The neighbors of Zechariah and Elizabeth had a name for their baby (Luke 1:48-49). They all meant well. They had obviously participated in baby-naming before. But this time the child’s mother vetoed them and said his name would be John. So, they referenced family history saying there was no John in the family tree. They were not sure that she had that right, so they appealed to Zechariah. Surely he would glow with pride at the name Zechariah Jr. He was given something to write on and wrote the name John, as it had been revealed to him. It seems that the culture around us would like to shape us and name us; not even our family can finally “name” us. Others want to design the frame and put our picture in it; who we are must be named and shaped by God’s story. We are all participants in His story; we find our identity there.
“ Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered.” Luke 1:57–63 (ESV)
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