v.13). Because Zechariah did not believe, he was struck mute “until the day” his wife bore him a son (v.20). Yet his tongue was loosed not at John’s birth (v.57), but eight days later, at the circumcision, when he wrote the name “John” (vv.59, 63).

(iii) Meditating on this, I wondered: Why was Zechariah’s speech restored only when he wrote “John” at the circumcision, and not immediately at John’s birth?

• Searching online about “Why circumcision on the eighth day?” I found this explanation: Israel circumcised on the eighth day because (1) the number eight symbolized a new beginning in God’s covenant, and (2) medically, by the eighth day, vitamin K and prothrombin levels peak, making blood clotting possible (online reference). “If seven days represent the week’s cycle, the eighth day symbolizes a new beginning. Circumcision on the eighth day thus signifies a new start within the covenant” (online).

• “The eighth-day circumcision was a sign of the eternal covenant between God and His people, symbolizing a new beginning and belonging to God’s chosen people. In Mesopotamian worldview, the eighth day marked the start of a new week and a new creation. Thus, circumcision on the eighth day symbolized Israel’s new life of obedience and dedication to God as His covenant people” (online).

 “John the Baptist announced the new covenant through Jesus Christ and stood as a bridge between the Old and New Testaments. At the turning point from the law-centered Old Testament to the grace-and-Spirit-centered New Testament, he prepared the way for the Messiah and proclaimed the coming of God’s kingdom. He was like a trumpet, announcing the new beginning. … In conclusion, John the Baptist was a prophet and forerunner with the important mission of heralding the new covenant and new age that began with the coming of Jesus Christ” (online).

Therefore, when Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, he could do nothing else but praise God (v.64, Living Bible).