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23 December 2007
Word on the Web
Luke 1: 57-66
When it was time for Elizabeth to give birth, she had a boy. Her neighbours and relatives heard how good the Lord was to her, and they rejoiced with her.
When the baby was eight days old, they came to circumcise him. They wanted to name him Zechariah because this was his father's name, but his mother said, "No! He will be named John. "
The people said to Elizabeth, "But no one in your family has this name." Then they made signs to his father to find out what he would like to name him.
Zechariah asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John," and everyone was surprised. Immediately Zechariah could talk again, and he began praising God. All their neighbours became alarmed, and in all the mountains of Judea people continued talking about all these things. The people who heard about them wondered, saying, "What will this child be?" because the Lord was with him.
We now return to Elizabeth and Zechariah's story. At first it all seems quite straight forward - Elizabeth gives birth and all the neighbours and relatives are delighted for this elderly couple. Now they have the longed for son to carry on the family name - a time for great celebration! Their son is then circumcised, like every other Jewish boy, but he has yet to be named and at this point the storyline takes an unexpected twist and the neighbours and relatives move to centre stage.
They begin by deciding that Elizabeth isn't thinking clearly when she wants to call her son John and try to over-rule her. Then they appeal to Zechariah, who only confirms her choice. Immediately the angelic curse is lifted and he starts talking and exuberantly praising God. Can't you just see their faces! All agog, mouths wide open and then ... the fear sets in. Why do they suddenly become so alarmed?
A totally remarkable pregnancy, a completely unexpected name followed by a startling recovery. The neighbours and relatives suddenly realise that something very out of the ordinary is going on, something super-natural. Who is this child and what will he become?
Tomorrow, when you come to read Zachariah's prophecy about his son you will understand how that only increased their astonishment and their speculations. Coupled with Zachariah's own story of his encounter with Gabriel in the Temple, it was becoming very clear that this was no ordinary child but a child of destiny. And so rumour is rife and the word begins to spread. God was obviously at work in John's life from his very beginnings and therefore it was concluded that may be, just may be, the long anticipated Messiah was coming. Time alone would tell, but the atmosphere must have been electric with expectancy.
Lord God as I look forward once more to celebrating the coming of your Son this Christmas, I pray that you will instil in me a sense of eager and electric anticipation. Help me not to lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas in all the busyness and partying. Please give me a sense of awe and joy that You truly are Immanuel - God with us. Thank you for coming to be with us and like us - may the wonder of that never diminish. Amen
Written by Christine Gore
Word on the Web
Luke 1: 57-66
When it was time for Elizabeth to give birth, she had a boy. Her neighbours and relatives heard how good the Lord was to her, and they rejoiced with her.
When the baby was eight days old, they came to circumcise him. They wanted to name him Zechariah because this was his father's name, but his mother said, "No! He will be named John. "
The people said to Elizabeth, "But no one in your family has this name." Then they made signs to his father to find out what he would like to name him.
Zechariah asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John," and everyone was surprised. Immediately Zechariah could talk again, and he began praising God. All their neighbours became alarmed, and in all the mountains of Judea people continued talking about all these things. The people who heard about them wondered, saying, "What will this child be?" because the Lord was with him.
We now return to Elizabeth and Zechariah's story. At first it all seems quite straight forward - Elizabeth gives birth and all the neighbours and relatives are delighted for this elderly couple. Now they have the longed for son to carry on the family name - a time for great celebration! Their son is then circumcised, like every other Jewish boy, but he has yet to be named and at this point the storyline takes an unexpected twist and the neighbours and relatives move to centre stage.
They begin by deciding that Elizabeth isn't thinking clearly when she wants to call her son John and try to over-rule her. Then they appeal to Zechariah, who only confirms her choice. Immediately the angelic curse is lifted and he starts talking and exuberantly praising God. Can't you just see their faces! All agog, mouths wide open and then ... the fear sets in. Why do they suddenly become so alarmed?
A totally remarkable pregnancy, a completely unexpected name followed by a startling recovery. The neighbours and relatives suddenly realise that something very out of the ordinary is going on, something super-natural. Who is this child and what will he become?
Tomorrow, when you come to read Zachariah's prophecy about his son you will understand how that only increased their astonishment and their speculations. Coupled with Zachariah's own story of his encounter with Gabriel in the Temple, it was becoming very clear that this was no ordinary child but a child of destiny. And so rumour is rife and the word begins to spread. God was obviously at work in John's life from his very beginnings and therefore it was concluded that may be, just may be, the long anticipated Messiah was coming. Time alone would tell, but the atmosphere must have been electric with expectancy.
Lord God as I look forward once more to celebrating the coming of your Son this Christmas, I pray that you will instil in me a sense of eager and electric anticipation. Help me not to lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas in all the busyness and partying. Please give me a sense of awe and joy that You truly are Immanuel - God with us. Thank you for coming to be with us and like us - may the wonder of that never diminish. Amen
Written by Christine Gore
